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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: I read the rules... and learned something
Posted By: Karl In Response To: Re: I read the rules... and learned something (haresfur)
Date: Wednesday, 4 August 2004, at 12:25 p.m.
: Sorry, but I still don't read the rule this way.
Well, you should, cuz the fine under 33 CFR (code of federal regulations for navigation) is a minimum $1000.
The fact that a small power boat underway *may* exhibit a
: minimum of a 360 degree visible light tells me that when you see a visible
: single white light it does *not* mean a vessel at anchor but can also mean
: a slowly moving vessel: "a power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters
: in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the
: lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white
: light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights."Again, be very careful of the rules. This is specific to a power driven vessel, we are not; that rule is for international waters, not inland (where is the demarcation line where you paddle?), and it still suggests side lights.
: Quite frankly it strains common sense to require kayaks to travel in stealth
: mode until it appears that someone is about to collide with you. Ok, we're
: talking government here, but really? "Sufficient time to prevent
: collision" doesn't IMHO preclude showing the light sooner - only that
: if you don't show any light until it is too late, it is your own d*mn
: fault. Don't forget a small power vessel traveling at speeds within the
: range of paddle speed will be showing a white light at a minimum. Why
: would it not be ok for a kayak? Why would it be more safe for a kayak to
: travel with no visible light?We are not, repeat, not, required to travel in stealth mode. Since Rule 20 (b) clearly states that the lighting requirements are for identification, we can only use a bright light to be turned on as necessary, or use a stern white light with red/green sidelights. If you need the visibility, use the latter. Savvy skippers will recognize you at night as a small, slow boat.
As for me, even though I paddle often at night, including around shipping traffic, I choose not to light my boat-
1, they irritate me and wreck my night vision,and, 2, make me assume no one can see me, and the onus is on me to observe and navigate out of the way. There does, at times, an attitude that lighting will "make other boaters avoid me", as though that is the sum total of necessary precautions.BTW, any state can require lighting different than COLREGS.
karl
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