Perhaps the answer to making ourselves more visible would be to raise the height of our boats. We could raise the decks, and make the boat a bit wider to compensate. Then, since we couldn't really reach the water with our paddles we could just cover up the cockpit and add a motor. Then we could build on a little cabin with all the electronics imaginable so we would not only be visible, but we would never get lost. In fact if we built it just a little bit larger then we could take the whole family with us! Perhaps add a bathroom and a kitchen! Yeah baby, now that's kayaking. Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I think Scott was remiss in not outfitting the hypathetical kayak with a hot-tub or jacuzzi. With several friends soaking on board they could easily hurl a barrage of aluminum beer cans to act as a radar reflector when ever an approaching vessel was sighted. On a more serious note I thank Ralph for his unique perspective of being high up on a power boat where he can see kayak hulls and color does make a big difference. My Romany is yellow top and bottom, mostly so I can wave at the nice coast guard guys when they fly out to save my butt in a helicopter in the worst case scenario. Most of the time though I am more worried about visability from small boat to small boat. My experience on the Great Lakes has shown me that small fishing boats and jet skis are the worst problem since their paths are hard to predict. The big bulk carriers are up to 1100 feet long on the Great Lakes they look real scary, but they tend to go in nice predictable directions and rarely move at more than 18 knots. For me I consider kayak to kayak visibility my first priority when traveling in a group of kayakers. I try to assume that powerboaters don't see me and I take evasive action as best I can. Back in 1990 I did a 85 mile Lake Michigan crossing with three friends and the four of us all bought these really ugly flourescent colored baseball hats. I had yellow, Dave Ide neon red, Gary Brindel was Orange, and Rich Morgan was neon green. Although the hats were of questionable taste and staring too long was to risk retinal damage they kept our group together and let us quickly identify each other in 3-5 foot that otherwise could have scattered our group. KiAyker_at_aol.com wrote: > Perhaps the answer to making ourselves more visible would be to raise the > height of our boats. We could raise the decks, and make the boat a bit wider > to compensate. Then, since we couldn't really reach the water with our paddles > we could just cover up the cockpit and add a motor. Then we could build on a > little cabin with all the electronics imaginable so we would not only be > visible, but we would never get lost. In fact if we built it just a little bit > larger then we could take the whole family with us! Perhaps add a bathroom and > a kitchen! Yeah baby, now that's kayaking. > > Scott > So.Cal. > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
KiAyker_at_aol.com wrote: > > Perhaps the answer to making ourselves more visible would be to raise the > height of our boats. We could raise the decks, and make the boat a bit wider > to compensate. Then, since we couldn't really reach the water with our paddles > we could just cover up the cockpit and add a motor. Then we could build on a > little cabin with all the electronics imaginable so we would not only be > visible, but we would never get lost. In fact if we built it just a little bit > larger then we could take the whole family with us! Perhaps add a bathroom and > a kitchen! Yeah baby, now that's kayaking. Hmmm. Raise the deck, widen the boat, add a motor, a cabin, kitchen. Sounds like you just re-invented the folding double kayak! No kidding. I know people who attach a motor to their double folders; either electric or gasoline. Another guy who cooked in his Klepper with an old Svea, which he primed by setting the stove on fire...I haven't seen him in a while. I wrote of another fellow who took a tent, cut out the floor and rigged it to fit over the cockpit of a double Klepper; something he needed to do because of a camping trip along marshy wet banks with no dry ground for setting up a tent. Bathroom? Will a pee bottle do? ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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