: The only rule I never circumvent is ... to
: always wear my buoyancy aid no matter how benign the conditions.

I wear a buoyancy aid even in a warm swimming pool indoors with a
lifeguard. It's a matter of forming a habit which ensures that it just
feels wrong to get into a boat without one. Pool sessions are usually
for rolling practice anyway, and the dynamics are different if not wearing
the PFD.

: This is a continuation from windsurfing, where one might be
: stunned in a wipeout.

I'll wear a helmet if I think there's a situation where I might get my head
knocked. Indeed, with the advent of headcams, I often wear one when
I can't see any other reason except that I can't bolt a camera to a floppy
hat :-)

: The most important safety equipment one can carry is common sense
: and imagination, both of which (hopefully) increase with age and
: experience of the sport,

With over 140 whitewater swims behind me, there are some things
for which I don't need too much imagination any more :-) It's open
to debate whether I have common sense, but if it caused me to give
up paddling, I might doubt it's value even if it decreased my risk !

: I wonder what pre-industrial maritime people would make of our
: equipment today?

Some of it I'm sure they'd embrace, some they'd think was ridiculous.
Experience shows that velcro pockets are not good for hunting wildlife
(even if only with a camera). Remember that after contact, steel tools
was adopted very quickly, and caused significant changes to how kayaks
were built.

: I think most of us consider a mobile phone to
: be fundamental safety equipment today

That's something that does live firmly in my aft hatch. I really couldn't
cope with trying to get fiddly headphones on whilst on the water.
Mind you, in the UK, if one pre-registers the phone, it's possible
to call the emergency services by text now, which is great in noisy
environments or places with poor signal...

: I would be interested in hearing from other codgers on the issue of
: what they take along, and when, and where they stow it. And the
: incidents and experiences which have informed their choices.

: It would be worthy of an interesting thread. Maybe I will initiate
: it.

and maybe I'll wait for that thread before posting even further
off-topic here :-)

Andy