Re: [Paddlewise] whiteboats and whitecaps

Whiterabbit wrote:
> 
> Has anyone tried the pennants that some of the cyclists use.  They are
> mounted on about a 7 foot thin fiberglass pole with a dayglo pennant.  If I
> could find somewhere out of the way it would seem to have the advantages of
> height, color and movement.

I have discussed the issue of visibility with some local sailors and
power boaters, and the consensus seems to be that bicycle flags are 
the very best way of improving the visibility of a sea kayak. One 
boater said to me that without these flags, kayakers look like a 
"bird on a log", to which I replied "well, you certainly don't want 
to hit a log, so I guess we are safe". His response was that there 
is a reason his hull is 6 inches thick--he does not always spot logs 
(even when they have a bird perched on them). So I suppose that adding 
a bicycle flag might be a good idea. Not that *I* would ever clutter 
my deck in that manner. :-)  I have a bright yellow boat (deck and 
hull), and rely on my ability to dodge larger boats. Fortunately we do 
not have many jet skis or jet boats in the areas I paddle. I don't 
know how one dodges a zig-zagging jet ski being driven by an 
out-of-control 16 year old, other than executing a carefully timed 
capsize. (Hopefully the jet skier's friend doesn't happen along just 
as you are rolling back up...)    

Dan Hagen
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