Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Paddle Craft Safety Laurie Harris United States CGA FSO - PA

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Key Topics Safety Equipment Sharing the Waterways Rules of the Road Highway Signs Homeland Security Summary & Wrap Up 2

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Safety Equipment Float Plan Description of the vessel Who’s Traveling Destination and Route Expected Time of Departure and Return USCG App!

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Safety Equipment Paddle Craft Vessel Exam 4

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Safety Equipment Navigation Lights Paddle crafts are required to carry at least one lantern or flashlight with a white light The light must be visible in all directions Between sunset & sunrise When visibility is limited

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Safety Equipment Sound-Producing Devices Sound-producing devices are essential when visibility is limited Whistle Horn

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 7 Safety Equipment Marine Radio How to make a distress call “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” Danger to life Use channel 16 State “This is” and the nature of the problem

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 8 Safety Equipment Hand Held GPS Latitude and Longitude Mackle Park Coordinates: 25* N 081* W

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 9 Safety Equipment Life Jackets Type I PFDType II PFDType III PFD off shore life jacketnear-shore buoyant vestflotation aid throwable devices special use device fully inflatable Type IV PFDType V PFD

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Safety Equipment Life Jackets Each paddler 13 years old or older must have a USCG approved Type I, II, III, or appropriate Type V life jacket < 12 years old or younger must wear their life jacket Inflatable PFDs must be worn on the person to meet the life jacket regulation – be careful with auto inflate! < 16 not permitted to wear inflatable “Serviceable Condition” – No Duct Tape Appropriate size and fit 10

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Safety Equipment Visual Distress Signals Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals Day SignalDay & Night Signal

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Safety Equipment Visual Distress Signals Night Signal Day Signal Non-Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 13 Sharing the Waterways Wear bright, noticeable clothing Use reflective tape on your paddle blades Keep your whistle handy Monitor Channel 16 on your VHF Radio At night and during low-light conditions, a white light must be shown toward on-coming traffic Use flags that can be mounted on kayaks

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Sharing the Waterways Be Aware of your surroundings Always be sure other boaters are aware of your presence Paddle as close to shore as is safe Avoid channels used by larger craft Alert other paddlers to hazards Render assistance unless you would place yourself or your boat in danger

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 15 Sharing the Waterways Assume you can not pass in front of a power boat When a powerboat passes, turn bow into the wake to help prevent a capsize The safest way for paddle craft to cross the path of a powerboat is astern Remember to cross other boats as a group instead of straggling across the river and blocking other traffic

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 16 Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Highway Signs How are ATONS essential for boaters? Help the boater determine where you are on the water and help plot a safe course to your destination

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Highway Signs 17 Lateral marks on navigable waters Color Red or Green Numbers are EVEN or ODD May be lighted or not Will be nuns or cans 6 7

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Highway Signs Lateral significance: Numbers going up – returning from sea Numbers going down – going out to sea Red – Right – Returning from sea Green – Right – Going to Sea Markers Change – Marco River R26 18

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Rules of the Road Interfering with the passage of large, deep-draft vessels that can navigate safely only in the deepest part of a channel As the vessel operator, you need to follow the Navigation Rules Required to report any boating accident or injury to the local reporting authority, either the USCG or local police

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Rules of the Road 20

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 21 Rules of the Road Rule 2: Responsibility This states that all vessels—even canoes and kayaks—need to follow the rules Rules 7 and 8: Risk of Collision and Action to Avoid Collision All mariners and paddlers are responsible for ensuring safe navigation in all waters and must take appropriate action to avoid a collision

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Rules of the Road Rule 9: Narrow Channels A vessel shorter < 60 feet is required not to “impede the passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway” Rule 25: Lights and Shapes for Sailing Vessels and Vessels Under Oars Any vessel under oars (or paddles) shall have “ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing white light, which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision The Rules of the Road APP! 22

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Rules of the Road Port = Red Starboard = Green Stern = White 23

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Rules of the Road Sound signals are a combination of short and prolonged blasts Short blasts last about one second Prolonged blasts last 4 – 6 seconds 3 Short – Vessel operating astern propulsion 5 Short = DANGER!

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Rules of the Road Bend Signal = 1 Prolonged 25

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Homeland Security Do not approach within 100 yards of any U.S. Naval vessel Avoid all security zones, commercial ports, and restricted areas near dams, power plants, etc. Do not stop or moor beneath bridges or in channels Report any suspicious activity

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Waterway Watch If you see something – say something WATCH

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 28 Summary and Wrap up Always wear lifejackets You are responsible to know the Rules of the Road Proper Equipment – Radio, Flares, Whistle & Light Do not overload your paddle craft Don’t assume that you can pass ahead of a power or sail boat The safest way to cross the path of a boat is astern Do not allow passengers to sit where they may fall overboard Remember to cross other boats as a group instead of straggling across the river and blocking other traffic Safe Paddling!