New Boating Regulations

What does a canoe require under the new regulations (15m line etc?)

And does anybody know if it's really being (or will be) enforced...

Also is it Okay to just have all this stuff in a pack to satisfy the

I agree that the rules are there for safety, however A bailer in a canoe Is not of much use, just turn it over (you should always paddle that close to shore anyways...). A throw bag thrown from a canoe is interesting... from shore it work really well, but from a canoe ?

PFD, this is the best safety equipment when worn and I agree with having it and wearing it.

I spoke to the Coastguard reps at the Ottawa Paddle Show in March about these requirements. Apparently an awful lot of drownings happen close to a boat (a drunk falls overboard without a PFD on etc.), so it was thought a heaving line would prevent some of these.

If you are out in the middle of a lake (it does happen!) a distance from help and capsize, then a bailer is essential for emptying the boat.

On Charleston lake (near Kingston), a boat marked 'Police' checked at least three vessels whilst I was watching from my campsite.

I was told by the staff of Frontenac park that they would be 'really paying attention to checking that canoeists were complying with the new regulations'.

I also saw at least one other incident, but I can't remember where. I also heard others report similar sightings.

Interesting to see that generally most people don't agree with the way this has been implemented, they have the right idea but are going about it in the wrong way.. Education rather than legislation.

So will they also check a Kayak - and will the kayak need the bottled water, extra paddle, emergency flares, emergency radio ? )

And would you believe that the Coast Guard was also talking about fire extinguishers on ALL vessels and a mandatory course for all vessel operators that mainly focused on reporting collisions!!!! I'm disappointed that they dropped those requirements because one of these days a pair of kayaks are going to bump into each other in a rapid, burst into flame, and then they'll be sorry that fire extinguishers are not mandatory on kayaks.

I've heard of campfires in the bottom of Grumman canoes so carrying a fire extinguisher may not be such an outlandish idea.

Remember, you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

John Steward and I were helping out Wednesday evening on a club training evening on the Rideau River just above Hog's Back. I noticed that one of the racing kayakers had dumped and went to his rescue to the sound of John yelling 'throw rope!! Throw Rope!!' I hauled the kayaker into the canoe and took him to shore to dump the kayak out.

Fortunately, since I was following the new regulations, I had my 15 meter buoyant heaving beaver with me ( It is a beaver puppet with 15M of 1mm floating line). Even though it's only purpose in the rescue was to get John excited I'll bet that the coast guard was happy that I had it.

Don Haines

P.S. Ever try and tow a swimmer in the water with a canoe? I'll bet nobody in the Coast Guard has. Two strong paddlers can tow someone at half the speed that a poor swimmer swims. Much easier to get them in the