Kayak Tournament

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Just wanted to tell the guy that was in the middle of the lake at Bridgeport in the dark at 6:30 am with no lights that he is an idiot. I actually thought it was a stump until i saw the dork paddling along.  He was the only one i saw being an idiot today, all the other kayak guys i ran into were nice and i hope they had a good day, most even had an orange flag on the back.   He may have but it was to dark to tell

[fishinwrench]

Yep they do that here too.  They obviously underestimate how long it's going to take them to paddle back to the access, so every evening there are unlit vessels poking along within a mile of the access in total darkness.   I have learned to slow down and look really hard for them when I'm headed in, but I suppose about 10 will have to get killed before they finally get the message and buy some freakin' lights.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

i saw probably 15 of them out at that time and all but one had lights and were tight to the bank.  But the KVD of kayak fishing was cruising out in the middle.  I yelled and told him to get some @#$% lights, im sure he heard the message, it as dead calm.   I dont know why but it pisses me off so bad, sure enough if i hit him somehow t would have been my fault.  

[fishinwrench]

None of the ones around here ever have lights. Never.  

It makes me mad too.  The dude I nearly mowed over last year acted like it was no big deal and that I was just overreacting.   I mean how stupid do you gotta be?

[bluebasser86]

5 hours ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

i saw probably 15 of them out at that time and all but one had lights and were tight to the bank.  But the KVD of kayak fishing was cruising out in the middle.  I yelled and told him to get some @#$% lights, im sure he heard the message, it as dead calm.   I dont know why but it pisses me off so bad, sure enough if i hit him somehow t would have been my fault.  

We have it around here too. It makes me mad because if I did hit someone and kill them, even if I didn't somehow get the blame, I still have to live with the guilt no matter how much it was their fault it happened. 

[Guest]

we have plenty of boats that sit out in the lake with no lights or run up and down the lake with no lights.  then we have bass boats and others that run round with all kinds of lights on and they blend in with boat docks and you can't tell whether they are coming of going.  you are to only have your navigation lights on.  kind of surprised that babler has not mentioned that since he used to be water patrol.  or, how about it Capt. Haupt?

bo

 

[fishinwrench]

I don't have any trouble seeing a regular sized boat after dark, but small Jon boats and kayaks have surprised me a number of times. 

[bobby b.]

9 hours ago, merc1997 said:

we have plenty of boats that sit out in the lake with no lights or run up and down the lake with no lights.  then we have bass boats and others that run round with all kinds of lights on and they blend in with boat docks and you can't tell whether they are coming of going.  you are to only have your navigation lights on.  kind of surprised that babler has not mentioned that since he used to be water patrol.  or, how about it Capt. Haupt?

bo

 

This summer I've seen lots of boats running with those blue UV? lights in the rub rails but no red/green navigational lights so I can't tell if they are coming or going or just standing still.   I use my UV lights for fishing but turn them off while running.

[tjm]

Are nav lights required by law or just a suggestion ?

[fishinwrench]

30 minutes ago, tjm said:

Are nav lights required by law or just a suggestion ?

It is not a law for paddlecraft.  Should be common sense though if you are in an area that is thick with motorboats.

But then again, there's the argument that if you can't see a guy in a kayak then you can't see trees, logs, and other obstacles either.....so maybe we have no business out there operating above idle speed anyway.