Visibility enhancement?

I'm a sucker for a deal so I recently purchased a green P15 at a heavily discounted price. I'm wondering about what I should do for visibility enhancement since I intend to spend some time in the ocean and don't care to be rammed. Would strips of bright orange reflective tape be problematic in any way? My PFD is orange. I was also thinking (briefly) of putting some reflective lure tape on my boat, but I really don't want to be the guy in the story about the guy who made his yak into a shark lure.

I have the same boat and I don't think it is that big of a deal. Your red PFD and a white bladed paddle should help a lot. If I am going to a place with a lo of boat traffic I but a bright orange bike flag on my crate, it helps a lot.

I have a green P13 and worry about the same thing.
The red bike flag is a great idea. Thanks.

Thanks for the flag idea. I think between the flag, the orange PFD, something to make my black paddle more visible and a bright orange hat I'll feel better.

Yeah like I said I have never had much of a problem but the flag really helps when the swell is up. While not as visible as a yum-yum yellow kayak it is not like it is invisible.

...a perfect example of why having a bike flag can be a good thing when the swells are BIG  






When the salmon was hot at Moss Landing, we launched at around 4:30AM - I kept myself visible by duct taping 6 inch glow sticks on the very tip of my sabiki rod(other options:bike flag pole, or the top side of your landing net.) I also wore a head lamp and was constantly looking around every time I heard boats nearby (you gotta be a "light house" when you're out there)

just 2 cents....

while being visible is important, moss landing is the only saltwater fishing spot that is crowded enough to warrant such extras.  the ocean powerboaters are generally respectful of kayak and other anglers.  however our inland lakes and the delta are very different, those water sports boaters are just as likely to aim at you as they are to avoid you.  i have found their behavior to range from indifferent to negligent to hostile. in the interest of fairness i am sure they are many responsible people on many lakes, i can only speak from my personal experience.

There have been successful prosecutions of jet skiers and water ski boats harassing kayakers. get their hull number and report them ASAP. Include their ID, time, what happened. The examples that are made, the more they'll straighten up.

I just purchased:

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/47974885.htm?vcat=OUTLET_SSHP_KAYAKING_CANOEING_SA

From REI outlet.  With the discount, it was dirt cheap.  Plugs right into a scotty rod holder outlet and is super-visible.  That combined with the bright orange flag I found during the last SCruz tourney and I should be fine.

Joel,
That's pretty cool.  IMO, much more visible than a flag, esp at low light.  In DENSE fog, I think we are at a serious disadvantage.  

If traveling in the dark (or fog), it might be useful to have a blow horn handy, as well as a BRIGHT flashlight.

Stuart

The bike flag is a great idea. Now all you need is a waterproof 50 millimeter rifle to get their attention so they look in front of their boat. Last year a boater got bisected by a commercial boat in auto-pilot.

I just purchased:

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/47974885.htm?vcat=OUTLET_SSHP_KAYAKING_CANOEING_SA

From REI outlet.  With the discount, it was dirt cheap.  Plugs right into a scotty rod holder outlet and is super-visible.  That combined with the bright orange flag I found during the last SCruz tourney and I should be fine.

I ordered the same thing.
If your using it during the day for visibility you should be fine. However if your using it before sunrise or after sunset the CG will look at it as a 360 degree white light and if not visible 360 degrees can and I'm told will cite you. The problem I had was that the mast was not high enough to clear my head. The big difference though in my case is that I am using mine after dark. So you are probably fine.

Jeff