Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Navigation Lights

This is a good idea. Reading through my state's laws regarding automobile
traffic I discovered that they also failed to say that one must ONLY drive
on the right. And, if I rig up my headlights to look like tail lights I
should be able to avoid traffic congestion. :P

The Rules spell out what lights to use in certain circumstances. I suppose
they never figured on someone deciding that just because they didn't say
that ONLY those lights could be used people could make their own
substitutions.

I don't know of any court cases but I do know of a kayak with a white light
that was cut in two by a power boater at night. This was on a lake in a
state that actually mandated that a white all-around light be placed on a
kayak. The cops didn't bother to do anything to the power boat driver (they
didn't even try to find him) and it took a couple of years before they
managed to get the power boater to ante up for the damages to the kayak. I
would not be surprised to learn of cases involving rowboats and other
vessels though.

I encourage using all available means to avoid close calls. If they can't
see me, they can't aim for me. :)


Craig

On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 9:10 AM, John Clinton <jcbikeski_at_gmail.com> wrote:

> It says an anchor light is visible all around, but doesn't say that ONLY an
> anchor light may be visible all around.  Actually in my case I have a white
> deck light about a foot or so behind me and maybe a foot tall, so I block
> the light from someone in front (which is why I have a headlamp ready but
> normally off).  Even if I used a hand flashlight pointed at a boat, if held
> still long enough it will mimic an all around light to that boat I've aimed
> it at (i.e. all they know is they see a white light).
>
> At any rate this is a classic case of not to worry until you hear of at
> least one such court case anywhere.  And I can use other means to mostly
> avoid any possible close calls.
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