Re: [Paddlewise] boat visibility

I can not comment on the visibility of kayak colors but living in the
largest fishing port in the United States I can comment on buoy colors which
are extensively used to mark crab pot locations.  The buoy colors used seem
to be comprised of four solid colors.   Orange, red, white, and yellow.  My
observation, which others may not agree with, is that the orange and yellow
buoys are the easiest to see.  The boats may also be choosing buoy colors to
try and separate their pot (buoy) locations from pots (buoys) belonging to
other fishing boats.

<Bill>

Brought to you from beautiful Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
N 53°51.140'  W 166°30.228'

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne" <wrf_at_hypatia.unh.edu>
To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 4:26 AM
Subject: [Paddlewise] boat visibility


> I feel that one of the most important visibility items and the easiest
thing to see on a
> distant kayak is the flashing of the paddles.  Black or dark colored
paddles are not
> visible from a distance in the same way that white or light colored
paddles are-- this
> might be an important thing to consider when purchasing a paddle.  Light
colored PFD
> are also important but from a long way off it is the paddle that attracts
the most
> attension.  Relfector strips on PFD are also great for low sun angle
conditions.  But
> when I cross a shipping channel I usually paddle high- flashing those big
whites as
> much as possible.  As for boat color that is a harder question.  As others
have pointed
> out much of that depends on water conditions and lighting.  A white bottom
boat may
> be pretty visible once upside down (not a good thing).



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