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From: John Kirk-Anderson <jka_at_netaccess.co.nz>
subject: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:40:40 +1200
For those interested, here's a pointer to the battle over sea kayak
regulations being waged in the Auckland, New Zealand, area.
http://www.kayaker.org.nz/#issues

If the rule-makers win, will I have to become an Outlaw Paddler!

I might start Neptune's Angels, and we'll be BAAAAD. Watch out power-boaters,
the Somali pirates will have nothing on us.

Is this an excuse to pimp my paddle-craft. What is the sea kayaking version of
ape-hangers? I already use a Lendal modified crank, is that I sign I'm on the
way. Do I cut the sleeves off a denim jacket, put a patch on the back, and get
a bandana?

I admit, a group of middle-aged kayakers out cruising doesn't seem as scary as
a mob of hoods on Hogs, but it's a start.

Send donations now!

Cheers

JKA aka "Baldy"

John Kirk-Anderson
Banks Peninsula
New Zealand
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From: Richard Culpeper <culpeper_at_tbaytel.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:07:32 -0400
If, after a day of river paddling, you and your crew stop at a chip stand in
the middle of nowhere for a post-paddle snack, and there happens to be a
biker gang already there, and some of your crew are still wearing neoprene,
don't expect it to end well -- The Great River Valley French Fry War.


-----Original Message-----
John Kirk-Anderson


I admit, a group of middle-aged kayakers out cruising doesn't seem as scary
as
a mob of hoods on Hogs, but it's a start.
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From: Paul Hayward <pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:05:48 +1200
Funnily enough, one of our favoured bad-weather paddles makes use of the
Puhoi River which is navigable from the sea up to a pub - just below a
waterfall. This is not uncommon, here in NZ; something to do with a history
of thirsty commercial boatmen and their on-shore counterparts needing
refreshment. The rivers served as early highways for the collection of
cattle & sheep and the pubs remain as a worthwhile legacy.

Anyway this pub has been a favourite with bikers for many years - and the
combination of black leather and black neoprene is no longer surprising.
Haven't been any turf wars yet ;-)

Know which one I'd rather roll...

Best Regards
Paul

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Paul Hayward_____________________ (64)-(9)-479-2888
microMATION CONSULTANTS LTD________mob: 021-585-521
POB 101-257 NSMC, Auckland______________New Zealand


-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Culpeper

If, after a day of river paddling, you and your crew stop at a chip stand in
the middle of nowhere for a post-paddle snack, and there happens to be a
biker gang already there, and some of your crew are still wearing neoprene,
don't expect it to end well -- The Great River Valley French Fry War.
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From: rebyl_kayak <rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:09:53 +1000
G'Day Craig and Paul,

The NSW Maritime Rules or the Code of Practice for sculls and rowing shells
are not mandatory beyond following the minimal ColRegs requirements. However,
the Code does come with a very strong recommendation, thus:-

4.1 NSW Maritime notes that although there is no specific legislative
provision requiring rowers and paddlers to display the lights specified in
Clause 3.1 above failure to comply with this Code may be viewed by the Courts
as evidence of poor seamanship or negligence.

Have to say that although its important from a legal perspective, theres a
sense in which this clause is irrelevant. Suspect that anyone standing up in
Sydney amongst a group of seamen and trying to explain that operating a small
boat without fixed lights at night on the harbour was good seamanship, would
be greeted with baffled incredulity.

What the Code and the NSW Maritime Rules offer is the freedom, under ColRegs
rules 1 and 2 and building on rule 25, to use more practical options than
ColRegs specifies. These have been obtained after consultation with the local
community and are most commonly used. The main stimulus for providing this
freedom was a history of accidents in harbours and ports.

Can't speak for the rest of Oz or for NZ, don't know anything about their
legislation

The NSW Maritime jurisdiction for recreational boating is all NSW navigable
waters

As mentioned earlier I'm not aware of any kayak, showing lights as per the
code, that has been involved in a nightime collision in NSW navigable waters.
As mentioned earlier the main reason for introducing the regulations was a
history of accidents.

