Re: [Paddlewise] Night paddle - night lights, kayak, lengthy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bemis, Scott E." <SEBemis_at_bemis.com>


> The rules for night lights in Minnesota, U.S.A. for kayaks and canoes is
the
> turning on a white light when approached by a another boat . . .
>
> And I respectfully disagree with the statement
>    "Not only does this not apply to kayaks, but it can be dangerous since
it
> can
>      confuse other ships or boats that are not used to seeing the red and
> green
>     lights so close together"
>
> For the U.S.A., please refer to rule 20 and 21 at
> http://www.uscg.mil/vtm/navrules/navrules.pdf, for example the section, "a
> vessel less than 20 meters in length the sidelights may be combined in one
> lantern carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel."  Many
> recreational power boats are less than 20 meters in length.  The red/green
> light are one lantern, split so the green shows to the starboard for 112
> degrees and the red shows to the port for 112 degrees.  I would hope
U.S.A.
> boaters are used to red and green lights being close together as this is
in
> the U.S.A. Coast Guard rules.
>

Scott,

I have seen boats with the split red and green lights only--This is not
according to rule 20 and 21 as there also HAS to be a white light on the
stern.

A boat rising and falling with the swell that at times shows a red light and
at other times a green light as the boat moves slightly sideways with the
swell, and does not have a white light in the stern, will be very confusing.

A flashing light will be a distress signal where you are because I believe
that MN follows the Inland Rules. Where I paddle, we have to follow the
International Rules, and the Rules make no mention of a flashing white
light. A flashing yellow light could be indicating a submarine, dredging
operations, a hovercraft in displacement mode, or a vessel that is being
pushed ahead or towed alongside another vessel (I have seen each of these on
the water except for the hovercraft).

The rules are complicated --that's why there are lawyers that specialize in
maritime law. I still think that for a kayaker, it is best to keep a white
light available to be turned on when necessary, and to stay out of the way
of others. If you don't show up on radar, most commercial vessels would not
see you anyway. I believe it was Ralph Diaz who came up with the "Rule of
Gross Tonnage", if it's bigger than you it has the right of way. That is
even more important during periods of limited visibility. We are not even
speed bumps for a ship and if they did see us, I doubt they could do much
prior to hitting us. It's up to us to stay out of their way.


Steve Holtzman


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