[Paddlewise] Defensive Paddling - Avoiding Weekend Boaters * Suggestions?

A couple of years ago I paddled out of the Inter Coastal through the Boca 
Inlet.  A 25 foot plus center console fishing boat sat on the south side of 
the inlet dead in the water.  Just after I passed on his port side the guy 
starts his engine and at an idle slipped his craft into gear.  There wasn't 
time for me to get out of the way and I was pinned to the bow of the 
boat.   As I braced against the bow I yelled, but he didn't hear me so I 
reached down and slapped the side of the boast with the paddle.  He came 
running forward to see what he hit and discovered me.  Lucky, you bet.  I 
was fortunate that he didn't slip it into gear and hit the throttle!  Next 
time I would pass on the shallow side in any case to ensure that I wasn't 
going to be in the most logical path of the larger vessel.

All of my paddling in Southern California has been limited to trips up and 
down the coast either from local harbors or surf launches.  I agree with 
those that basically stated a collision is best avoided by making sure that 
you are seen.   Even when seen I have had some distressing close encounters 
with pleasure boaters and a couple of local commercial fisherman servicing 
their traps.  High speed passes with their captains waving to you as you 
brace against their wake combined with the swells creating a confused sea 
and paddler.  The commercial fisherman appeared to take great pleasure in 
seeing what they could churn up and we could handle.

In a couple of instances the VHF has proven valuable by being able to hail 
the boat by it's name and asking politely for them to please watch their 
wake as it presents a danger to a much smaller craft.  Not all of the 
pleasure boaters have or monitor VHF, but the ones that did have 
significantly altered their actions.   In a few other incidents a couple of 
short blasts on a canned air horn did the trick and the boater gave us a 
wide(r) berth.

 From what I have read from far more experienced people than I it seems 
that large ocean going vessels, though presenting an inherent danger, are 
easier to avoid due to their size and predictable movement.  I have a 
greater fear and respect of folks out for the weekend drinking and enjoying 
the good life with little experience as boaters or possibly little to no 
respect for those they share the water with.

Better to be seen and safe and avoid close and ugly encounters with larger 
water craft!  (Jet Ski's Included!!!!!!)  Any other suggestions?


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