I've contributed as much as I usefully can so going back to nursing a mild
dose of flu. Hot whisky and lemon. Beautiful! Here's wishing you a pleasant
weekend kayaking.

All the best, PeterO
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From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:18:25 -0700
Can New Zealand and Australia, both signatory to the ColRegs, simply change
the rules on a local basis with not even a nod to International treaties?

I think I might use that as a club to beat them into some sort of
submission. If they are changing the navigation rules for vessels that are
already covered by the ColRegs and in waters that are already covered by the
ColRegs then that might present an issue.

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net

On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 2:40 PM, John Kirk-Anderson <jka_at_netaccess.co.nz>wrote:

>  For those interested, here's a pointer to the battle over sea kayak
> regulations being waged in the Auckland, New Zealand, area.
> http://www.kayaker.org.nz/#issues
>
> If the rule-makers win, will I have to become an Outlaw Paddler!
>
> I might start Neptune's Angels, and we'll be BAAAAD. Watch out
> power-boaters, the Somali pirates will have nothing on us.
>
> Is this an excuse to pimp my paddle-craft. What is the sea kayaking version
> of ape-hangers? I already use a Lendal modified crank, is that I sign I'm on
> the way. Do I cut the sleeves off a denim jacket, put a patch on the back,
> and get a bandana?
>
> I admit, a group of middle-aged kayakers out cruising doesn't seem as scary
> as a mob of hoods on Hogs, but it's a start.
>
> Send donations now!
>
> Cheers
>
> JKA aka "Baldy"
>
> John Kirk-Anderson
> Banks Peninsula
> New Zealand
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From: Paul Hayward <pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:34:19 +1200
I don't pretend to be any sort of expert on this - but having listened to a
lot of NZ bureaucrats expend a lot of words on this over the past 6 months -
I conclude that we live in a world of laws layered one atop the other - just
to amaze us.

In NZ, as elsewhere, lying over everything are the International ColRegs -
and no local laws should run against them. However, as far as I know, when a
country 'signs-up' to such an international collections of rules, they are
only 'in force' in that country's territory once that country's legislature
has enacted them into local law.

Then we have NZ's National laws which can add to or clarify the ColRegs.
Note that the Int.ColRegs start out (Rule 1) by saying that this is allowed.

Luckily, NZ hasn't any State level of regulation to worry about, but some of
our Regional Councils have added a level of control - using bylaws. In my
city, the Auckland Regional Council has imposed local controls on Jetskis,
water-ski boats and now on the visibility of kayakers (when more than 200m
from shore).

I would not be astonished to hear that, in a similar sort of way, US
Federal, State & City/Town laws exercise local control on boating within the
US territorial waters. 

I haven't heard of any maritime-law frontal collisions between any 'lower'
jurisdiction and a 'higher' one - I expect that this leads to political
pie-on-the-face and is avoided as a career-threatening activity by
bureaucrats.

I can give an example of a substantive NZ national-level 'clarification' to
the Int. ColRegs - perhaps on a par with the US changing the standard rules
of 'keep to the starboard side of a channel' in some of its Territorial
waters. (Which, of course, it is completely entitled to do.)

NZ has chosen to add a distinction covering the rights of a 'vessel under
oars' to the section regarding 'Conduct of Vessels in Sight of One Other'.
Such rights are not addressed in the International ColRegs. Such a vessel is
neither mentioned in the General Definitions - nor in the 'Responsibilities
between vessels' (Rule 18). It is, however, mentioned under the lighting
regs (Rule 25) and so, at least in Rule 25, is seen as neither a sailing nor
a power-driven vessel. Sloppy - very sloppy.

Perhaps such craft are intended 'by default' to be included as a
'power-driven vessel', which is formally defined as 'means any vessel
propelled by machinery'. As a Mech.Eng. (and not a lawyer), my definition of
a machine is very clear and certainly includes oars, double-ended paddles
and certainly ropes, pulleys, masts and sails - but what the hell do I know
?

