Boating Etiquette When Encountering Kayakers

[fishinwrench]

Could the prosecutor define "normal flow of traffic" for the court, please. 😅

[Quillback]

Whatever the rules are, if you're out in the middle of the channel on a lake like Table Rock in a hard to see, low to the water kayak, you're in a hazardous situation.  You're going to have bass boats, pleasure boats, pontoons (there's a toon in a dock near Emerald Beach with two 300 HP outboards on it) flying by, doesn't matter who has the right of way if you get run over you're going to be in a bad situation.   Kayaks are just hard to see no two ways about it.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I always take my butt seat off the front deck when I decide to move.  It’s a pain but I have been on Taney when that little seat blocked my view of a kayak.  They do have a propensity to run down the middle sometimes 4-5 across.  Then a straggler back off to the side.  I don’t want to hurt anyone is the bottom line for me.  

[liphunter]

When I go to the local sporting good store and I see the pretty green, blue, and camouflaged kayaks. I think, that is some pretty prop fodder. Don't buy something that blends in with the scenery.

You get some mature dude like me. Eyes ain't what they used to be.  Getting all he can out of that exploding Mercury. All jacked up on ensure. and your out there floating around in a blue kayak. You can't put your life in the hands of others. It's yours. Protect it.

[fshndoug]

I always like the outfitters putting in canoes and yaks on taney when the fog is so thick you can cut it with a knife.Then they go down the middle of the lake.Makes me think someone is an idiot I just don't know which party it is.

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 minutes ago, fshndoug said:

I always like the outfitters putting in canoes and yaks on taney when the fog is so thick you can cut it with a knife.Then they go down the middle of the lake.Makes me think someone is an idiot I just don't know which party it is.

I've seen that too.  Crazy is what it is.  About as smart as running your jet ski up in the trophy area when the water is off. 

[fshndoug]

They never have nav lights on.I always have mine on and move towards the bank when I hear another boat.

[snagged in outlet 3]

4 minutes ago, fshndoug said:

They never have nav lights on.I always have mine on and move towards the bank when I hear another boat.

Last summer I was surprised by how the number of kayaks getting dropped in had increased.  On a side note they are not real quick to unload and get the ramp clear for the next person either.

[ollie]

This reminds me of something my parents always told me when walking home from somewhere. You don't walk out into the middle of the street. Just because you can and you have the right away doesn't mean that someone out there won't hit you! Stay on the side of the road. I think we can apply this to all kayaks out there on the lake. I have been out in my solo canoe on the lake and I don't venture out into the middle of the lake. I stay close by the shoreline in case a boater can't see me. It is a 2 way street out there for everyone in a boat no matter what.

[tjm]

Quote

§83.06   Safe speed (Rule 6).

Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

Doesn't this make the power boater responsible to avoid the kayak?

Obviously the kayaker isn't smart if it hangs out in a marked  channel, but it must at times need to cross that channel? Do power boats only operate at speeds above idle when in a marked channel? Do power boats ever go around bends at speeds that could be dangerous to a swimmer, kayak, canoe or drifting boat? There seems to be a tendency to absolve the bigger faster boat from any responsibility in any encounter? If a boat is allowed to roam the entire lake at high speeds and put the responsibility of collision on slow moving or stationary craft, doesn't that in effect prohibit paddle craft?