rcohn

Not sure what an accident between sailboats has to do with kayaks. Are you try to start another silly discussion about sailboats demanding right of way over all other vessels when they are on starboard tack? Ralph

Rick, when I'm not interested in a subject I usually just don't add posts to the thread. I think we all know the law to tonnage, it has been repeated several times in this thread, but this was a discussion about rule of law, not handy principles to live by. One very good reason to be interested is that the rules of the road do not only dictate the way we must behave around other vessels, but also the way other vessels must behave around kayaks. If kayaks are none of the above, I think we would be the burdened vessel in all encounters. No sail or power boat should ever need to deviate in their course or speed in the slightest to allow for a kayak's presence. If they were forced to alter course to avoid collision, the kayaker would be in violation of the law. However, if rule 18 applies, sail and power boats become the burdened vessels in most encounters, required by law to alter course and/or speed, while the kayak would be the stand-on vessel. This might make channel crossing and navigating harbors a little bit safer. Ralph

With the new article in Sea Kayaker on the rules of the road, it thought it might be a nice time to revisit the fun we had last March. As you may recall the one thing our experts firmly agreed on (see below) is that human power is not a power vessel and a paddle is not a machine. However the “expert†selected by Sea Kayaker Craig Jungers states exactly the opposite “A paddle can be defined as machinery , but definitions aside, my advice is to assume that kayaks are to be treated under the law as if they were powerboats. So now we have opinions from mariners who believe they have sufficient understanding of the COLREGs that kayaks are treated as 1) power boats 2) vessels with limited maneuverability 3) vessels that are neither power nor sailboats (basically have no rights and need to stay out of everyone’s way. I( may be wrong but since it seems that all conceivable options must be covered, then someone must be right. I think it would be refreshing to someday hear from a real specialist in marine law and find out how we fit under the COLREGs. Ralph

Type III PFDs are designed as an aid to a conscious swimmer and are not likely to keep an incapacitated person in a face-up position. I believe type V PFDs function as a Type II PFD when inflated and will keep most people in a face-up position. The one time I “tested†my Sospenders while freediving, the results were quite impressive. The inflated PFD creates a collar around the neck and held me in a face up position. Type V also have higher buoyancy than type III. I think roughly 22 lb compared to 16 lb. Ralph

Very interesting. I assume your visual references for judging distance are based in 20/20 vision? Some of us may overestimate distances using those values. Ralph

Freediving wetsuits are also tailored for an extended arm posture. Brands include OMER, Picasso, Sporosub, etc. Also there are a number of custom wetsuit makers in the US. Ralph

Interesting, so they leave the kayaker's cars alone. I've heard a number of reports of vandalism to diver's cars there. Ralph

The seals at Duck Island can be a lot of fun, we were just diving/snorkeling with them a week ago. Ralph

Who knows? I've never used a wing paddle, but I would be surprised if it was easier to develop a combat hand roll than to learn a reliable roll with the paddle. For me, the ease (or ability) to hand roll a kayak is largely proportional to my ability to lean back onto the back deck. If the rear deck is too high, I can only do a few easy rolls in the kayak. Spine flexibility is a factor here as well. If you want to try a hand roll, put the paddle in your opposite hand and use it as a counterweight. This would only work if you can do a one-handed Greenland style hand roll. I would think some type of norsaq (aka. rolling stick) type rolling aid would be easier to use, a simple piece of wood you can grip with one hand would work fine. You need to put on a swimmer’s hand paddle, which would waste time underwater, especially while trying to hold onto the paddle as well. A norsaq provides greater support and you just need to grab it and roll. Ralph

http://www.dontechinc.com/nvf.html http://www.lumitron.com/new_page_8.htm Spectral response functions found in this document http://www.gamma-sci.com/PDFs/ANVIS.pdf also: http://www.cpctexas.com/home-nvis.htm http://www.casa.gov.au/download/CAAPs/ops/174-1.pdf http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/3000-3999/CIM_3710_2D.pdf It has been a few years since I looked at this stuff so my memory was a bit fuzzy. Estended IR range began with Gen III tubes and they have visible sensitivity. The military NVG goggles are filtered to cut down on the GaAS photocathode visible spectrum sensitivity, they appear to be blind to green light. Again I have no idea what the CG uses but Appendix I of the CG manual might indicate that CG NVGs are also blind to green light. Ralph

