Emergency signals

so technically, for visual distress signals, vessels under 16ft in length or manually propelled  are not required to carry day signals (flags, streamers, smoke, ) but are required to carry night signals (red meteors, parachute flare, red flare, strobe light) in US coastal waters and inland to a point where coastal bays/rivers are less than two miles wide.

If pyrotechnic devices are selected, a minimum of 3 signals are required  for night use: 3 hand held red flares, 1 red flare and 2 parachute flares, 1 hand held smoke and 2 floating smoke signals for day and one electric distress for night.

that's direct from the reg book, and a little contradictory. It is important to note that strobes do not cover you for day time signalling.

I'm reading "a boaters guide to the federal requirements for recreational boats" and it's actually fairly vague as far as kayakers go.

I asked  the coastie about navigation lights/night lights and his words were that we need one white light for all low vis situations, dawn, dusk, fog, night, etc. and said technically they could board at any time of the day and ticket you for not having it on the vessel if vis conditions were what they considered low.

Here's what I found in the Oregon Administrative Rules(250-012-0020):

Sailing Vessels Underway and Vessels Manually Propelled

(1) A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:

(a) Sidelights; and

(b) A sternlight.

(2) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length the lights prescribed in section (1) of this rule may be combined in one lantern carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(3) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in section (1) of this rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by section (2) of this rule.

(4)(a) A sailing vessel of less than seven meters in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in section (1) or (2) of this rule, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision;

(b) A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

(5) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downward. A vessel of less than 12 meters in length is not required to exhibit this shape, but may do so.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 830
Stats. Implemented: ORS 830.250
Hist.: MB 15-1983, f. 11-29-83, ef. 12-1-83

Also found this link on the OSMB site that seemed helpful:

http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/BoatLaws/Equipment.shtml

Obviously this is all Oregon stuff, not sure about other states and I'm also not sure how this applies to offshore.

I was always under the impression that some kind of light needs to be onboard, but I'm not really sure where I got that idea from.

they were auxilary and definitely rule dorks. I didn't come away with the impression that it was likely, or that they would issue a ticket, but I imagine if you got the wrong guy on the wrong day, they could issue a ticket.

Here's what I found in the Oregon Administrative Rules(250-012-0020):

Sailing Vessels Underway and Vessels Manually Propelled

(1) A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit:

(a) Sidelights; and

(b) A sternlight.

(2) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length the lights prescribed in section (1) of this rule may be combined in one lantern carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen.

(3) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in section (1) of this rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by section (2) of this rule.

(4)(a) A sailing vessel of less than seven meters in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in section (1) or (2) of this rule, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision;

(b) A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

(5) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downward. A vessel of less than 12 meters in length is not required to exhibit this shape, but may do so.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 830
Stats. Implemented: ORS 830.250
Hist.: MB 15-1983, f. 11-29-83, ef. 12-1-83

Also found this link on the OSMB site that seemed helpful:

http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/BoatLaws/Equipment.shtml

Obviously this is all Oregon stuff, not sure about other states and I'm also not sure how this applies to offshore.

I was always under the impression that some kind of light needs to be onboard, but I'm not really sure where I got that idea from.

Is that at all times or just at night?

sunset to sunrise or during times of limited visibility

Yeah, but what if a fog bank rolls in while you're on the water.

I hate confusing rules/laws.  They should just say "required to have at all times" and "required to use in low visibility conditions".

-Allen

Also fulfills coast guard regs, which I also learned require you to have one white light at all times, even during the day. They are required for all "low vis. conditions" night or day. the CG could pull you over on a sunny day and if you don't have a light, they will ticket you.

Really?  Because at a past event, we had Coast Guard Auxiliary do complementary inspections and this was one item that was not on the required list.

-Allen

I think the reality is that we kayakers throw CG for a loop most the time. They don't really know what the requirements are for kayakers either.....most of the time. I think you are likely to get different answers from different coasties on different days. I've never had a problem personally, but have heard of lots.

I love that strobe!
 I must travel to Englund Marine in Crescent City Ca to pick that one up.
 No price that I found, but with EM...I'll pack my wallet heavy. 
 Regs or not...
 "descretion is the better part of valor". We should all pack what we can, (and feel comfy with) of the above mentioned devices.
seems like common sense to me, but then, common sense aint so common any more.

 Safe boating to all
       

not trying to be pushy, but you can order stuff through our web site or over the phone and get free shipping and NO SALES TAX. We price match and back everything we sell with 100% satisfaction or your money back. I'm out of stock on the ACR fireflies right now, but I have some on the way that will be in in a couple of weeks.

hell yeah, I can wait a a while on this. I would much rather support a Member than the big box store.
 Please PM me with your contacy info for ordering.
 Thanks Nanook!

My strobe burned up in my shed fire, so I'll get in line for an ACR also!

Funny, three years ago My Buddy went out on Ochoco Lake (Central Oregon), and was on his way in to the ramp.  The marine Deputy waiting on the dock contacted him (He was getting boater safety checks dockside, no boat).  Everything was good up until..."do you have a white light"?

No, he didn't have one.

No ticket was issued but he made it very/over clear he could have issued one if he felt it necessary, not winning alot of points with My Buddy unfortunately.  So I looked it up and was under the impression under vessel description we kayakers should have a single white light.  Too hard to see the kayak and determine at distance the direction the kayak is heading/facing, so it is better just to be seen and avoided with a white light than anything else.

I carry a white light (flashlight) and glow sticks.  I have been wanting to add some reflective safety tape to the deck also.
-Scott

scott,
definitely add the reflective tape. i used section of paddle reflector on both sides bow and stern, and am glad i did.

so, carry a flashlight and add a battery operated stern light ? maybe a clip on white light/strobe combo on the PFD ?

Yeah, I like the idea of having more than one option.  I bet a chem light clipped to the safety flagpole would work well too.  I know the tape will be a nice addition, especially if someone were flying overhead at night with a spotlight.
-Scott

though some might not agree with my posting this, you can also find additional, general information on this site, too;  http://www.topkayaker.net/Articles/Instruction/SignalDevices.html