[CKF Info] I'm a kayak, I have the "right of way"-----WRONG!!

[Rich Kulawiec]

This is all highly useful information.  Let me add a bit from the
perspective of a river paddler.

1. Know your paddle signals.

2. Downstream craft have the right-of-way.  If you're surfing a wave
or playing in a hole, then you need to clear the path for anyone coming
through.  This may mean posting a lookout -- someone from your group
who can see upstream and communicate with you and with arriving boats.
The lookout should tell you to move and then signal to them (using
standard paddle signals) to come on ahead.   Keep in mind that not
everyone will be able to stop, or be able to see you or your lookout.
Boaters experienced with particular rivers usually know where the play
spots are and may wait for a signal before proceeding -- don't make
them wait too long.

3. Less maneuverable craft have the right-of-way.  Under most cirumstances,
it's easier for a kayak to get out of the way of a canoe, and a canoe to
get out of the way of a raft.   But do try to leave folks somewhere to go:
pinning a couple of kayaks in an eddy with four 8-person rafts doesn't work
well for anybody.  "less maneuverable" also means "paddled by less
experienced/skillful people"; an expert in a canoe will be able to move
out of the way of a novice kayaker much more easily than vice versa.

4. Take your turn on the wave/in the hole.  The longer the line, the
shorter your turn.

5. Have some situational awareness: if that canoe in the hole downstream
isn't moving, is it because the paddler doesn't know you're waiting to
come through, or is he stuck?   If there's a raft around the corner
being belayed from shore, are they setting up a rescue?  Is the kayaker
paddling furiously downstream and blowing a whistle being a jerk, or is
she desperately trying to get to the next evac point?

6. Physics trumps preferences.  Even if you think it's your turn in
the hole, your kayak will not probably fare well against a raft.

7. Doing something unexpected and sudden sometimes confuses people,
and confusion can lead to collisions.   A lot of this can be avoided
by getting folks' attention and letting them know what you're about
to do (about to try to do).  Pointing at yourself and where you think
you're going lets everyone know what's going on -- and gives them a
chance to let you know that maaaaaybe that's not a good idea just now.

8. "Look out!" and "Hey, I'm sorry" go a long way toward patching up
bad feelings caused by accidental screwups.  So does a cold beer around
the campfire.

---Rsk