I'm gonna be guiding backpacking and canoeing treks for the Boy Scouts this summer. I've done a lot of both, but never as a guide. Consequentially, I will need to pick up some gear (hells yeah!) but need some help selecting it. The paddling gear is where I really need help. I feel pretty good about my backpacking gear, but if there's some stuff that I really ought to have that might not appear on a standard gear list, please let me know. So, recommend away!
Background:
The trips will be 4 days and 50 miles at the most. I will be the only guide, but the treks will include at least one adult and at most 11 scouts. The backpacking will be in the Porcupine Mtns and the canoeing on the Flambeau flowage and River. For the most part, the paddling is flatwater (lake and river) but there is a 20 mile stretch that has a couple Class III rapids and numerous Class II's. I am confident in my ability to navigate these, but in the event that I end up with ill-prepared or unlucky people on one of my treks, I want to be equipped for river rescue.
Here's the list so far of river gear I'm gonna need to get:
PFD
Throw Bag
Emergency Whistle
Tow rope
Dive/River knife
So, what's missing? Which piece(s) are the ones to get above all others (I am still on a student budget). Also, I don't know what specs to look for in this stuff. 50 ft throw rope? 70? What diameter do I want for tow ropes? Is it really worth the extra $100 to $150 to get a PFD like these?
Please help me out. Thanks.