Let's leave aside my contention that only bad life-rafts and 'people up
creeks without paddles' lack mechanical propulsion and guess that what was
meant by 'machinery' was (in my words) the action of engines powered from
stored mechanical, electrical, chemical (from gaseous, liquid or solid fuel)
or nuclear energy. Phew! Please don't ask about solar or wind...

Anyway, a 'vessel under oars should either fit in with 'machinery' or with
'sails' - or just be given its own category. Since it is unlikely to sink a
tanker - it seems it was simply ignored in the ColRegs as being unworthy of
consideration.

So NZ did a (somewhat sloppy) clarification to our 'Rule 18' and, in the
list of vessels to which a power-driven vessel must give way, added the
words 'or a vessel under oars' to make it 'a sailing vessel or a vessel
under oars'. I say sloppy, because we didn't define a 'vessel under oars'
anywhere (does it really include kayaks?), nor did we specify the pecking
order between 'oars' and sailboats.

I haven't attempted to dig into the US interpretation of the Int.ColRegs
(which, let us not forget, avoids the issue entirely), but it seems to take
the view that a 'human-powered vessel' is just another power-driven vessel
and should act like one.
(Again, I am quite open to correction on this - it is just what I've been
told.)

I'm sure glad I don't write software the way most laws seem to get
formulated ;-)
       
Best Regards
Paul

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Paul Hayward_____________________ (64)-(9)-479-2888
microMATION CONSULTANTS LTD________mob: 021-585-521
POB 101-257 NSMC, Auckland______________New Zealand
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From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:19:28 -0700
On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 7:34 AM, Paul Hayward <pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz> wrote:

>
> Then we have NZ's National laws which can add to or clarify the ColRegs.
> Note that the Int.ColRegs start out (Rule 1) by saying that this is
> allowed.


Interestingly enough, Rule 1 states that local Rules can be written for
areas within harbors and rivers navigable by international vessels. No
mention of near-shore waters where, we might assume, the International
ColRegs are again in force. One might assume, then, that outside of a harbor
or a navigable river the international ColRegs would prevail. Then we have
this....

>
> Luckily, NZ hasn't any State level of regulation to worry about, but some
> of
> our Regional Councils have added a level of control - using bylaws. In my
> city, the Auckland Regional Council has imposed local controls on Jetskis,
> water-ski boats and now on the visibility of kayakers (when more than 200m
> from shore).


Do they specify within harbors or navigable rivers? Seems that more than
200m from shore would actually be more likely to fall under the ColRegs.

>
> I would not be astonished to hear that, in a similar sort of way, US
> Federal, State & City/Town laws exercise local control on boating within
> the
> US territorial waters.


In non-navigable waters it's up for grabs. If a lake is within a city then
that city feels perfectly free to enact some sort of hodge-podge of "rules".
Otherwise a county or a state. Fortunately the Federal Government in the USA
restricts itself to the ColRegs.

As a Mech.Eng. (and not a lawyer), my definition of
> a machine is very clear and certainly includes oars, double-ended paddles
> and certainly ropes, pulleys, masts and sails - but what the hell do I
> know?


As an electronics engineer (origanally, at least) I agree. But then again I
believe in imaginary numbers.

>
> Anyway, a 'vessel under oars should either fit in with 'machinery' or with
> 'sails' - or just be given its own category. Since it is unlikely to sink a
> tanker - it seems it was simply ignored in the ColRegs as being unworthy of
> consideration.


It does seem strange doesn't it? I figured that if it's not a sailboat then
it must be a powerboat. Apparently in 1972 no one had any inkling of the
pending popularity of kayaks.


> So NZ did a (somewhat sloppy) clarification to our 'Rule 18' and, in the
> list of vessels to which a power-driven vessel must give way, added the
> words 'or a vessel under oars' to make it 'a sailing vessel or a vessel
> under oars'. I say sloppy, because we didn't define a 'vessel under oars'
> anywhere (does it really include kayaks?), nor did we specify the pecking
> order between 'oars' and sailboats.


