Re: [Paddlewise] How to ruin a perfectly good paddling day...

On 7/30/07, Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_greatlakeskayaker.ca> wrote:
>
> Craig Jungers wrote:
>
> > kayaks don't have to
> > show lights (just carry a light - like a flashlight - to indicate
> position.
>
>
> The reason they have to carry the light is to show it.  They are
> required to show it to any other traffic, such as a power boat bearing
> down on them at 1 am.
>
> If he didn't have the light or failed to show it, I hope he gets the
> appropriate charge from the Coast Guard.
>
> None of the articles (or discussions) have indicated that the operator of
the kayak did not have the required flashlight or did not show it. The
articles said that the kayak did not have lights. Kayaks, as I said, are not
required to have lights. Paddlers are but when they get out of the kayak
then there is no light. I suspect someone looked at the kayak and noted that
it had no lights and reported same.

There is a discussion about this incident already and most responders are
indicating that a kayak must display a light visible for two miles. Perhaps
this is state law. It's not US law and as far as I know most state laws
mimic the US laws in this regard.

As for an appropriate charge from the USCG, that lake is under state control
and law not US Federal Law. So any citation would be from the appropriate
local authorities.

Last night, as some may have noticed, was a bright full moon and there would
likely have been quite a few boats out. There were here. Displaying a
navigation light on a kayak cuts two ways: A) Yes, they might see you; and
B) Then they might aim for you. I much prefer to keep a low profile until it
looks dangerous. Just a couple of evenings ago I was paddling in the
moonlight and had to shine my flashlight at a jetski (no lights). He
appeared to see it and changed speed and veered away.

Even not showing a light might be excusable under certain circumstances.
I've had power boats suddenly leave from a nearby dock and head for me so
close that I had little time. I could have turned on the flashlight and sat
there while he ran me over or I could have paddled as fast as I could to get
out of his way.

According to one discussion list, the powerboat involved in the incident did
not stop and they were looking for the operator. The fact that the operator
of the other vessel did not stop after chewing a kayak into two pieces makes
me suspect that the operator knew he/she was at least partly in the wrong.

Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************