RE: [Paddlewise] Boat 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.

That's true, if you are on a ferry, big sailboat, a large pleasure craft, a "ship" or whatnot.  But I suppose I was thinking more from the perspective of PWCs, small runabout pleasure boats (like a 16 ft bow rider), small 1-2 person sailboats, etc. Things that are lower to the water than the 12' height Ralph mentioned.   Also, Ralph's perspective seems to be from that of a responsible boater who is actually on the lookout for things in their path.  Mine is from the perspective of a drunk teenager who borrowed dads pleasure boat for a little afternoon fun with his friends and has 1/2 an eye out for other boaters, but not things as small as kayakers.

In the end, I guess you have to throw into the equation "from what type of platform are you trying to be seen" and "in what scenario are you trying to be seen".

Personally, in my home waters, I'm less concerned with big sailboats and commercial vessels as I am with teenagers on PWCs or small runabouts, which are relatively low to the water themselves.  Their boats are fast and small enough that they bounce around on the chop and the "captains" have lots of wind and sea spray in their faces.  These are the guys that I hope see my paddle flash or bright yellow PFD before they get close enough to see the color of my deck.

In my neck of the woods, those larger boats that Ralph mentions are going to be in big, big trouble if they get out of the shipping lanes or "regular" channels, and I simply steer clear of those lanes and channels.  This part of the Cheseapeake Bay is relatively shallow.  In fact, off of Plum Tree NWR (my favorite local paddling place) I can go several miles offshore (in places, not everywhere) and still be in water only up to my waist at low tide, and we only have a Mean Range of a few feet. This area is predominantly "flats" until you get further into the bay.    

Anyway, I'm not an expert on the subject, I'm just using some personal observations and drawing on my memory of prior P'Wise disccussions. Ralph has far, far more expereince and kayaking knolwedge than I do, so perhaps my comments are just relative to situations that I have personally found myself in.
 
Rick - Poquoson, VA 

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