Nine years after being employed by a sea kayak tour and sales company I've finally got around to buying myself one. I have spent the last few years paddling the areas rivers in an old school whitewater kayak, but this just wasn't suitable for the ocean.
This was getting extremely frustrating as I live 50 metres from the beach at Holloways Beach, a beachside suburb just north of Cairns . 
I'd already paddled the Mulgrave River numerous times, the Barron River was getting a bit boring as well, so I had to get into that ocean.
As Cairns is a smallish regional centre the purchase of a seakayak and the assorted accessories is not the easiest task. You can either take your chance on Ebay, wait for someone to sell it secondhand or just make the best of what you can get.
Thats what I did. I made the most of what was available, with the idea of then turning it into what I need. I purchased a fairly cheap chinease made boat brand new. Now I knew that the fittings would be cheap, I also knew it probably wouldn't be 100% watertight. Luckily I was pleasantly surprised.
The only fittings that will need replacing are the shock cord deck lines and shock cord rudder lines.  I may replace the internal rudder lines with non stretch spectra soon as well.
As for kitting the boat out with safety equipment my list is as follows
* V Flag for signalling
* Emergency tool containing whistle, mini compass, match striker, signalling mirror and small watertight storage for matches.
* Distress flares
* Spare paddle (cut into 3 sections for storage)
* Another signalling mirror ( I don't trust only having one of something that sinks)
* 3 x 1.5 litre bottles of water
* 4 snap flouro light sticks
* small 1st aid kit
* Suvival blanket

I already own some nautical charts as I'm a yachtie, but I figure I'll just photocopy relevant sections and laminate the A4 sheets. I have a compass ready to be fitted as well as plans to make myself a small emergency bilge pump. The bilge pump is more a luxury, this can be done with a hand pump or sponges but I figure that if I do manage to flood the kayak it will be in some ugly seas so I don't want to remove the spray skirt to stuff around with a hand pump or sponges. Much better to just flick a switch and let the pump do it all.

The journeys I have planned in the short term to test everything out are The Frankland Islands, Fitzroy Island, Low Isles Dunk Island and Snapper Island.

In the long term I want to do the Hinchinbrook channel and circumnavigate the island. this is all leading up to the big expedition of Cape York. I can fit approximately 70kg of camping gear and supplies without becoming too unseaworthy, so this should get me a fair way. And I can always tow a trolling line to supplement my boring freeze dried diet with some fresh fish. I'll also be stopping and camping so the Barra gear will get a good work out too.
Follow my planned expedition on Travelblogs.