Hey, can anyone help me with the required safety equipment for kayaking in the ocean? I understand that a PFD is required (wouldn't go out there without one anyway) but what else does North Carolina require? I have a whistle, do I also need a visual distress signal? If so, does that just mean a flag or what? Anything else that is required? Thanks for your help.

A white light. I would also have a blow horn in addition to that whistle. There are lots of idiots out there on powerboats.

A white light is required? What kind of white light? Just like a flashlight for signaling? Is that required safety equipment regarless of time of day? Around here we aren't required to have any kind of lights during the day but they are required at night... I don't intend to be out in the kayak at night, but if it's required all the time then I'll make sure to have one.

To my knowledge at this time: PFD, Whistle, white light ( I would purchase a Visa-pole or other device that gets the light up off the water plus you get a Flag too).
I would also recommend a signalling device (old CD works great flashy and has hole in it so you can see where you are aiming)

Visa-pole? I assume this is a 360 degree pole light... is that required? Even in the daytime? When GSOTarpon140 said a white light I assumed like a flashlight. It seems to me that a white light would be pretty worthless on a sunny day, though I can understand it being required at night. Any clarifications on this?

A Visa-pole is 360 and it comes with a flag. The white light is required even in the day so that if you get lost or you need to be found after dark locating you becomes easier.

in NC you must have a light in the boat at all times it does not have to be on during the day. the vissi pole or carbon pros are 360 lights that are 36" to 42" tall with a flag. most peope have these because at night the light is high off the water and it serves as a flag pole in the day time. the flagpole is a good idea because a kayak dissapears even in small swell a bright flag gives the power boaters who are more likley looking for birds or bait somthing to spot you with when your in the swell. an air horn is good to get some attention to.

Be careful at the Oak Island tournament. From 8-9am the sun will blind the boats heading east. It almost got ugly last year.

GSO, I love it...frightening off the competition with large sharks did not work so now you are going with boats...lol. What's next, space debris hurling to Earth??
You were in a close call i must say.

Unfortunately that satellite had to come crashing to earth 2 weeks before the tournament!

I still don't think that boater ever saw our two kayaks. They never waved or anything. Hopefully the Southport King Tournament goes as planned this weekend and we have minimal boat traffic.