Paul Raymond <kayaker37_at_hotmail.com> wrote: > Perhaps this is a good time to cover rules of the road? It is no surprise that other boaters regard kayaks as a hazard ... sometimes we behave in unpredictable fashion, and many of us do not know the technical details of the Rules of the Road. (Not that many casual, recreational powerboaters are better in either respect!) Someone else has already recommended David Burch's excellent summary of how the Rules apply to us. Burch incorporates the legal interpretation with what is best in practice, given our limitations. His is the best source I know of as background reading. Learning to judge where you are relative to the channels designated for encumbered vessels, and what the needs might be for sailing vessels that appear to be in your path is a beginning. After that, it is mostly sea time and careful watching of what vessels do. All of this works well when the other players also know and follow the rules. But, because so many "Sunday boat operators" have no clue of the rules, don't care, and may themselves be encumbered (by alcohol or other comestibles), the best approach in heavy traffic is to paddle defensively. It makes sense to watch your back often and carefully. Where I paddle, it is usually possible to choose routes that are in waters too shallow for power boats to use, and that has saved my bacon many times. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Jun 17 2002 - 19:55:22 PDT
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