On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 7:28 AM, Richard Culpeper <culpeper_at_tbaytel.net>wrote: > I disagree with your conclusion as to liability, given that kayak speed is > negligible. > > Well consider this. You are happily paddling in a local bay with your white light visible all-around stuck on the back of your kayak. It's dark but you aren't worried because you have a light so people can see you. However other boats think you are anchored and not moving so they will plot a course to avoid you and then ignore you because they believe you are not moving (anchored) and concentrate on other traffic. If they then get into a situation where they have to choose between running you down when they finally realize you are moving or running aground - or into another vessel. Or if someone on that vessel is injured in any sudden maneuvering, you could very well find yourself in court trying to explain why you were showing an anchor light when, in actual fact, you were under way. So your forward speed is not always the factor here. Another situation might be that they plot a course to pass near you but your forward motion surprises them and instead of just going by you they hit you. If you survived that you might find yourself paying for damages on their boat caused by your little kayak being hit. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Mar 24 2010 - 08:45:06 PDT
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