Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaks and Visibility

On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 5:30 AM, rebyl_kayak said:
>
>
>
> A single clearly visible navigation light is mandatory at night for a kayak
> in
> New South Wales waters and I believe that is what the ColRegs require for a
> vessel under oars (I guess a paddle for this purpose is an oar).


The ColRegs, at least as published in the USA (and I always thought they
were identical for all signatory countries) only address a hand-powered
vessel (vessel under oars) one time and that is when it concerns lights.
Rule 25 covers both sailing vessels and vessels under oars and the
applicable portion reads:

"A vessel under
oars<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_25dii.htm>may
exhibit the lights prescribed in this rule for sailing vessels, but if
she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted
lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to
prevent collision."

The only reference in the ColRegs to an all-around white light is in Rule 23
whch concerns powerboats. The rules for powerboats are divided into those
under 7m, those under 12m and everything else. Apparently NSW is lumping
kayaks in with powerboats under 7m because that reads:

"*a power-driven vessel of less than 7
meters<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_23cii.htm>in
length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the
lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white
light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights.* [Intl]


> A red light
> for port and a green one for starboard is also recommended but not
> mandatory
> for kayaks and its really hard to find a good water proof set so most of us
> don't use the port and starboard lights just one or two white lights.


There is nothing in the ColRegs covering vessels under oars which mentions
two white lights.A second masthead light is required for powered vessels of
over 50m (these provide a "range" for determining the heading of the vessel
when viewed from the bridge of another vessel).


> I've no
> reason to believe that Australia doesn't comply with ColRegs and would be
> very
> suprised if NZ didn't comply.


It appears to me that NSW is not in compliance with the International
ColRegs rule 25 covering vessels under oars and is, instead, defining them
as powerboats and covering them under Rule 23.

I wasn't following the discussion closely enough so may have missed the
> instance in which NZ appeared to be going their own way re ColRegs? Was
> that
> the case?


The discussion regarding NZ was that it appears (to me, at least, from the
posts) that NZ local jurisdictions were devising their own rules for kayaks
without regard to the ColRegs; even in navigable waters.

One of the confusing issues regarding navigation lights is that the ColRegs
only cover navigable waterways which are usually defined as waterways on
which "commerce" is carried. Lakes and rivers which do not have "commerce"
are left to the jurisdiction of localities. Here in the USA there are local
"navigation rules" set forth by individual municipalities which are often
(very often) not the same as the ColRegs. For a kayaker these can be very
confusing.

As far as a "single white light visible for two miles" it's my own belief
that this is the least useful of all the lights in a harbor or near shore
situation because there are so many white lights. Even on a dark night with
no lights on shore a single all-around white light can be dangerous if an
impaired powerboat operator (e.g.: drunk) fixates on the light and ends up
aiming for it (this almost certainly occured in the NE USA a few years ago
in an accident where the kayak was cut in half while trying desperately to
avoid the collision... see www.seakayakermagazine.com).

So if you want to fight over-regulation of these "rules" I think one course
of action is to point out that they are not in compliance with the ColRegs.


> BTW enjoyed your strategy for defusing a bar room brawl!
>

Thanks. :)'
'
'
Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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