South Louisiana has hundreds of miles of bayous and manmade pipeline canals and few real lakes. Most of the manmade canals are used by oilfield workboats so someone is usually around. The coast guard and crew boats monitor the radio.

I got a marine radio for safety sake. A $130 investment will look very small if you ever need help. You can get lost very easy back in those canals and if you need help it may be hard to see you as opposed to being on an open lake. I also carry one of those flashing strobe lights so someone could find me if necessary. Some GPS units and Marine radios can be interlocked. The radio will have a red emergency button (for use in life threatening situations) which will broadcast your coordinates to the coast guard. Our GW have this on their boats. I also carry flares, whistle and horn.

But my fire extenguisher is not bolted down and now I know it should. Looks like it would have come that way.