[Paddlewise] Kayak Navigation Lights

Right now there are quite a few paddlers who think that there is some USCG
rule that requires showing a light on any kayak paddled at night. In the USA
and on navigable waters under the authority of the USA this is decidedly NOT
the case. Notwithstanding this, there are, apparently, quite a few
navigation lights out there now for kayaks. Most of them seem to be white
lights visible all-around and mount on a staff aft of the cockpit. The
mounting system seems to be one of the main variables as well as the type of
light.

I have misgivings about using these - at least on "navigable" waters in the
USA - because, there is no legal authority for mounting what is essentially
an "anchor" light on a vessel that is under command and moving.

This is all confusing and complicated by several individual states mandating
such a light for waters not under the authority of the Feds; however, the
ColReg "Rules of the Road" offer only two choices for "vessels under oars"
in Rule 25. I'm going to quote the entire Rule below but basically a vessel
under oars (and I suppose that would mean a kayak under a paddle) at night
must have an electric torch (flashlight, one presumes) or a lighted lantern
showing a white light which can be exhibited in time to avoid a collision OR
the same lights as a sailing vessel PLUS the flashlight.

But the lights for a sailing vessel are not one single white light visible
all around. The lights for a sailing vessel are red/green (port/starboard)
lights plus a white stern light. According to Rule 21 a stern light is
strictly defined NOT to be all-around. To wit:   "Sternlight" means a white
light placed as nearly as practicable at the stern showing an unbroken light
over an arc of the horizon of 135 degrees and so fixed as to show the light
67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel.

So, under the ColRegs there is no mention of a white light visible all
around for any vessel except for an anchor light, defined by Rule 30: "A vessel
of less than 50
meters<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_30b.htm>in
length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen
instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule."

I'm certainly not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if you are displaying a
white light that is visible all-around and get into an accident or cause
damage while paddling in navigable waters under the authority of the USCG
(in the USA) you could be liable for damages.

If you do mount one of these new lights on your kayak then you would be
prudent to also carry a flashlight for signaling. My reasoning for this is
that such a flashlight (electric torch) is required EVEN IF YOU DISPLAY THE
RED/GREEN SIDELIGHTS AND WHITE STERNLIGHT.

I, personally, will be adhering to the USCG Rules prescribing the use of an
"electric torch" and not be using any other lights when paddling in a kayak
at night.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net








RULE 25: SAILING VESSELS UNDERWAY AND VESSELS UNDER OARS

(a)     A sailing vessel
underway<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_25a.htm>shall
exhibit:

   1. sidelights<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/def21b_side.htm>;

      2. a sternlight<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/def21c_stern.htm>.


(b)     In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in
length<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/def_3ij_length_bredth.htm>the
lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one
lantern <http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_25b.htm> carried at
or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(c)     A sailing vessel
underway<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/def3hi_underway.htm>may,
in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule,
exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two
all-round lights in a vertical
line<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_25c.htm>,
the upper being red and the lower Green, but these lights shall not be
exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by paragraph
(b) of this Rule.

(d)

   1. A sailing vessel of less than 7
meters<http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_25di.htm>in
length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in
paragraph
      (a) or (b) of this Rule, 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.
      2. 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.

(e)     A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by
machinery <http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/pops/nr_25e.htm> shall
exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.
*A vessel of less than 12 meters in length is not required to exhibit this
shape, but may do so.* [Inld]
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************