Our club has had this discussion on our list /ad infi-night-em/ with no resolution in sight, day or night. If you are out paddling at night around here (Chesapeake Bay) the marine patrols will tell you to turn on "a light" and keep it on. We usually do paddle with a single white light, usually mounted on the back of the pfd to avoid night blindness. Here's an experimental rig we tried around Christmas time http://picasaweb.google.com/ralph.heimlich/CPAHolidayParty2006/photo#5006956793055357474 The blue ones were shocking, but the light-up Santa worked pretty well. Ralph Heimlich *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
It's interesting that the marine patrols (presumably law enforcement) are instructing people to do something that the Rules are pretty clear on. Chesapeake Bay, as a body of water in which international trade is conducted, would fall under the enforcment of the USCG and the USCG Inland Rules of the Road (not state law) would prevail. The only place the USCG Inland Rules specifically mention a vessel powered by "oars" is Rule 25 about night navigational lights. There are only two choices: a) red/green at the bow with a stern light; and b) a lantern or flashlight. No mention of "turn on a light and leave it on". I suppose it wouldn't be the first instance of law enforcement officials misunderstanding the laws they're supposed to enforce. Still, putting a white light on the back of a PFD - as long as it's not too bright - is probably not the worst thing you could do. The worst thing you could do would be to put a red or green light on the back of your PFD, I think. Or a strobe. It is, after all, 1/3 of the actual law. In the event of an actual collision or incident you should be prepared to tell the USCG investigating officers exactly who instructed your club to show that light. Better yet, get the guys who told you this to sign a document that tells you to do it. Otherwise, get some good liability insurance. Craig Jungers Royal City, WA On 8/3/07, Ralph Heimlich <heimlichfamily_at_comcast.net> wrote: > > Our club has had this discussion on our list /ad infi-night-em/ with no > resolution in sight, day or night. > > If you are out paddling at night around here (Chesapeake Bay) the marine > patrols will tell you to turn on "a light" and keep it on. We usually > do paddle with a single white light, usually mounted on the back of the > pfd to avoid night blindness. > > Here's an experimental rig we tried around Christmas time > > http://picasaweb.google.com/ralph.heimlich/CPAHolidayParty2006/photo#5006956793055357474 > > The blue ones were shocking, but the light-up Santa worked pretty well. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
[Please remove all old content that is not pertinent to your reply including old headers and footers. It's list policy.... this post was modified to meet policy] I have been wondering if RULE 22 VISIBILITY OF LIGHTS would have any effect in this discussion: (d) In inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed; * a white all-round light; 3 miles. "inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels" could apply to many kayaks, especially in chop. Noel On 8/3/07, Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com> wrote: > It's interesting that the marine patrols (presumably law enforcement) are > instructing people to do something that the Rules are pretty clear on. -- Noel Davis FurledSails Sailing Podcast http://www.furledsails.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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