Kayak Safety Flags

[Lucky1]

One of the reasons I use an orange kayak is to try to be seen. Most of the time I try to stay near to the shore whenever possible.
I may investigate a flag. However, I assume that if a boater hits a swimmer, or a kayaker or sailor or sailboat etc, there will be a legal process. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE BOATER TO MAKE SURE HE IS NOT TOO NEAR AND GOING TOO FAST TO SAILORS, KAYAKERS, SWIMMERS ETC. It is not open season on others in the water so that any boater can do as he or she wishes. No headway speed within so many feet or whatever the different rules are.
Actually, would someone happen to know the rules for boaters regarding other persons and boats etc in the water?

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

One of the reasons I use an orange kayak is to try to be seen. Most of the time I try to stay near to the shore whenever possible.
I may investigate a flag. However, I assume that if a boater hits a swimmer, or a kayaker or sailor or sailboat etc, there will be a legal process. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE BOATER TO MAKE SURE HE IS NOT TOO NEAR AND GOING TOO FAST TO SAILORS, KAYAKERS, SWIMMERS ETC. It is not open season on others in the water so that any boater can do as he or she wishes. No headway speed within so many feet or whatever the different rules are.
Actually, would someone happen to know the rules for boaters regarding other persons and boats etc in the water?

I don't find it all that hard to spot kayaks and canoes. Less visible than a boat ... sure, but certainly visible at 1000' or more, assuming the person at the wheel is paying attention. I find that the kayak color helps but only a little. More visible is the persons body and head and especially the blades. Flashy blades, moving*, are very easy to see. If kayakers wore blaze orange (or equivalent) PFDs that would (IMO) be sufficient for all ... except Capt B.


*think of a cyclist with reflectors in the pedals at night. No doubt what they are when you see them. So does anyone make LED paddles for night-time kayaking ???

[Kracken]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

One of the reasons I use an orange kayak is to try to be seen. Most of the time I try to stay near to the shore whenever possible.
I may investigate a flag. However, I assume that if a boater hits a swimmer, or a kayaker or sailor or sailboat etc, there will be a legal process. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE BOATER TO MAKE SURE HE IS NOT TOO NEAR AND GOING TOO FAST TO SAILORS, KAYAKERS, SWIMMERS ETC. It is not open season on others in the water so that any boater can do as he or she wishes. No headway speed within so many feet or whatever the different rules are.
Actually, would someone happen to know the rules for boaters regarding other persons and boats etc in the water?

This comment is a very good reason why all boaters including Kayakers, Rowboaters and canoeist should need to take a boaters education class.

Power boaters do need watch out and give way for vessels with limited maneuverability (like a kayak). However, anyone sharing the water needs to take responsibility for their actions. Don’t assume you have the right of way. A power boater running down a kayaker will most likely be legally found at fault, but that would NOT mean much if there were a fatality involved.

We absolutely can get along, but we all need to take responsibility for ourselves our vessels and everyone else sharing the water.