my only suggestion on the paddle is figure out how you are going to transport it. you'll either need one that breaks down to put inside your car or a place to secure your paddle to your vehicle rack if you it doesn't break down.
My first paddle didn't break down and I could barely get it inside my Honda and forget anyone getting in the back seat with it because I had to fold down the seats. just something to thing about.
Anchor - found an 10lb mushroom anchor last weekend. Is this overkill? What kind of line should I get for it? How long?
10 pounds seems like a little overkill. but I guess in high currents having one that is heavy enough not to drag is appreciated. not sure how well Mushrooms work in the sand though. (I've never left my other boat with a Mushroom anchor unattended).
I'd say you'd want about 10' of light chain on it. maybe a little less. nylon line. Tie a float on the end of it. that way if you loose the end overboard, it'll hopefully be floating and you can just paddle over and pull it up.
PFD - So many on the market.. Heck Wal-Mart has em for $15. Are they worth it? What about chafing under the arms, or how hot/bulkyness?
you can start with a $15 walmart PFD, but you'll just want a better one.
I've got a Perception brand PFD made for kayaking. it has no flotation made in the sides, there is less to rub your arms on. Once I got it, I never wanted to use my cheap PFD's again.
Saftey equipment - I have a signal mirror, whistle, strobe light. Anything else?
cell phone in waterproof box, in case of emergency. a VHF Marine Handheld could be usefull also. you can pic up a water resistant one for fairly cheap. more likely to get other boaters in the area with a VHF in case of an emergency.
also for safety, always "file" a "Float plan" of some sort with a relative or a friend. basically it tells them where you are going, where you are putting in and taking out and what times to expect you back. It's in case you come up missing, they at least know where to start looking.
get flotation bags for your kayak. these are air bags that you blow up and put in void spaces, like in front of your feet or any area that isn't a storage area. if you swamp your boat, it will keep a majority of the water out of it making it more manageable to bail out or swim back to shore. A boat without them fills completely with water typically sinking it "flush" with the waterline. swimming it is impossible when flooded. you can use generic bags or ones made specifically for your boat.
an air horn is great safety item to have also. easy to store in the boat under edge of air bags, etc.
I am looking for some way to carry it on my car. Problem is my lil car doesn't have any kind of roof rack system. I am looking at the foamy things. Heck, I think maybe a pool noodle would work! LOL
You can start out with the foam blocks, but in the end you'll just get pissed off at them and end up scratching your roof. You can never seem to get them tight enough to drive with confidence at highway speeds.
Get a Yakima Rack. You can buy mounts for about any car. You won't be sorry.
I can drive 85-90mph with my Kayak on my Yakima going down the interstate and never have any worries.
installing a "kayak security ring" will allow you to run a rubberized cable through it and lock it to the rack so it's secure while on your car (like at a hotel overnight).
I suggest the NRS (Northwest River Supply) cam buckle tie down straps.
NRS 1" HD Tie-Down Strap
These straps don't EVER losen up, even when driving fast and with wet straps in the rain. they are bullet proof.
There are several other companies that make these, but I've always been concerned the "clones" wouldn't hold or would stretch when wet. so I've stuck with the NRS ones.
but the depth gauge would be nice...
Get a waterproof mapping/charting GPS. that way you can paddle out to a reef, ridge, wreck, etc and know you're on top of it and then see/find its edges with the depth finder. Makes all the difference.