Be a little careful here. It wasn't clear to me who was doing the testing. The latest NVG gear is not commercially available (at least last time I looked). Older generations were more sensitive to shorter wavelengths (i.e. green). So we don’t know how well the latest NVGs will see green. I would hope the CG has the latest stuff, but who knows? Ralph

From what I understand, that latest versions of military night vision (NV) intensifiers (type IV) have their spectrum shifted towards the red. If I recall correctly (a big if) the reason was that starlight has greater illumination in the red/near IR end of the spectrum. Therefore, some fighter and helicopter cockpits may have the instrument lights shifted toward the blue (no red lights) to prevent blinding the intensifiers. That is of no importance for kayaking obviously. However, an interesting question is--if a CG helo is searching for you using NV gear, how well will they see a green flare? I have no idea. Ralph

John, It's actually the reverse, eyes become more sensitive to the blue end of the spectrum when dark adapted and spectral response peaks in the green. see scotopic response curves, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase...ion/bright.html . You have only minimal sensitivity to red light when dark adapted. Green flares should be more visible night or day. Ralph

John Winters is very knowledgeable on these topics, his comment contains far more insight into the relevant mechanics. Ralph

You have cleverly selected the wrong "expert" opinion to believe. KB is only an expert on any topic in his own mind. In these discussions, you need to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. The much more authoritative statements probably flew right over your head. I assume a similar expert told you that a sailor would yell "starboard" at anything moving on the water. Has one of the other sailors in NSPN set you straight yet? Ralph

They have not posted any temperatures this year. Ralph

Sunday afternoon several swimmers were in wetsuits and at least a couple were only wearing bathing suits. I'd guess the water is in the low 60s. It would depend on how thick your suit is and how long you'll be standing in the water. Ralph

Since a few hardy souls are swimminig in Walden Pond, also in Concord, and from rolling there I would estmate the surface water is in the upper 50s maybe even low 60s. I expect the temperature is way off, sub 40 degrees water really hurts. Ralph

I was out at Walden Friday evening and some kids were already swimming. While it's too cold for me to jump in without a wetsuit, we're clearly past the wear a drysuit or die conditions. Ralph

Miriam and I were out practicing on Wladen Pond last weekend and we had the entire pond to ourselves. That's my idea of lots of space Cheaper as well. Ralph

Ok, I'll bite, Rule 3.d. states And rule 18.d. states: How do these two rules apply to the discussion? Ralph

Please tell: Wayne Spivak National Press Corps United States Coast Guard Auxiliary This is his interpretation of the rules, not mine. I'm sure the paddling and general boating community will be very interested if the USCG arrives at an official uniform interpretation of how human powered boats fit within the COLREGS. Ralph

You recommended using the process of elimination to see where we fall within the rules. Wayne clearly stated that rule 18 applies. Here are the catagories under rule 18 “(a)A power driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of: (i)a vessel not under command; Does not apply, paddler on board (ii)a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver; (iii)a vessel engaged in fishing; Does not apply unless actually fishing (iv)a sailing vessel;”. Does not apply. not a sail boat The only type that might apply in rule 18 is ii, therefore Wayne could not be distinguishing between a vessel "restricted in maneuverability" and a "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" and still apply rule 18 to kayaks. Ralph

After a lot of searching I finally found the article to which I was refering. see: http://www.auxguidanceskills.info/press/paddlemessage.html The most relevant passage: How are we simple ordinary boaters going to understand the rules, if the USCG seems unable to agree on proper interpretation as well? Ralph

Just keep yelling "starboard" Ed, it will show everyone you're a great seaman who really knows his stuff