-----Original Message----- From: Marx, Barbara <BMarx_at_comdt.uscg.mil> To: 'David Martin' <sunshin_at_mcn.org> Date: Monday, June 14, 1999 7:03 PM Subject: RE: Web Inquiry Email >Regarding my comment about power-driven vessels staying out of the way of >all other vessels. This applies under rule 18, Responsibilities between >vessels, and is a blanket statement to indicate a blanket interpretation >that power-driven vessels are more maneuverable. With all conditions being >good, power-driven vessels must yield the right of way to all other vessels >with less maneuverability, again a blanket statement. Ah Ha! Now I understand our differences. They are in interpretation. The ability of manually powered vessels to change directions, turn and stop is excellent and although they are comparatively slow, I would never consider them "Restricted in Their Ability to Maneuver" as defined in Rule 3 of the Navigation Rules. The definition of this term also states that it applies to vessels when the ability to maneuver is a result of the nature of their "WORK." Since paddle and rowing craft are used primarily for recreation and even in that are in my experience and opinion, very maneuverable, I would not have thought they would meet the criteria had I considered it further. Ever the Prudent Mariner, I will continue to confidently believe that my kayak is not entitled to any right-of-way privilege as a "Vessel Restricted in it's Ability to Maneuver." I just can't seem to make the definition fit a kayak. >Perhaps I am not in full understanding of the magnitude of "paddling." I >never came across a paddler in a narrow channel or in a Traffic Separation >Scheme. I envision paddlers operating in areas with other recreational >boats (jetskis to "cigarette" boats) and addressed my answer to that >magnitude of traffic I envisioned rather than to the big picture of >commercial traffic. I sincerely hope this explanation meets more clearly >your interest. While you might not have seen paddlers operating in these areas in the past: Seattle, San Francisco , Las Angeles and San Diego area Harbors are all becoming ever more popular as paddling areas (as well as being the West Coast's heaviest commercial vessel traffic centers.) My intent here is to discourage any paddler from believing they might ever be entitled to or expect to be given any priority for right-of-way. Thank you for your time (and patience,) Dave Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:32:59 PDT