The Canadian requirements are simple, and make pretty good sense. One needs a PFD, paddle, bailer or pump, noise maker (whistle OK) and 50 feet of floating line. At night, one needs lighting as per the international regulations, which means a big flashlight for most paddle-powered craft. If the boat is over 6 meters, then a flashlight is required, and flares too. A throwbag as such is not required, the requirement is only for 50 ft of floating line, but the throwbag is a very convenient way to carry it. You may not be able to throw it 50 feet, but it could still come in handy. What I really like about these regs is that they are quite sensible about alternatives and the practicalities of small boat operation. For instance, small sailboats that can be propelled by waggling the rudder do not need to carry a paddle, and bailers/pumps are not required if the boat has sealed watertight compartments, or cannot hold enough water to sink/capsize (like SOT's). Flares are not required in boats that don't have sleeping accomodation and are engaged in racing, so dragon boats don't need to carry them. Sailboards don't have to carry anything, as long as the operator is wearing a PFD; if you don't, then you have to carry all sorts of stuff, including a PFD (hint: Wear your PFD!). There are similar rules for PWC's that encourage PFD usage. One is also supposed to carry a radar reflector, but the loopholes around it are such that in practice, it is not required: don't bother if the boat is operated in the day, in light traffic, and good weather, or is too small for the reflector to be effective. Full details: http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/tp/tp511/equipment.htm#minimum_safety_e quipment_requirements Rob MacDonald ##################################################################################### This message and any attachments are solely for the use of the intended recipients. They may contain privileged and/or confidential information or other information protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you received this email in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this email and any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your system. Thank You. ##################################################################################### *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The Canadian regs are OK for the most part, but fall down at the edges. For PFDs, they require DOT approval Some of the top rescue PFDs are US Coast Guard approved, but not Canadian Department of Transportation approved (we are too small a market to bother), and therefore are not acceptable. I have only heard of this being enforced once (on the Ottawa in the late 80s). The regs are based on boat length, so if you happen to paddle a forty foot canoe, the regs make no sense at all. Ring bouy, boarding ladder, etc. Folks in dragon boats slide under the regs by being canoes in a race or in race training with a chase boat, but if you are in a 40' outrigger just going about your business without an escort, you are in violation if you do not carry the mandated equipment. I have not heard of this being enforced, and in fact my crew frequently paddles past our local Canadian Coast Guard detachment and have brief conversations with them (my crew is female, and they like guys in uniform). Unfortunately, we also have permanent river closures (e.g. Niagara Gorge), high water river closures (e.g., Thames from the Fanshawe dam for a few kilometers), and prohibitions on and about many dams. Since god created dams to be run, I find these prohibitions annoying. -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of MacDonald Robert Sent: October-15-09 12:23 PM To: paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net Subject: [Paddlewise] Canadian Requirements for Small Craft The Canadian requirements are simple, and make pretty good sense. One needs a PFD, paddle, bailer or pump, noise maker (whistle OK) and 50 feet of floating line. At night, one needs lighting as per the international regulations, which means a big flashlight for most paddle-powered craft. If the boat is over 6 meters, then a flashlight is required, and flares too. A throwbag as such is not required, the requirement is only for 50 ft of floating line, but the throwbag is a very convenient way to carry it. You may not be able to throw it 50 feet, but it could still come in handy. What I really like about these regs is that they are quite sensible about alternatives and the practicalities of small boat operation. For instance, small sailboats that can be propelled by waggling the rudder do not need to carry a paddle, and bailers/pumps are not required if the boat has sealed watertight compartments, or cannot hold enough water to sink/capsize (like SOT's). Flares are not required in boats that don't have sleeping accomodation and are engaged in racing, so dragon boats don't need to carry them. Sailboards don't have to carry anything, as long as the operator is wearing a PFD; if you don't, then you have to carry all sorts of stuff, including a PFD (hint: Wear your PFD!). There are similar rules for PWC's that encourage PFD usage. One is also supposed to carry a radar reflector, but the loopholes around it are such that in practice, it is not required: don't bother if the boat is operated in the day, in light traffic, and good weather, or is too small for the reflector to be effective. Full details: http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/tp/tp511/equipment.htm#minimum_safety_e quipment_requirements Rob MacDonald ############################################################################ ######### This message and any attachments are solely for the use of the intended recipients. They may contain privileged and/or confidential information or other information protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you received this email in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this email and any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your system. Thank You. ############################################################################ ######### *************************************************************************** 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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