Several states in the USA have done this. Oregon is one. But only upon
waters not under control of the USCG.  But Oregon says that sailboats give
way to vessels under oars which is nonsense; it's much harder to stop in a
sailboat than it is in a rowboat or kayak or canoe.

>
> I haven't attempted to dig into the US interpretation of the Int.ColRegs
> (which, let us not forget, avoids the issue entirely), but it seems to take
> the view that a 'human-powered vessel' is just another power-driven vessel
> and should act like one.


This has been my interpretation as well. Kayaks are clearly not sailboats,
tugboats, fishing vessels (under the Rules) or any of the others. Therefore
we have to pretend we are powerboats and behave appropriately.

Changing the International ColRegs is not a simple matter and that's
probably why we have such an apparently nonsensical set of Rules. Why
address "vessels under oars" in one section and nowhere else?

This is why I prefer to follow the strong flashlight rule and keep to waters
other boats would fear to follow.

So that leaves another question: Do these local rules (in OZ and in NZ) only
apply to harbors or are they being enforced outside harbors as well.

I'd also be curious as to whether following these local rules has completely
eliminated collisions between kayaks and other vessels. It has been my
experience that the average amateur boater is as likely to aim for a single
white light as aim away from it. This is most especially true on waters with
very dark shorelines. Maybe they think it's a harbor in a storm or
something. But if they are aiming for you they will hit you much sooner than
they (or you) expect; meaning at a higher speed than an approach speed. This
is because a kayak is so much lower (and therefore nearer) than the lights
they normal are accustomed to.

I'm going kayaking. Back Monday evening.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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From: Paul Hayward <pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:25:21 +1200
On Sunday, 28 June 2009 11:19  Craig Jungers < <mailto:pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz>
crjungers_at_gmail.com > wrote:

 

>So that leaves another question: Do these local rules (in OZ and in NZ)
only 
>apply to harbors or are they being enforced outside harbors as well.

 

None of the local rules contradict Int.ColRegs - they just layer on top of
them. The Int.ColRegs don't say that you can't add rules. So, you can add a
rule and enforce it anywhere you can normally enforce any of your rules.

 

I'm guessing, but I'd bet that there are local laws controlling water-ski
lanes and slow-speed zones near beaches all over the US - which aren't in
any 'harbour'. Same deal. Likewise, bringing a cargo of contraband onto a
remote beach doesn't impact the Int.ColRegs - but some agency is going to
take exception. 

 

> I'd also be curious as to whether following these local rules has
completely eliminated collisions

 

Of course not - what rules ever solve a problem completely ? What
enforcement is ever 100% ?

 

What is bugging us is that we have (now and historically) essentially zero
incidents in which the low-visibility of kayaks is known to have caused a
collision. We have a higher incidence of people hitting big islands than
hitting kayaks - so this is a be-seen-to-be-doing-something bit of
law-making, rather than something that can do measureable good.



Best Regards

Paul

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Paul Hayward_____________________ (64)-(9)-479-2888
microMATION CONSULTANTS LTD________mob: 021-585-521
POB 101-257 NSMC, Auckland______________New Zealand
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From: Paul Hayward <pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:34:19 +1200
I don't pretend to be any sort of expert on this - but having listened to a
lot of NZ bureaucrats expend a lot of words on this over the past 6 months -
I conclude that we live in a world of laws layered one atop the other - just
to amaze us.

In NZ, as elsewhere, lying over everything are the International ColRegs -
and no local laws should run against them. However, as far as I know, when a
country 'signs-up' to such an international collections of rules, they are
only 'in force' in that country's territory once that country's legislature
has enacted them into local law.

Then we have NZ's National laws which can add to or clarify the ColRegs.
Note that the Int.ColRegs start out (Rule 1) by saying that this is allowed.

