Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away
- Kay and Moreve

Solent Sea Kayaking posted a good review of the North Water Peaked Deck Bag. I’ll add my voice to his, great bag. On the water in Puerto Rico I lived out of that bag. If it wasn’t in there, it would wait until I got to shore.

I actually had that deck bag for a few years. It was one of those things I bought when I really didn’t know where I was going in the sport, but I was jazzed to get new stuff. It seemed like there must be a use for it. Funny thing about kayaking, when we are new to the sport we get everything big; Big boat, big blades, big bags. . . Then over time we realize that most of us will never need to paddle a Titan or attach oil drum sized bags to our decks. In fact when I first attached the North Water Peaked Deck Bag, I already didn’t like it. It was always in the way, and it really is not that big.

Then one day, one random nothing day, I realized the problem. It was that plastic bit I didn’t like. The “peak” was the problem. It’s amazing what havoc 4 or 5 inches of height can cause on the front deck. Especially if it’s up tight against the combing where it can block an easy grip on the spay skirt grab loop, and get in the way of a clean stroke.

As I said, I love the Northwater Peaked Deck Bag. I just took the peak out. (I did note that if I were to wear big fat gloves the peak would be helpful though.) Removing that bit of plastic that creates the dome shape allows the bag to rest on whatever you put in it. With that in mind you can fill it with sunscreen, snacks and whatever else you like and creatively organize the stuff so it keeps the bag as flat and out of the way as possible. The mesh pockets and line still come in handy to tie off bits of gear you want to keep on deck. Slipping them in the pockets keeps stuff from slipping off into the water on splashy days or going through surf. I would always keep that shoestring styled draw line across the top tied as tight as possible.

Everything in the bag gets wet so you have to seal up your stuff in baggies or whatever. On the other hand the water drains right out. I saw firsthand what can happen if you have a big deck bag that holds water. Depending on your rolling ability, a bag that does not drain quickly can cause just enough imbalance to blow a roll for an unsuspecting paddler.

With that in mind you also want to know the bag will stay firmly attached. My experience was that the North Water “Non-Slip” attachments work as advertised. They hold through surf and rolls. Just for a moment imagine that big deck bag full of water or kit hanging by one or two attachments when you’re trying to roll in rough water!

I can also attest to the quality of the material and stitching.  I’ve had my bag now for about 4 years and it’s been frozen, left in salt water for weeks, even whizzed on by a cat and it’s still hanging in there. . .  There must be a slogan in there somewhere. . . “Takes a Wizzing. . .???”

So for what it’s worth I’d certainly recommend the North Water Peaked Deck Bag. . . minus the peak of course.

* second image (on yellow kayak) lifted from Rutabaga.com

Related Posts:

1. Not without decklines, sorry…
2. Cook Stoves & Sleeping Bags
3. Pour
4. Honey, let’s go paddling. . . .
5. Tight’s All Right