My wife and I got in a discussion this weekend. Orange safety flags. should they be rectangular or triangular or does it not matter? We are getting into open water kayaking which means we need the safety lights (have them, need to mount them) but i want orange safety flags on them too. I now all the flags colors and shapes have very specific meanings. does orange safety flags have the same significance? or can we use either shape??
Orange safety flags.
- Thread starter Kevin Q
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AFAICT there is no reg that mandates the use, shape, or color of these so-called 'safety flags' on sea kayaks. In the Apostles we see them of all shapes and sizes; square, triangular, rectangular, and cone shaped. Always orange however!
so you dont know of any specifics for that flag??
yeah, visibility is our main concern. and we are taking it very seriously. dont trust "speed boats".
yeah, visibility is our main concern. and we are taking it very seriously. dont trust "speed boats".
Nope.
Most we see on the water (Apostle Islands is a HUGE sea kayaking venue) have them mounted on thin fiberglass rigs for extra height. But a big flag will get blown like crazy and act like a sail. No regs, so do what you think best for your situation.
Fantastic. Thank you so much for the help. I was hoping to do a long triangle. they fly better than square, and should not act as a sail like you mention. that and i think the "flapping and movement" should help visibility. we are planning on decking out in head to toe reflective safety colors, we will have the safety lights, air horns and all such. really ruins your vacation getting run over.
Dream to kayak Apostle Islands. we were suppose to do that a couple summers ago but were not able to go. We did make it up to Pictured rocks last summer AMAZING. Still cant wait to get to Apostles.
Dream to kayak Apostle Islands. we were suppose to do that a couple summers ago but were not able to go. We did make it up to Pictured rocks last summer AMAZING. Still cant wait to get to Apostles.
That's what I do when I'm cycling. To keep visibility up high, I wear a bright shirt or jacket and a flashing LED light on the back of my helmet. If I had a recumbent, a land kayak if you will. I'd be mounting a tall pennant like you are doing.
The trick is being seen when you are below the horizon. And in a kayak, you are almost ALWAYS below the horizon. A flag on a pole helps.
Because there can literally be hundreds of kayaks out on a good day in the Apostles, I've learned to keep an eye out for their long trains as they run in groups from island to island. But the danger zone is when they fall below the level of sight-line created by the hull.
My advice to my kayaking friends is the same truckers give. 'If you can't see me (face), I can't see you'. Keep an eye out and keep clear. If it looks like it might get iffy, call on VHF16 to boats in your area. If that fails go to the horn.
Because there can literally be hundreds of kayaks out on a good day in the Apostles, I've learned to keep an eye out for their long trains as they run in groups from island to island. But the danger zone is when they fall below the level of sight-line created by the hull.
My advice to my kayaking friends is the same truckers give. 'If you can't see me (face), I can't see you'. Keep an eye out and keep clear. If it looks like it might get iffy, call on VHF16 to boats in your area. If that fails go to the horn.
Kevin,
Its good that you and your wife are so safety conscious with respect to making yourself more visible when kayaking.
Several years ago while sailing in Pensacola Bay, I got way too close to a kayaker that was about one hundred yards off shore. I consider myself to be a safe boater; however, I was keeping a watch out for boats and the kayaker was just about invisible until I was closer than a normal safety margin. My genny and hull obscuring my vision didn't help matters.
The incident raised my awareness to be on the lookout for kayakers also. So, I think any flag should be something that kayakers should universally use, especially where there are a lot of power boats, because of the speed factor with less time to react to a potential collision.
Its good that you and your wife are so safety conscious with respect to making yourself more visible when kayaking.
Several years ago while sailing in Pensacola Bay, I got way too close to a kayaker that was about one hundred yards off shore. I consider myself to be a safe boater; however, I was keeping a watch out for boats and the kayaker was just about invisible until I was closer than a normal safety margin. My genny and hull obscuring my vision didn't help matters.
The incident raised my awareness to be on the lookout for kayakers also. So, I think any flag should be something that kayakers should universally use, especially where there are a lot of power boats, because of the speed factor with less time to react to a potential collision.
we look at it like biking or walking. you may well have the legal right of way but a car weights 2+ tons and will kill you regardless of right of way. we are aware of how invisible we are as is the nature of the boat. and we are slow. so we hope to stay out of everybody's way. im always amazed at some of the stupid moves people make. with power boats AND kayaks. Kayakers who had never been in a kayak setting out into picture rocks?? 6+ mile stretches of rock face with NO safe landing anywhere yet these fools have no idea how to self rescue or what a bilge pump is??
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Are you sure you have a "right of way" in a human powered vessel? For example, by analogy, I don't think bicycles have any rights not given to all vehicles regulated by the traffic code. Many cyclists just ignore the laws (as in running stop signs; failure to properly signal turns or lane changes; etc.). Here we go (?) with another COLREGS (or Inland Rules) analysis!!
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I'm with Kings Gambit, I'd love to see where a human powered vessel is always "stand on" 'cause I'd guess it's not true.
I am not familiar with the mandated safety equipment that is required to be on board kayaks. However, a couple years ago I rented a stand up paddle board from a surf shop in Pensacola. It came with a mesh bag containing a PFD and whistle tied to a lanyard; the bag was attached to the SUP. I commented to the sales person about the safety equipment and he told me that it was mandatory for them to include the safety gear and that the area marine law enforcement occasionally checked paddle boarders for compliance. Also, some sailors have been ticketed for not having a sound making device (whistle) in their dinghy. We typically attached a whistle to the outboard safety lanyard to make sure it was onboard at all times in addition to the required number of PFD's. Seems that it would be prudent to have some sort of sound making device on board a kayak.
NO. quite certain we do NOT have the right of way. You missed my point. was saying EVEN IF WE DID have right of way, were smaller, slower and 'invisible" so its on US 100% to be out of the way.