What are some essential survival tips and items?

Select suitable kayak model here.

I was a survival instructor.  Water will always be a challenge.  Boiling it is a pain - best to think ahead and get a reverse osmosis device.  They come in disposable personal emergency use and slightly larger ones that can service 6 people for three weeks before changing filters.

Read and learn about snares.  Look up bird snares.  Snares work for you even while you are asleep.  For every rabbit or grouse you shoot - I can snare 10, make no noise, and waste no time using a snare.  Unflavored dental floss or low test fishing line works great.

Big black lawn trash bags make great emergency rain gear and have practically no weight.  In a pinch - if you do not have a sleeping bag, you can put one on, then step into a second one and fill it full of leaves or dried grass to make a nice insulated thing to sleep in.

Internet is full of survival sites.    

A cat would be ideal.

A dog                  .

Bottled water or a nifty device made of ceramic in which you can suck up water from clear rivers and lakes and have it come out being COMPLETELY filtered.  (They also work in turgid water, but don't last nearly as long.)