One of the most important things you can do to your kit is write your contact details in/on them. The blue Dagger G Ride was lost after it took a solo mission down the River Clough but was returned to its happy owner (see pic) three years later after being found tucked away in a garden near the river.

One Of The Most Important...

The boat was found by a local home owner whose garden had been flooded. The boat had made its way into his garden and the owner had tucked it away under the hedge thinking that the boats owner would come looking for it. The years passed and the house was sold. The new owners found the boat under the hedge and noticed the contact number written inside. A quick call and the return of the boat was arranged. Awesome!

Another boat was lost at the same time but unfortunately has never turned up.

The weekend that boat went solo down river we all marked our kit up. In fact I remember stopping off at a newsagents in Kirby Stephen to pick up a black marker.

I tend to use a Sharpie waterproof marker and write my email address, post code and contact number on my boat and air bags. Many newer pieces of kit – throwbags, PFDs etc come supplied with a tag or area specifically for your contact details.