Does anyone have a good solution for improving their visibility while paddling out on open water, such as in a large bay? I often wonder whether a speeding motorboat or fishing trawler knows I am out there and it would be nice to do something to make myself more visible. I was thinking along the lines of a flag of some type... Aaron *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
One thing that helps a lot is to put reflective tape on your paddle blades. The flash of the paddle is often the most visible part of a kayaker out on the ocean. Both the added height and the motion of the blade make it stand out. michael aaron.fein_at_nist.gov wrote: > > Does anyone have a good solution for improving their visibility while > paddling out on open water, such as in a large bay? I often wonder > whether a speeding motorboat or fishing trawler knows I am out there and > it would be nice to do something to make myself more visible. I was > thinking along the lines of a flag of some type... *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
One of the biggest problems with visability for kayakers is that our kayaks are very low in the water. Even at short distances and moderate wave heights your boat will likely be invisible. For that reason I think kayak color has little effect unless you are the subject of an air SAR. I have read of people suggesting that you could for example hoist a small radar reflector on a fishing pole and the same could be done with a high vis flag, but I would not recommend it. A flag would catch too much wind and would become a diabolical parasite if you had to roll you kayak. The simple approach is to tag the highest most visable parts of your gear with bright high vis colors. Since your head is the highest point a bright hat is a big help. The movement of your paddle blade is also fairly high off the water and catches peoples attention. If you have a fiberglass paddle a shot of high visability paint is a great way to be seen as the brightly colored blades move up and down. I have a beautiful wood paddle and it would break my heart to paint it so I guess I will just have to keep a white marker flare in the flare gun and aim for the pilot of the speed boat if someone gets too close! Aaron P. Fein wrote: > Does anyone have a good solution for improving their visibility while > paddling out on open water, such as in a large bay? I often wonder > whether a speeding motorboat or fishing trawler knows I am out there and > it would be nice to do something to make myself more visible. I was > thinking along the lines of a flag of some type... > > Aaron > > *************************************************************************** > 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/ ***************************************************************************
wanewman_at_uswest.net wrote: > > One of the biggest problems with visability for kayakers is that our kayaks are > very low in the water. Even at short distances and moderate wave heights your > boat will likely be invisible. For that reason I think kayak color has little > effect unless you are the subject of an air SAR. I don't agree. Color does make a difference. Moreover, what is important is not the height of your boat but rather the height of the observer. Someone at the helm of a 25 ft powerboat is high enough to see your boat at quite a distance because the person is looking down certainly several miles if your boat is bright enough. Our kayaks do tend to disappear from each other. But even then are more visible than the PaddleWise folklore, especially if brightly colored or the paddles are moving and catching light or are in a high visibility color. I have experimented with looking at kayaks from a power boat. I certainly could see them a more than mile at a minimum. The same goes for seeing kayaks from a larger vessel such as a ferry. Again, you can see a kayak for several miles from the wheelhouse. BUT it has to be brightly colored. And the point you make below. > The simple approach > is to tag the highest most visable parts of your gear with bright high vis > colors. Since your head is the highest point a bright hat is a big help. The > movement of your paddle blade is also fairly high off the water and catches > peoples attention. If you have a fiberglass paddle a shot of high visability > paint is a great way to be seen as the brightly colored blades move up and > down. Absolutely. Bright hat, bright PFD, bright color for your paddle or paint its blade day-glo. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ***************************************************************************
rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > Absolutely. Bright hat, bright PFD, bright color for your paddle or > paint its blade day-glo. Consider as well 3M Scotchlite reflective tape on the non-power face of your paddle blades. This has the advantage of being quite visible under light at night. Some on the sides of your hull near the deck line wouldn't be bad either. Available in silver, yellow, orange etc. The preglued stuff sticks like crazy. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
wanewman_at_uswest.net wrote: > > One of the biggest problems with visability for kayakers is that our kayaks are > very low in the water. Even at short distances and moderate wave heights your > boat will likely be invisible. For that reason I think kayak color has little > effect unless you are the subject of an air SAR. I don't agree. Color does make a difference. Moreover, what is important is not the height of your boat but rather the height of the observer. Someone at the helm of a 25 ft powerboat is high enough to see your boat at quite a distance because the person is looking down certainly several miles if your boat is bright enough. Our kayaks do tend to disappear from each other. But even then are more visible than the PaddleWise folklore, especially if brightly colored or the paddles are moving and catching light or are in a high visibility color. I have experimented with looking at kayaks from a power boat. I certainly could see them a more than mile at a minimum. The same goes for seeing kayaks from a larger vessel such as a ferry. Again, you can see a kayak for several miles from the wheelhouse. BUT it has to be brightly colored. And the point you make below. > The simple approach > is to tag the highest most visable parts of your gear with bright high vis > colors. Since your head is the highest point a bright hat is a big help. The > movement of your paddle blade is also fairly high off the water and catches > peoples attention. If you have a fiberglass paddle a shot of high visability > paint is a great way to be seen as the brightly colored blades move up and > down. Absolutely. Bright hat, bright PFD, bright color for your paddle or paint its blade day-glo. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ***************************************************************************
I've sometimes thought it might be fun to tie a Helium-filled aluminized mylar balloon to a kayak provided it wasn't too windy. neal_at_bellhow.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
When I ordered my boat and paddle I got bright yellow. If it's too late for that, you can get one of those blaze orange hunting caps for about $3. Sort of dorky-chic. Adjustable to fit over most cold-weather gear. *************************************************************************** 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 use the same rule that I use for riding a motorcycle or bicycle. I assume that 9 of 10 do not see me, and the 1 of 10 who does, Wants to run over me. One real problem is that human powered boats are not well covered in the COLREGS. Power and sail are very well covered and there is much less doubt as to what each vessel is required to do. On thing that really helps is when the kayak can stay in water too shallow for the other boats, then they can't hit you. This doesn't apply everywhere. michael rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > Of course, no matter how well decked out you are, the first rule of > traffic is to absolutely assume that you are not in the least visible > and that the person at the wheel of that sailboat or motorboat is > distracted in conversation or other activity. He or she is just > generally looking for something big that might harm his or her boat in a > collosion and not looking for something small. > *************************************************************************** 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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