Proposed Bill on mandatory kayak safety equipment

[mansfieldsign]

Cape Cod Times Outdoors www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/sports/benji.htm

[SamRiley]

Cape Cod Times Outdoors www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/sports/benji.htm

Not sure that that is the link you intended to post but I found this one. Molly takes up FlyYaking
:)

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/outdoor/meets14.htm

[mansfieldsign]

Hi Sam, Thanks for the heads-up, Sorry. It was in the CC, Outdoors 12/28/03.
# 1 A cape habor master has proposed a change to the general laws making safety equipment mandatory; pfd,whistle, mirror, etc. on all kayaks while on the water.
After the deaths of the 2 girls last fall he feels it should be required by law.
#2 Also, House No. 2126HOUSE, No. 2126
By Mr. Hill of Ipswich, petition of Bradford Hill and Bruce E. Tarr for
legislation to mandate the installation of safety flags on kayaks. Public
Safety.

[Sean Juan]

You guys mean this

http://www.vsv.cape.com/~harharb/ciha/kayakersmissing2.html

I just find it ironic that because two kayakers died who were not following the law the State responds with another law...

[mansfieldsign]

Sean J, Thanks for finding that article. Phil

[ruge13]

I thought having a whistle and a PFD was already a coast guard rule? All the laws in the world aren't going to help if there is no one handing out fines for it.
Adding a compass to the list is not a huge infringment on our civil liberties I don't think. The mirror would be a stretch.

[Sean Juan]

Seriously, there is no track record for legislation protecting us from ourselves (check out seat belt laws and motorcycle helmets). Beyond that, there is no logic that says if they had these, they would have survived, since the cause of the accident was never determined (could have been a murder/suicide for all we know, more likely hypothermia.) Finally creating a law that protects people from a specific, unpredictable disaster is a waste of time and money that only life vest, compass and whistle manufactures will like/support. This is just a way for a politician to score points off of a tragedy.

In all likelihood the only people who will ever get fined for this are trout fishermen on inland ponds - since they are the most likely to encounter a fish and game guy. Hows that for irony... at Walden pond a guy sitting in a kayak gets cited for not having a compass, while two swimmers pass by.

I'd just as soon keep all such laws off the books. If we lose any liberty its way too much, and the only thing it offers in return is a false sense of security.

[Ray]

Last spring I was one the way back from one of the haba islands after a kayak / camp / fishing trip with a few other RTer's. I tried my marine whistles at about 150 - 200 yards apart from the others.


No One Heard It!!! How Comforting.

Then again....they may have been trying to loose me :confused:

[SamRiley]

Then again....they may have been trying to loose me :confused:

Next time I'll be sure to drill a few holes in your yak before we make the crossing
:brow

[mansfieldsign]

:brow Ray, with all due respect. Your not supposed to place your lips over the sound hole. Come over Saturday, I'll show u how to use one. :p
Sorry, I couldn't control myself on that one. --- Care, Phil