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

This is all fine but of course on a large river with barge traffic after 
dark a tow operator should never have to worry about determining 
your position and direction of travel.  They often can not and 
certainly should not ever be expected to adjust course in order to 
accommodate your position.  You should stay out of the main 
channel and if your are in a portion of the river where the channel 
is marked from shore to shore you should stay clear of the area 
within the channel required by the tow operator to maintain his 
course.  It is clearly your responsibility to be aware of and stay well 
out of the path of a commercial vessel on the river.  This is true 
day or night.  I am also unclear as to what VHF communication 
would be necessary between a kayaker and a tow boat operator 
trying to do his job in tricky conditions.

It would also be wise to apply the same principles to motorized 
recreational vessels of any type.  While these are far more 
manueverable and some hold on to the fantasy expectation for 
them to always operate safely around our position it is insane to 
assume the individual operator in question is going to do so.  Rules 
of the road should never be counted on by a kayaker.  Should 
something not go as "written" it is reasonable to assume it will be 
your surviving family members and not you taking any legal action.  

I prefer to not be continuously marked at night.  If anything it can 
draw attention to you as any lighted markings on a kayak can 
appear unusual.  I prefer to stay out of the path of any motorized 
traffic and make any necessary changes needed to assure I keep a 
safe distance.  Per the rules I carry a high intensity light to signal if 
necessary as well as a strobe light and flares to back that up.  It 
has never been necessary to use ANY of those items and I have 
extensive experience paddling in the dark.   I also personally 
suggest people not use red or green glowsticks or other lights in a 
position OTHER then the traditional bow positions.  Hanging green 
and red glow sticks on boats or PFD's may give someone the 
impression they are actually seeing a navigation light and that your 
heading is different then what it actually is. 

This of course is all just my opinion but I operate under the 
principal that no matter what my rights or what some rule book says 
I have a great deal of respect for vessels that can kill me without 
even leaving a mark on there bow.  I do not make the mistake of 
believing that the operator of any vessel is necessarily competent, 
alert, aware, educated, sober, etc. at any given time.  We are not 
the same and do not have equal rights.  In closing with a final 
obscure thought, while we can claim to be the top of the food chain 
when the gun jams the polar bear eats.

Aaron

On 25 Oct 2002 at 8:03, Bemis, Scott E. wrote:
> With LED red and green running lights on the bow, and the Scotty white all
> around light on the stern, I can easily been seen by all boaters, including
> tow boats.  We can communicate via VHF radio   They can easily determine my
> heading. There is no panic or near misses.  The river captains appear to
> appreciate this.  Again, this is above the required Coast Guard rules.  I
> can tell them what I am and we each know where the other is heading. 
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************