Luckily, NZ hasn't any State level of regulation to worry about, but some of
our Regional Councils have added a level of control - using bylaws. In my
city, the Auckland Regional Council has imposed local controls on Jetskis,
water-ski boats and now on the visibility of kayakers (when more than 200m
from shore).

I would not be astonished to hear that, in a similar sort of way, US
Federal, State & City/Town laws exercise local control on boating within the
US territorial waters. 

I haven't heard of any maritime-law frontal collisions between any 'lower'
jurisdiction and a 'higher' one - I expect that this leads to political
pie-on-the-face and is avoided as a career-threatening activity by
bureaucrats.

I can give an example of a substantive NZ national-level 'clarification' to
the Int. ColRegs - perhaps on a par with the US changing the standard rules
of 'keep to the starboard side of a channel' in some of its Territorial
waters. (Which, of course, it is completely entitled to do.)

NZ has chosen to add a distinction covering the rights of a 'vessel under
oars' to the section regarding 'Conduct of Vessels in Sight of One Other'.
Such rights are not addressed in the International ColRegs. Such a vessel is
neither mentioned in the General Definitions - nor in the 'Responsibilities
between vessels' (Rule 18). It is, however, mentioned under the lighting
regs (Rule 25) and so, at least in Rule 25, is seen as neither a sailing nor
a power-driven vessel. Sloppy - very sloppy.

Perhaps such craft are intended 'by default' to be included as a
'power-driven vessel', which is formally defined as 'means any vessel
propelled by machinery'. As a Mech.Eng. (and not a lawyer), my definition of
a machine is very clear and certainly includes oars, double-ended paddles
and certainly ropes, pulleys, masts and sails - but what the hell do I know
?

Let's leave aside my contention that only bad life-rafts and 'people up
creeks without paddles' lack mechanical propulsion and guess that what was
meant by 'machinery' was (in my words) the action of engines powered from
stored mechanical, electrical, chemical (from gaseous, liquid or solid fuel)
or nuclear energy. Phew! Please don't ask about solar or wind...

Anyway, a 'vessel under oars should either fit in with 'machinery' or with
'sails' - or just be given its own category. Since it is unlikely to sink a
tanker - it seems it was simply ignored in the ColRegs as being unworthy of
consideration.

So NZ did a (somewhat sloppy) clarification to our 'Rule 18' and, in the
list of vessels to which a power-driven vessel must give way, added the
words 'or a vessel under oars' to make it 'a sailing vessel or a vessel
under oars'. I say sloppy, because we didn't define a 'vessel under oars'
anywhere (does it really include kayaks?), nor did we specify the pecking
order between 'oars' and sailboats.

I haven't attempted to dig into the US interpretation of the Int.ColRegs
(which, let us not forget, avoids the issue entirely), but it seems to take
the view that a 'human-powered vessel' is just another power-driven vessel
and should act like one.
(Again, I am quite open to correction on this - it is just what I've been
told.)

I'm sure glad I don't write software the way most laws seem to get
formulated ;-)
       
Best Regards
Paul

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Paul Hayward_____________________ (64)-(9)-479-2888
microMATION CONSULTANTS LTD________mob: 021-585-521
POB 101-257 NSMC, Auckland______________New Zealand
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Paul Hayward <pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:34:19 +1200
I don't pretend to be any sort of expert on this - but having listened to a
lot of NZ bureaucrats expend a lot of words on this over the past 6 months -
I conclude that we live in a world of laws layered one atop the other - just
to amaze us.

In NZ, as elsewhere, lying over everything are the International ColRegs -
and no local laws should run against them. However, as far as I know, when a
country 'signs-up' to such an international collections of rules, they are
only 'in force' in that country's territory once that country's legislature
has enacted them into local law.

Then we have NZ's National laws which can add to or clarify the ColRegs.
Note that the Int.ColRegs start out (Rule 1) by saying that this is allowed.

