Vessel Safety Checks for canoes and kayaks? Requirements and recommendations

The answer in short is Absolutely! While the equipment requirements for canoes and kayaks are minimal the Vessel Safety Check is an outstanding opportunity to discuss safety issues in general and focus on those issues most relevant to our area.

Requirements:
1) A type I, II, III or V Life Jacket for every person aboard. This life jacket must be of appropriate size for the intended wearer and in good condition. Ideally the life jackets are worn! (See the Federal requirements here, the Oregon requirements here, and the Washington requirements here)

2) A sound producing device for signaling, typically a whistle. The best location is attached to the Life Jacket of the operator. (See the Federal requirements here)

3) If operating at night appropriate lights. The navigation rules allow the use of a white lantern or flashlight for vessels under oars or you may have running lights like those used a sailboat under sail. The lantern or flashlight should be readily available and bright is best. (See the Federal requirements here)

4) If operating under the following conditions "All vessels used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected directly to them, up to a point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United States operating on the high seas must be equiped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals." You must carry approved, non-expired night signals. You are not required to carry day signals. (See the Federal requirements here) These conditions generally don't apply to boating in our area until you get downriver near Astoria.

Recommendations:
Wear your life jacket

Carry a dewatering device, a pump and/or a bailing bucket.

Be aware of the special conditions on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers

• High levels of commercial vessel traffic including deep-draft ships, tugs with barges and passenger vessels
• Many recreational boaters operating in a very constrained waterway - there are lots of us in very little space
• Snow fed rivers with very cold water much of the year
• General water quality issues in some areas and sewer overflow conditions in periods of high runoff
• Occasional heavy river level fog which seriously reduces visibility

Be comfortable in the water, out of your boat.

Obtain the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for kayaking and canoeing.

Always boat with a group. Three boats is a recommended minimum.

Know how to self-rescue. Practice! Practice! Practice!

File a float plan, with friends or family so someone can call for search and rescue if you are overdue.

Bring appropriate safety, rescue, and navigational aids, and more than adequate food, water, and extra protective clothing. Do not wear cotton!

Pick an activity level that matches your ability, and progress to more demanding challenges.

Monitor your physical and emotional condition, and watch the other members or your group for fatigue, illness, and changes in behavior.

Know and follow all local, state and federal laws.

Be visible - wear bright colors so others can see you between waves or in the fog. Carry a bright light, flares, and whistle to signal your position.

Take a boating safety class offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Safe Summer SITREP: Columbia Slough Regatta

Hosted by the Columbia slough watershed council, this annual celebration of the slough is the largest one-day paddle in Oregon. The council provides 15-20 paddle craft on a reservation basis and encourages the public to bring their own boats.

Flotilla 76 has participated in a number of paddle craft focused events in recent years. This is the first event where we developed focused paddle craft education materials (handouts & posters). The paddling specific material developed was based on the work done in District 1 for their Paddle Safe 2009 campaign.  Seven vessel exams were conducted – we have some gaps to fill in our knowledge to maximize the educational value of vessel exams for paddlers. We plan an ongoing outreach effort to the padding community and will be receiving two kayaks next week funded by a boating safety grant from OSMB. We will use the kayaks as static displays and hopefully as operational facilities, within the limitations of such vessels, in the future once we have PCO qualified members.

A PDF versions of the new cold water poster can be found here (matrix only) or here (matrix and PNW information).

A PDF version of the paddling safety poster can be found here.

Please send me any corrections or additions to these three posters and I will update them for our next event.

Paddle Craft Safety

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the American Canoe Association (http://www.americancanoe.org ) offers some basic safety tips:

• Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
• Be comfortable in the water, out of your boat.
• Obtain the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for kayaking and canoeing.
• Always boat with a group. Three boats is a recommended minimum.
• Know how to self-rescue. Practice! Practice! Practice!
• File a float plan, with friends,,family, or the authorities.
• Bring appropriate safety, rescue, and navigational aids, and more than adequate food, water, and extra protective clothing. Do not wear cotton!
• Pick an activity level that matches your ability, and progress to more demanding challenges.
• Monitor your physical and emotional condition, and watch the other members or your group for fatigue, illness, and changes in behavior.
• Know and follow all local, state and federal laws.
• Be visible - wear bright colors so others can see you between waves or in the fog. Carry a bright light, flares, and whistle to signal your position.
• Take a boating safety class offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Resources:

• USCG: Boating Sidekicks - Smart Start for Paddlers (Flash webpage - great for kids)
• USCG First District Auxiliary: Federal Requirements for Paddlers (webpage)
• OSMB: Paddling Oregon Safely (pdf)
• Flotilla 76: Cold water effects | Pacific Northwest water temperatures & cold water effects 
• Flotilla 76: Paddle safety tips

Sector Portland also requests you clearly mark your boat with your name and phone number:

• If your Paddlecraft is found, it can be returned to you 
• A simple phone call can help us determine if you are OK, or separated from your paddlecraft and in need of assistance

Navrules: Canoes and Kayaks

One of the fairly regular questions we get is where Kayaks and Canoes fit into the Navigation Rules and the requirement to give way. The Navigation Center has some guidance. 


USCG Navigation Center: Navigation Rules FAQ 
13. Where do Kayaks and Canoes fit into the Navigation Rules? Neither the International nor Inland Navigation Rules address "kayaks" or "canoes" per se, except in regards to "vessels under oars" in Rule 25 regarding lights. One could infer that a "vessel under oars" should be treated as a "sailing vessel" since it is permitted to display the same lights as one, but, ultimately the issue of whom "gives way" would fall to what would be "required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case" (Rule 2).