To clarify right of way issues for myself I call the US Coast Guard Customer Information Line at 1-800-368-5647. (Didn't think of yourself as a customer, did you?) The authoratative-sounding fellow who answered told me that in the State of California the vessel with the least maneuverability has the right of way. So right of way changes from situation to situation. There ya have it. Barbara, in hazy Moss Beach, south of San Francisco Sea Kayak Italy http://www.seakayakitaly.com tel. 650-728-8720 fax 650-728-8753 bkossy_at_igc.org *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
So Nordkapp's have the right of way over Skerray's, which have the right of way over river boats and surf kayaks? I will keep that in mind next time I need to land through surf and there are surf kayaks around. :-) The next question is how the Coast Guard defines maneuverability. Do they mean the ability to turn 180 degrees? Or the ability to move from point A to point B 100 yards away in the shortest amount of time? - Julio > To clarify right of way issues for myself I call the US Coast Guard > Customer Information Line at 1-800-368-5647. > (Didn't think of yourself as a customer, did you?) > The authoratative-sounding fellow who answered told me that in the State of > California the vessel with the least maneuverability has the right of way. > So right of way changes from situation to situation. > There ya have it. > Barbara, in hazy Moss Beach, south of San Francisco > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 13:28:17 -0700 (PDT) > From: Julio MacWilliams <juliom_at_cisco.com> > Subject: [Paddlewise] defining manoeuvrability > > to the right of way in California--the most manoeuvrable vessel gives way. > > So what is manoeuvrability? Is it the ability to turn 360 degrees in > the least amount of time? Or the ability to turn 180 degress and move > from point A to point B behind in the shortest time? > > A kayak can turn around itself quicker than a fishing boat, but > a kayak does not have the power to get out of the way of a freighter > as fast as a fishing boat could. > > Does anyone have a good answer for this one? > > - - Julio > > ------------------------------ Julio, I think it was Ralph Diaz who came up with the best answer that I have seen concerning right away and I have adopted his response as the method I use to determine Right of Way. Ralph said he uses the Rule of Gross Tonnage - if it's bigger than your kayak---it has the right of way. According to the Coast Guard people that I have spoken with, the freighter will have the Right of Way while it is in a marked (this can mean marked only on a chart) navigation channel. At this time, anything a kayaker does that causes the freighter to change course or speed is infringing on the freighter's Right of Way and carries HEAVY fines for the kayaker. If the two craft are in the open ocean than the vessel that is being overtaken has the right of way. Otherwise, nobody has it. Hope this is of some help. Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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