Re: [Paddlewise] Boat color

From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 10:01:54 -0400
----- Original Message -----
From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>

> If I recall correctly from previous P'Wise discussions, not to mention
personal experiences, boat color is somewhat irrelevant if you are trying to
be seen from the water (as opposed to an air search or something similar).
Nonetheless, the yellows and flourescents are the most visibile, but the
boat profile is so low that the boat won't be easily seen regardless of
color. <

You know, I am not sure how the low profile of a kayak comes into this
equation.  While it is low, what you are hoping will see you are people in
motor or sail craft whose eyeballs are at least 12 feet above the surface of
the water (in commercial vessels the eyeballs are 25 feet and up from the
water), i.e. they are looking down toward you and will see more deck than
say another kayaker will.

Whenever I am out on a large vessel such as a ferry or excursion boat I make
a point of seeing how well I can spot kayakers.  Quite well if there decks
are bright, and as you said, their paddles and PFDs bright as well.  Now,
mind you, I am on the lookout for the kayaks, which motorboat operators may
not be doing as much as me.  But I think with more kayakers on the water,
more skippers are alert to out presence and not just looking out for larger
vessels than us

***************************************************************************
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 Fri Jul 12 2002 - 07:02:05 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:54 PDT