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

How about carrying grenades or limpet mines and sinking the SOBs?

"Fred T, CA Kayaker" wrote:

> 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?
>
> ***************************************************************************
> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
> to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
> Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
> ***************************************************************************

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************