Luckily, NZ hasn't any State level of regulation to worry about, but some of
our Regional Councils have added a level of control - using bylaws. In my
city, the Auckland Regional Council has imposed local controls on Jetskis,
water-ski boats and now on the visibility of kayakers (when more than 200m
from shore).

I would not be astonished to hear that, in a similar sort of way, US
Federal, State & City/Town laws exercise local control on boating within the
US territorial waters. 

I haven't heard of any maritime-law frontal collisions between any 'lower'
jurisdiction and a 'higher' one - I expect that this leads to political
pie-on-the-face and is avoided as a career-threatening activity by
bureaucrats.

I can give an example of a substantive NZ national-level 'clarification' to
the Int. ColRegs - perhaps on a par with the US changing the standard rules
of 'keep to the starboard side of a channel' in some of its Territorial
waters. (Which, of course, it is completely entitled to do.)

NZ has chosen to add a distinction covering the rights of a 'vessel under
oars' to the section regarding 'Conduct of Vessels in Sight of One Other'.
Such rights are not addressed in the International ColRegs. Such a vessel is
neither mentioned in the General Definitions - nor in the 'Responsibilities
between vessels' (Rule 18). It is, however, mentioned under the lighting
regs (Rule 25) and so, at least in Rule 25, is seen as neither a sailing nor
a power-driven vessel. Sloppy - very sloppy.

Perhaps such craft are intended 'by default' to be included as a
'power-driven vessel', which is formally defined as 'means any vessel
propelled by machinery'. As a Mech.Eng. (and not a lawyer), my definition of
a machine is very clear and certainly includes oars, double-ended paddles
and certainly ropes, pulleys, masts and sails - but what the hell do I know
?

Let's leave aside my contention that only bad life-rafts and 'people up
creeks without paddles' lack mechanical propulsion and guess that what was
meant by 'machinery' was (in my words) the action of engines powered from
stored mechanical, electrical, chemical (from gaseous, liquid or solid fuel)
or nuclear energy. Phew! Please don't ask about solar or wind...

Anyway, a 'vessel under oars should either fit in with 'machinery' or with
'sails' - or just be given its own category. Since it is unlikely to sink a
tanker - it seems it was simply ignored in the ColRegs as being unworthy of
consideration.

So NZ did a (somewhat sloppy) clarification to our 'Rule 18' and, in the
list of vessels to which a power-driven vessel must give way, added the
words 'or a vessel under oars' to make it 'a sailing vessel or a vessel
under oars'. I say sloppy, because we didn't define a 'vessel under oars'
anywhere (does it really include kayaks?), nor did we specify the pecking
order between 'oars' and sailboats.

I haven't attempted to dig into the US interpretation of the Int.ColRegs
(which, let us not forget, avoids the issue entirely), but it seems to take
the view that a 'human-powered vessel' is just another power-driven vessel
and should act like one.
(Again, I am quite open to correction on this - it is just what I've been
told.)

I'm sure glad I don't write software the way most laws seem to get
formulated ;-)
       
Best Regards
Paul

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Paul Hayward_____________________ (64)-(9)-479-2888
microMATION CONSULTANTS LTD________mob: 021-585-521
POB 101-257 NSMC, Auckland______________New Zealand
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From: James <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:58:00 -0500
John Kirk-Anderson wrote:        I admit, a group of middle-aged
kayakers out cruising doesn't seem as scary as a mob of hoods on Hogs,
but it's a start.




John, I'm too cheap to send a cash donation (but will gladly accept any)
but I can donate a story.  (Endless supply of those, it seems.)

There is a whitewater slalom race on the Wolf River in Wisconsin called
"The Last Ditch."  It is late in the season.  It used to be in October
to catch the Fall colors at their peak.  Often there would be icicles
hanging from the bottom of the gates in the morning.

