Re: [Paddlewise] Rules of the Road

My experience noticing other paddlers is that the difference between light
and dark colored paddle blades makes more difference than all the other
color factors combined. What I always see are the light colored paddle
blades reflecting light as the are rapidly moving and attracting attention.
Black or dark colored blades are far less visible and then it is very hard
to see the kayaker no matter the boat color or what they are wearing.
Once I noticed two kayaker's white paddle blades about a mile in the
distance. I noticed them several more times as we closed the distance. When
we were 50 to 100 yards apart all of a sudden there were three paddlers
instead of two. Where did the third one come from? Then I saw it his paddle
blades were black and that made him nearly invisible even though his clothes
and kayak were visible colors.
if you use dark colored paddle blades I suggest you add a large area of a
brighter color or reflectorized tape.
Matt Broze
-----Original Message-----
From: UncleRalph_at_aol.com <UncleRalph_at_aol.com>
To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Wednesday, June 09, 1999 6:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Rules of the Road


>In a message dated 6/9/99 4:31:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>edbean_at_pamlico-nc.com writes:
>
><< I assumed that most of them were
> intentional or serious carelessness on the part of the other boat. I have
> since realized that kayaks can be VERY difficult to see, especially when
> people are not looking for them >>
>
>This brings up a point that maybe hasn't been emphasized in this thread --
>the need to make ourselves as visible as possible. Something I
>read/heard/learned (I'm not sure which or where) long ago has caused me to
be
>very concerned about making myself as visible as possible.  My kayak is
red,
>my PFD is yellow, my hat is orange, my paddling jacket is red, my paddle
>blades are yellow.  These may not look as fashionable in the store, but in
>the back of my mind I hope they help make me more visible on the water.
>
>Ralph
>***************************************************************************
>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/
***************************************************************************