VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER!!!

Thanks for sharing this post Alex. It's good to be aware and do what we can on our part.
The Us Vs. Them mentality is very divisive and not very productive and I try not to partake in
those kind of threads. I agree we should do all we can to make sure everyone is safe (Lights, Pole Lights, Staying out of boating lanes etc...), but if a person is a dipshit the person is a dipshit, just don't paint all kayakers or boaters with the same brush --Just that person. 

Thankfully, this thread on Coastside is mostly respectful and constructive. There were a few off the cuff comments, but for the most part we're on the same page. I copied my opening post to the Coastside forum, and they were happy to see I was taking the initiative to spread awareness, etc..

We REALLY need to avoid the us versus them mentality. I fish the Marin Coast solo quite a bit, and I want to know that PB's (many of whom I have chatted with on Coastside over the years) will have my back in an emergency.




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Sucks when some a-hole in a boat tries to f' with you because you're in a kayak. Then, when you wait for him at the launch ramp, he calls the police because he feels threatened. Maybe a safety flag will help avoid such situations. But some guys just wanna act tough because they're behind the wheel of a bigger vessel.
In other words, make yourself as visible as possible...but it's not a 100% foolproof method--still always pay attention to your surroundings. And be prepared to move quick!

"Several power boaters have expressed serious concern about how we aren't especially visible in low light and high swell conditions."

Well neither are they!  Just like fast driving in tule fog, one shouldn't be boating faster than visibility allows enough time to avoid trouble.

One other comment on power boats; they need to be made aware of boat right-of-ways and the fact that their wakes, whether through ignorance or on purpose can create problems for kayakers.

This is a good post, and I agree with the priority for safety.
[...]
That bright orange safety flag probably won't make a difference if the guy on the throttle of the powerboat isn't being a responsible pilot.

^^^ This.

Week ago I almost capsized b/c of huge wake really close to me (and I mean it was huge and close)

Yesterday, with no crowd and good visibility at lake-like HMB guy almost got into me b/c he half-turned talking to the passenger (I used whistle 3 times before he made sharp 90 degrees turn).

What added to the problem was that he did not keep steady course, so while I tried to get away it was not clear where to go to avoid collision.

This is a good post, and I agree with the priority for safety.
[...]
That bright orange safety flag probably won't make a difference if the guy on the throttle of the powerboat isn't being a responsible pilot.

^^^ This.

Week ago I almost capsized b/c of huge wake really close to me (and I mean it was huge and close)

Yesterday, with no crowd and good visibility at lake-like HMB guy almost got into me b/c he half-turned talking to the passenger (I used whistle 3 times before he made sharp 90 degrees turn).

What added to the problem was that he did not keep steady course, so while I tried to get away it was not clear where to go to avoid collision.

^^^^ That's exactly why I hate fishing with the fleet, cuz there is a good chance some one is careless or an idiot.  Regardless, I think we need to do our part no matter what so we can increase our chance of being safe.  After all, the goal of every outing is to come back safe.

This happened only a couple months ago.  Very fresh in my mind.

I had it in my mind to go tolo bank for some rockfish and maybe a halibut that morning.  It was extremely low viz in the fog but I set out, got about a half mile south of the bell and had a close call with a power boat.  I pressed on and about 15 minutes later and I'm about half way to tolo and I can hear a boat, sounds like its coming straight at me but I can't see it.  I turn 90 degrees to the direction of the sound growing ever louder and then suddenly he's on top of me, viz was probably 150 feet and he's on a plane i peddle like hell and he sees me as he's passing by about 30 feet away.  scared both of us pretty good, he got on the radio to let the rest of the fleet know to slow down.  I turned due west to get out of the lanes with all the PB fleet headed to the hat for a killer salmon bite.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=73504.msg836391#msg836391

I usually fly a flag With a light in low viz, but it didn't help that day in the soup at the cove.

I try to stay out of the way and take responsibility for myself.  All I ask for is a fighting chance.  I doubt we are going to get these folks to slow down in the fog no matter how high we get and how loud we scream.    Seems like one of those things where nothing is going to change until there is a bad high profile accident, and maybe not even then if there isn't a technology based legislative solution - be that radar or what have you.

Relying on radar while running at WOT is just flat out stupid... There are all kinds of things floating at or just below the surface that could ruin your day. Whales, mola mola, debris, derelict crab gear.... All kinds of sh*t.


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Maybe if more members here were also members on Coastside and actively posting there, that would help build more trust and understanding in BOTH communities.   

This is a great site for exchange of information related to kayaks.  Coastside is an awesome fishing site and a super informative site for learning how to fish nor cal waters.  I've been a member there for 15 years since I owned power boats before I got a kayak.


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Maybe if more members here were also members on Coastside and actively posting there, that would help build more trust and understanding in BOTH communities.   

This is a great site for exchange of information related to kayaks.  Coastside is an awesome fishing site and a super informative site for learning how to fish nor cal waters.  I've been a member there for 15 years since I owned power boats before I got a kayak.


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Good point. There's nothing about Coastside that says you've gotta have a power boat. It's just a community of fishermen; from retired guys who like to enjoy a Sunday morning catching trout from shore at Bay Area reservoirs to hardcore commercial fishermen to party boat captains. 

It's a great resource, and I really enjoy listening to Coastside Radio the morning before I head out fishing.


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I have had a mostly good experience with power boats. When they are headed my direction I wave my paddle, it is orange and it seems to work. Most of the cut power and pass wide, a few just keep trucking and I just shrug and swing my yak to take the wake on the nose. Luckily I haven't been battling a trophy when it has happened. There have been a few time when I get caught between 2 large boats and get a fun ride from the converging wakes, but my thought is that I better know how to take it if I am gonna play in the bigs.
On the plus side my experience generally has been that the boats come in waves. 9 am they are leaving, noon some boats are coming back. Once I see the party boats coming in I know it's around noon.
I think I will be getting a flag pole though.

Maybe this guy's on to something with his tinfoil hat....


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Looks like some of the sac crew fishing for stripers on the American!

I use a flag with a light on top, but the pole is only about 4' tall. I always think it should be taller---like at least 6' so it'll stand out more in large swells. Just wondering if anybody has thoughts on the minimum height.

Most of the commercially produced safety flags are low and small.  They aren't much more visible than wearing a bright hat.  I made a large 7 foot tall safety flag with a USGS compliant white light for very little money out of a stiff Walmart fishing pole.  See http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=15155.msg164358#msg164358 for details.

They aren't much more visible than wearing a bright hat. 

Wearing a bright hat isn't a terrible idea either.

Air horn vs. whistle? or both........?