To Flag, or not to Flag

Couple weeks back the coastguard rolled up on me and angle in monterrey.  Capt. said that with the white caps, swell and glare we were not visible at all, said he lost sight of us several times and told me to keep an eye out for boats that may not see us. Was contemplating a flag also.

Pretty easy to expect others to be "aware" at the wheel but assuming that they are is pretty risky. Whether I'm on my bike, in a car or on the water I always assume the other driver is a moron.   
 

As far as worrying about possibly being less cautious, I find it best to be consistently cautious on kayaks at all times, flag or not.

Exactly...having a flag onboard does not prevent me from waving my paddle or doing something idiotic to get the boater's attention (I can still do that if it makes me feel more comfortable OTW). But honestly, if I was driving and saw some guy in a kayak waving his paddle or acting maniacally, I wouldn't avoid him...I would assume the kayaker is in distress...and attempt to help. 

I tend to shy away from having anything passive on my boat that might make me feel like I'm visible to everybody else and don't have to be as cautious as I am when I'm absolutely positive that no one can see me unless I actively make it very clear that I'm here and PLEASE STAY AWAY!

This includes lights on poles at night.

I prefer to make a lot of noise and wave my paddle like a madman in the daytime or shine a powerful light directly at boaters at night whenever I think danger might be approaching.

Hmmm ... I kind of think flags and lights have the potential to make you visible at a farther distance.  Therefore an approaching boat has a lot more time to take notice of you.

As far as worrying about possibly being less cautious, I find it best to be consistently cautious on kayaks at all times, flag or not.

-Allen

Agreed, flag or light always for me, if you get caught in weather, fog, haze etc. the further away someone spots you the better, a few seconds can make a difference when someone is trying to avoid you. Probably says to use flag in the book "How to Avoid Huge Ships".

Flag and light always on the salt and big lakes. I use a visipole fiberglass with an American flag and a red HOW flag underneath. Full navigational lights at night. I have had a few close calls with boats. As far as spot jumping, I jump them as much as they jump me. 

The one drawback of flags is that they do create some drag that can be noticeable.  It's a balance of using a smaller profile flag, like the Yakattack ones, while still maintaining a desired level of visibility.  Something to keep in mind.

-Allen

crazy....at my experience level so far....I can not imagine someone not being able to see a kayak..I can see them way off....and I'm sitting on the water line....I wear red sleeves or hat  and see that on others much easier.....distance wise...I carry too much stuff so a flag???
might make the shark not think about attacking so much seeing a weird ass red flag on top of his sea lion view  finder

I want to use a flag where power boats are operating at above idle speeds. I got an ATV flag. It is about 6 feet tall. I attached the dive light I got using a cool rubberized twist tie. I haven't used it with the new light yet, but it looks like it will hold on well.

I'm planning on making a marker pole with a signal light and a vertical wind turbine for charging gopro/iphone/fishfinder.  there are vawt's that go on sailboat masts that might work.  I don't usually use a flag but there have been times when I wished I had one (night & dawn)  I always thought I would get hung up  on it while casting  I find anticipation of boaters movements and staying off to the side helps to not get run over.  haven't fished in salt water but once, but in the delta there are wakeboard boats and others that don't care if they buzz you close.

I like flags. More visibility the better. When it comes to diving off your kayak it is essential. It means someone is in the water.

I like flags. More visibility the better.

X2

Just bought a yak attack visipole all I need now is a flag for it

The Yakattack poles are the way to go. That is my next purchase.

http://www.yakattack.us/category_s/1893.htm

What's the battery type and run time on the Visipole?

With my kayak being camouflage I worry about the same. I'll probably buy a nice orange vest and add a flag. I'm a boater as we'll and I try to be careful. However sometimes kayakers are hard to see. Now being on the other side I'm going to do everything I can to be well visible. I would have preferred bright green or orange but the price was right.


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For Salt water fishing, I always use a flag.  Not only does it help boaters to see me, but it is easier for my group to differentiate me from other kayakers.  I use an Ahi Sabiki rod for the flag staff and use zip ties with a mounting tab to attach the flag.   The flag is a water ski flag with grommets added and flag mounting clips.  It flies the flag high and I can make bait too.