bobberdown Posted March 14, 2017 Report Posted March 14, 2017 kayaks after dark With fishing season coming up fast,i have wrote a letter to the US Coast Guard,reading "Kayaks" on the water after dark. It seems that regarding to the light code they only have to have a "white"light somewhere on them....there have been many close calls hitting these Kayaks while fishing after dark,we as in larger boating craft...have to have a port light,starboard light,a white light on the transom,and a upper white light above our taller deck to be seen at night. and above all,if we were to hit a kayak with out seeable lighting its our fault. Time for the laws to be changed...or maybe its time for these little boats to be off the water at dusk...you would think the coast guard ,sheriffs dept,DEC would acknowledge to save a life or law suit by better safety standards after dark....i have nothing against kayaks...they have the right to fish as we do...but safer lighting restrictions must be enforced for the safety of all of us....
mostlymuskies Posted March 14, 2017 Report Posted March 14, 2017 Even in Daylight Hours kayaks should have to have fiberglass whip orange flag 6 ft tall,so they do not get lost behind waves where you can't see them.Sent from my SM-G930V using Lake Erie United Mobile App
meangreencj7 Posted March 14, 2017 Report Posted March 14, 2017 Its crazy that they even let them on the water after dark. ( iv'e seen the sheriffs boat pull over skiers when its starting to get to dark on conesus) of course I think their crazy to be out on Ontario or Erie on one of these things to begin with.
bobberdown Posted March 14, 2017 Author Report Posted March 14, 2017 The thing of it is....Why as a insured and registered boater should i have to worry about these idiots..On the lake after dark with no lights on there kayaks...It only jeperdiz my insurance and the health of themselves and others...The law must change...This year !!!! I will not be responsible for a kayak owner to be on the lake after dark without the same lighting i have on my boat...Do they carry flare's... Whistles...And other safety devices on board ??? They are a safety hazards on the lake after dark...And the USCoast Guard has to take action..On this subject !!!! ASAP !!!
mostlymuskies Posted March 14, 2017 Report Posted March 14, 2017 Because the Buffalo River has been designated NY Inland Waters for funding for dredging & habitat restoration,could be possible to go after NY State for Safety Rules for Kayaks!Sent from my SM-G930V using Lake Erie United Mobile App
monkeyman14554 Posted March 14, 2017 Report Posted March 14, 2017 Interesting spin on this from the fisherman's point of view. I am a white water guy and have never wore anything but a light, however, if I was flat water paddling and fishing I think I would put up a couple more lights up for this very reason.. No easy answer here.
mostlymuskies Posted March 14, 2017 Report Posted March 14, 2017 monkeyman14554,I have nothing against Kayaks at all,I believe everyone has the right to enjoy our great waters.But just do not want to see anyone getting hurt or killed when it can be avoided with a little bit of safer practices on both sides,both boaters and paddle boaters.For one the imposed 10 mph speed limit in the Buffalo Outer Harbor because of the Kayaks is a big mistake at 10 mph my boat creates a 4 ft wake,at 25 mph no wake,so what is safer for the paddle boater wake or no wake!Like I said before a single white light when it is grouped with Buffalo City lights gets lost in the lighted background especially when the Kayak is so low profile they are very hard to see at night from short distances. Sent from my SM-G930V using Lake Erie United Mobile App 2
monkeyman14554 Posted March 15, 2017 Report Posted March 15, 2017 i agree with you that is what caught my attention.. i would not have thought of it as a kayaker however until i read your post. Aslo have only ever been on the water at night as a kayaker running into boats that i thought we doing it on purpose but now i wonder if more light would have helped
Dmd113 Posted March 16, 2017 Report Posted March 16, 2017 On 3/14/2017 at 5:15 PM, monkeyman14554 said: Interesting spin on this from the fisherman's point of view. I am a white water guy and have never wore anything but a light, however, if I was flat water paddling and fishing I think I would put up a couple more lights up for this very reason.. No easy answer here. As a white water paddle guy, I would guess your paddling rapids & don,t have to worry about getting run over by too many power boats.
monkeyman14554 Posted March 16, 2017 Report Posted March 16, 2017 True story but not always I have had a run in or two with smaller power boats or bigger rivers
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