NYCkayaker More about strobes

[bob1may at optonline.net]

Separate from the rules about distress signals is the rule about Signals to Attract Attention - which specifically states that a strobe should not be used to attract attention.Rule 36 - Signals to Attraction Attention 
                  If necessary to attract the attention of another vessel, any vessel 
              may make light or sound signals that cannot be mistaken for any 
              signal authorized elsewhere in these Rules, or may direct the beam 
              of her searchlight in the direction of the danger, in such a way 
              as not to embarrass any vessel.  Any light to attract the 
              attention of another vessel shall be such that it cannot be mistaken 
              for any aid to navigation. For the purpose of this Rule the use 
              of high intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobe 
              lights, shall be avoided. Bob----- Original Message -----From: bonnie13 at earthlink.netDate: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 4:44 pmSubject: NYCkayaker RulesTo: nyckayaker > Oh, I do like the frivolous turn this is starting to take, but > I'm gonna indulge myself in one more bit of my > logorrhea/bloggerrhea (ha ha ha). Sort of copying it with slight > edits from a back-channel exchange 'cause again, seemed worth > saying as long as we're having Le Heavy Safety Discussion. > > There's a full set of equipment requirements & navigation> rules in the same place where I copied the actual wording about > the status of strobes:> > http://uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equipment.htm> > If you aren't already familiar with them, I really think it's > worth the time to go through & familiarize yourself with the > ones that apply to kayaks - that's your baseline for the rules > by which everybody out there has to abide. Somebody writes you a > ticket for using a strobe in a non-emergency situation, you > can't really say "But I heard that at this event, they said..." -> no, what's going to be enforced is what's written on the books. > Word of mouth learning is better than nothing, but we just saw > demonstrated quite vividly, even different people listening to > the same speakers had different understandings of what was said. > It's like that telephone game. Or Rashomon. > > Also sounds like a good demonstration of the fact that the folks > enforcing the rules are only human like the rest of us - subject > to a little confusion when put on the spot about some specific > detail they weren't expecting to be quizzed on just like > anybody. I was once pulled over by the Harbor Police around dusk > & told that it was illegal for kayaks  to be out after dark. I > knew the regulation they were thinking of (NYC parks kayak > launch rules prohibit launching or landing after dark), but > since I was closing  in on the barge & about a minute from being > done paddling, I didn't debate the point with them. In that > case, though, it was REALLY nice to know enough of the local > regulations to know why these guys might be confused.> > Now, anybody hasn't heard about the fellow who got tired of > being cold during winter paddles & built a stove in his kayak & > is curious about how it worked out, just let me know back-> channel! ;D> > > > **********************************************************************> The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, > and is a public service offered to the kayaking community by the > Hudson River Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at > www.hrwa.org> To unsubscribe or change delivery options:> http://www.rockandwater.net/mailman/listinfo/nyckayaker>