RE: [Paddlewise] Flares etc

On Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:28 +1200, "Paul Hayward" <pdh_at_mmcl.co.nz> wrote:
...
> As I can't carry flares with me, flying up to Vancouver from Auckland
> next week - or indeed on the AMHS ferries going up to SE Alaska, I've
> been considering my options to help that last 'eyeball' phase of the
> search (that I sincerely trust will never eventuate;-)
>
> As far as I know, neither Canadian nor American safety regs require me
> to carry flares in a sub-6m kayak - but I always have them in my PFD
> in New Zealand - so it will feel funny not to have them in Alaska.
>
> It's also a pity to buy them & throw them away after 3 weeks...

Paul -

As far as I can recall, flares are indeed required in any 'navigable'
water in the US - that is, anyplace with Coast Guard jurisdiction
including the Great Lakes, etc.  There may be an exemption for
human-powered boats during the day.  I also seem to recall that the same
is true in Canada, which also requires a 10 meter tow rope.  My memory
is a little hazy since I carry these all the time anyway.  But don't
leave shore at night without some sort of visual distress signal, I
think they call it.

Hopefully someone better informed will confirm or deny -
Jennifer
-- 
  Jennifer Pivovar
  jpivovar_at_headwinds.org
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