My best bit of advice is make yourself as visable as possible.

Use a high visability safety flag. We are sitting in the waves. This can be even more important in estuays and lakes. So much water users (water skiers) and you are forced to get out of their way. Even a bike flag converted to sit is a spare hole is enough.
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I haven't tried it yet. It is just for rolling it up out of the way whilst fishing but the sail still reamins in the sail mount. As for with or with out the akas that would be based on the amount of speed you want to get whilst sailing and wind conditions. Good topic though "would be making your own akas."
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There is youtube vidoe of a bloke out of hawaii that made one up using 25mm pvc pipe and cord. looks pretty good and better cheap. Search for Halibu77 on youtube. he has a couple of versions. One cord or two.
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