NYCkayaker Captain and Paddlers Day at Pier 66

[Warren]

Even after hearing the USCG folks say it would be the best thing, I  
knew this would not be the end of the matter.

My interpretation of what they at the event were saying is:

The number one easiest thing to see on the water, day or night is a  
strobe. The human eye is naturally is attracted to a strobe. If you  
are crossing a ferry terminal singling with a strobe makes it more  
likely that you will be noticed.

When questioned about the legality of it, they seemed somewhat caught  
off guard. They stated that they would not see it as a distress  
signal, the first thing they would do is look at you through  
binoculars and see you are not in distress. They acknowledged that it  
would be used as a signaling method not as a boat light. Of note in  
their presentation was the requirement for paddlers in regards to  
lighting; have an electric torch ready to signal with as needed.

There is a recording of what was said it, is of course more  
authoritative and accurate than what is stated above.

What I took away from this was to realize that the strobe debate is  
not dead.

-Warren

On May 19, 2008, at 1:41 PM, bonnie13 at earthlink.net wrote:

> I was not sure I wanted to say anything because - well, just becasue.
>
> But I was pretty sure that what Stevie said was right, and I was  
> curious enough to go find the relevant rule on the USCG Boating  
> Safety site, in the visual distress signal section. And this isn't  
> about kayak politics, this is just about making sure we know what  
> the actual rules say. So here it is, straight cut & paste from http://uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_vds.htm 
>  :
>
> Under Inland Navigation Rules, a high intensity white light flashing  
> at regular intervals from 50-70 times per minute is considered a  
> distress signal. Such devices do NOT count toward meeting the visual  
> distress signal requirement, however.
>
> Regulations prohibit display of visual distress signals on the water  
> under any circumstances except when assistance is required to  
> prevent immediate or potential danger to persons on board a vessel.