> Obeying the strict Rules keeps your legal liability low > and also keeps you from being seen as a target Craig - I was endeavouring to show that kayakers choosing to use one of the currently available lights _were_ doing just that ! Obeying the strict Rules. Not by changing or stretching them - just by following them as written. You originally said that such a light could only be used when anchored, whereas it clearly is legal when underway (for a certain class of vessel). So, your hypothetical case - of a skipper needing to take evasive action because a supposedly anchored vessel was moving - is just not true. Any skipper should be aware that a moving all-round white light may (quite legitimately) be a slow-moving vessel. You say that "doesn't change the fact that the light is not authorized for kayaks", but I beg to differ. It is just not required - as it is for a small & slow power-boat. On a small sailboat or a 'vessel under oars' (VuO), a 'lighted lantern' (not just a lantern) shall be 'exhibited in sufficient time to prevent a collision'. What part of this forbids you from displaying it continuously ? How will you reprimand a skipper for 'exhibiting' too early ? Surely in the absence of any limitation on 'in sufficient time' - he has a right to be as cautious as he feels appropriate ? You have several times referred to regulations for car headlights. Some jurisdictions require daytime 'headlights'. Most jurisdictions don't. I have never struck one where daytime headlights are illegal or would be considered to increase liability. I hope we are not disagreeing over whether a kayak is a 'vessel under oars' (VuO)? Our authorities are quite sure that a kayak is a VuO for purposes of the CollRegs. I thought that this also held true elsewhere - but maybe not ? The USCG does seem to accept kayaks as VuO in Pt 13 of their NavRules FAQ. As an aside, this 'VuO' category has traditionally covered one, two & many-man craft as well as those who scull over the stern with a single oar... Some rowers stand up and some even face forward. So the fact that a canoeist or kayaker uses but a single shaft is no reason to exclude kayaks, canoes, coracles, etc. Given an environment where a kayak is deemed a VuO, I cannot see how choosing to use a light continuously is in any way misleading or dangerous - practically or from a standpoint of increased liability. It is not required under the CollRegs - but I fail to see where it is either forbidden or deprecated... Best Regards Paul Hayward, 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Mar 25 2010 - 19:21:03 PDT
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