One year it was relatively warm and the colors were perfect.  The main
road through that part of Wisconsin goes right past the race course.  On
Sunday a huge flock of bikers, all decked out in their leathers and
such, stopped in to watch the races.  I'm there on the shore, all 140
pounds of me, wearing a skirt and schlepping my boat back up to the
start, when a bunch of the scary looking bikers came up.  I wasn't sure
if they were going to see if I really could float if they tossed me in,
or engage in some other Neanderthal-type entertainment.  But, not being
able to run very fast, I stood there pretending that I was cold so my
shivering would not be taken as fear.

The Head Neanderthal came up to me, wide-eyed, and said "That looks
really dangerous!  Aren't you scared?"  They were all like kids at the
circus, totally awed and respectful.

Good lesson in not telling a book by its cover.

Jim Tibensky
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From: Steve Cramer <cramersec_at_charter.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:30:46 -0400
James wrote:
> The Head Neanderthal came up to me, wide-eyed, and said "That looks
> really dangerous!  Aren't you scared?"  They were all like kids at the
> circus, totally awed and respectful.
> 
> Good lesson in not telling a book by its cover.

They were probably orthodontists and lawyers, anyway.

Steve

-- 
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA
http://www.savvypaddler.com
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From: John Kirk-Anderson <jka_at_netaccess.co.nz>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:39:07 +1200
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Culpeper" <culpeper_at_tbaytel.net>
To: "'Paddlewise Paddlewise'" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>


biker gang already there, and some of your crew are still wearing neoprene,
> don't expect it to end well -- The Great River Valley French Fry War.
> 

Please tell!

JKA

John Kirk-Anderson
Banks Peninsula
New Zealand
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From: Richard Culpeper <culpeper_at_tbaytel.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:13:13 -0400
Not much to tell.  The bikers started making homophobic, hostile and obscene
comments about the paddlers in neoprene, and then started throwing French
fries at them, including poutine (fries with gravy and melted cheese curds).
Being of sound mind and maturity, the paddlers pitched some back, and then
left before the food fight had a chance to turn into a real fight.


----- Original Message ----- 
biker gang already there, and some of your crew are still wearing neoprene,
> don't expect it to end well -- The Great River Valley French Fry War.
> 

Please tell!

JKA

John Kirk-Anderson
Banks Peninsula
New Zealand
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From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:47:17 -0700
On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 6:13 AM, Richard Culpeper <culpeper_at_tbaytel.net>wrote:

> Not much to tell.  The bikers started making homophobic, hostile and
> obscene
> comments about the paddlers in neoprene, and then started throwing French
> fries at them, including poutine (fries with gravy and melted cheese
> curds).
> Being of sound mind and maturity, the paddlers pitched some back, and then
> left before the food fight had a chance to turn into a real fight.
>

I defused a fight once by explaining that getting into one with a guy who
doesnt' smoke and can hold his arms chest-high for 4 straight hours wasn't
all that bright. In addition, if he won I'd own his pickup truck in six
months and if he lost all his friends would make fun of him for losing a
fight with a grandpa. Pretty much a lose-lose situation. I bought him a beer
instead.

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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From: Peter Rattenbury <ratten_at_uow.edu.au>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:34:14 +1000
Peter:  You might be thinking of one of these for the Pittarak/Klepper,

http://www.survivalsafety.com/

Regards,  PeterR
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From: Peter Rattenbury <ratten_at_uow.edu.au>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:34:14 +1000
Peter:  You might be thinking of one of these for the Pittarak/Klepper,

http://www.survivalsafety.com/

Regards,  PeterR
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From: rebyl_kayak <rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Outlaw Paddling, was Kayaks and Visibility Study
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:40:05 +1000
Peter wrote

>You might be thinking of one of these for the Pittarak/Klepper,
http://www.survivalsafety.com/ <http://www.survivalsafety.com/>

G'Day Peter,

That's as cute as a bugs ear. A mini radome would look well alongside the two
Klepper decktubes for the VHF antennae and the sailing rig:~) Water proofing
would have to be the big issue for me. But I know you wouldn't have any
problem fixing that part of the installation.

Guess it comes down to which is in worse shape my long vision, near vision, or
bank account:~)

All the best, PeterO
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