Safest Color for kayak?

[Dkim73]

Hi everyone ... just want to get an opinion. I'm second guessing my choice of Blue (on order) ... watching so many kayak fishing videos on Youtube, I saw a few where some of them almost got run over by motorboats. So I rethought, and maybe go with the brightest color? Yellow? Backyard has a red one (only one in stock) in Annapolis that I can pick up after the lunch on Sat or I can drive down to the Occoquan area for a yellow.

Has anyone else had concerns about color and got the yellow? Or the tan? Is red almost as visible as yellow on the water?

Am I over thinking this?!?! LOL

David

[mweber02]

I would say yellow would be the easiest to see followed by red, but I don't know how much it really matters when it comes to safety around boats. I have a bright orange flag 5 feet off the water, a yellow life vest, and used to have a yellow paddle. I have still had semi close calls. For most boaters I think the brighter colors are helpful. But in my experience, it seems that the boaters you need to worry about the most will not be any more observant of you with brighter colors. Some are distracted and others are just complete assholes.

[Huntrava]

Depends on what kind of danger you're trying to avoid.

I purchased a yellow PA-12 and went so far as to apply reflective conspicuity stickers on a few points to help it light up at night. When it comes to avoiding being run over by other boats, I'd imagine yellow and red are pretty good colors.

However, apparently there's some research indicating sharks may be attracted to yellow kayaks--and they've even gone so far as to call it "yum yum yellow." I see a few articles calling it a myth, but I think it's worth taking into consideration. There's a thread about it on the Hobie boards.

[EMSer]

David,

While hull color can make a difference in some circumstances, the most visible thing on a kayak is the movement of the paddle blade. It can be seen from a great distance. If you are in a pedal boat, obviously that point is moot.

I have been selling kayaks for years. Yellow and bight green are the most visible. Red is great in bright sun, but it is the first color of the spectrum to be lost in lower light.

Another school of thought is that a very dark hull provides more contrast against the water.

Mike's point of needing to watch out for inattentive boaters is quite important. As kayakers, we are vulnerable and hard to see, even in the best of circumstances. It is on us to keep our heads on a swivel and make out presence known to those not paying attention. I carry several noise making devices to get people's attention

[Romo]

If a boater is gonna run you over I doubt the color of your 13 foot plastic boat will make a difference. Stick reflective tape on your gunwales and paddle, carry a whistle, airhorn, headlamp, strobe light - whatever you have to do to feel safe. Personally, I prefer to fish at night and HATE any kind of ambient light when I'm out there. On my local river I fish bass and catfish totally blacked out and will do this in some remote salt backwaters too. I am always wearing a headlamp and have a spotlight ready behind my seat too just in case. I will only fish at night in places where I know there will be little to no boat traffic. I try to avoid areas of heavy boat traffic during the day too. I have seen from the other side how hard it is to see a yak of any color or shape when you're up on plane in a boat. The yaks are just too low to the water.

[Dkim73]

Thanks everyone for the help ... I looked and this has been discussed before here, I'm sorry for bringing this up again. I decided to go with a yellow Outback instead of blue. Since I will be fishing at night, red might be an issue. When ppl mentioned carrying a whistle (which I do when I surf fish) for kayaking, I assumed it was in case I get pushed out to sea (that too) ... I had no idea about power boats not being able to see you and the danger that entails. I'll probably get an airhorn too ... I would like to use my Glock in place of a flare gun but that probably wont fly in MD ... Maybe in VA :-) LOL

David

[Cowpokey]

For Hobie kayaks; yellow sticks out the best, followed by ivory dune.

Blue, red and olive all blend into the background surprisingly well at a distance. Red surprised me the most of that last group; I expected it it to be very visible on the surface of the water, but if I'm more than a mile from a red kayak I can't see it at all. At the distance you're concerned with, i.e. being struck by a powerboat, red is still a good color for being seen...blue and olive are the most likely to blend in to the background, depending on the color of the water.

[Mark]

When ppl mentioned carrying a whistle (which I do when I surf fish) for kayaking, I assumed it was in case I get pushed out to sea (that too) ... I'll probably get an airhorn too ...

It's a legal requirement to have a noise making device. That's why I carry a whistle.

https://www.boat-ed.com/maryland/stu...2101_700087980

My whistle is actually a freebie from a DNR demo.

However, I doubt it would be heard over the roar of a motorboat headed my way.

Some kayak hull colors may indeed be more visible on the water than others, but whatever color you own you are still at the mercy of the pilots of the motorboats in the areas where you fish. A distracted boat operator, one in a big hurry or one who just doesn't consider the safety of others can ruin your day. There is no substitute for constant awareness of your surroundings in high traffic areas. Also, there are plenty of fish in less traveled waters.

[bignose]

Forty plus years ago, i was involved in a college research project for ambulance identification and visibility.
The following colors were considered "most visible" to the human eye.

Omaha (fluorescent) Orange
Yellow- Green (fluorescent) Chartreuse
School Bus-warning sign Yellow

this was under daylight conditions with varying backgrounds

Medium blue was the last color able to be "perceived" in low light conditions. Understand that "perceived" doesn't mean most visible, it is the last color that doesn't fade to grey in low light.

[fishinggod]

many years ago i asked the same question in regards to buying a float tube and an old guy told me this..."think of it as you are on a motorcycle... on the road most folks only look for cars and will see right through your bike like your not there. on the water a boat will look right through you as you are not another boat. " so its all about what ever color you want and then keep your head on a swivel.

[ccchrisccc]

I have 2 yellow PAs. To me it seems like a no brainer. Most visible. Not really sure why some buy a less visible color. Have really wondered about that. Safety first.
That said, there is some good advice on this thread. It's the boats not paying attention gonna get you and not the ones that don't see you. Also, a yak is virtually invisible to an oncoming boater if the yak's nose is pointed straight on. It sits so low and cuts such a tiny profile. Only when a yak is broadside can you see it well. Both my PAs have sails and I use them to troll effortlessly and the sails have roller furlings to get the sails wrapped up quickly around the masts and out of the way. Those tall, yellow masts bobbing back and forth really give the yaks good visibility.
I mostly fish the Chesapeake and an airhorn is in the webbed pocket at my right hand. Choosing yellow for a kayak might be a matter of opinion but an horn at the ready is for sure a no brainer.
Best of luck to you!

[J.A. Veil]

Someone else noted that the most visible part of a kayak when viewed at a distance is the paddle blade moving up and down. My first paddle had bright yellow blades. When I upgraded to a carbon fiber paddle (all black), I added strips of yellow plastic tape and white reflective tape to both sides of the blades. Not long after that I loaned the paddle to Raptor on a day when he had left his paddle at home. I could easily spot the paddle blade moving up a down more than a mile away.

004.jpg

Many of us have pedal-drive kayaks and do not normally use our paddles. When I use my pedal-drive kayaks, I keep my paddle handy. If I see an oncoming vessel, I can grab the paddle and wave it back and forth (in addition to blowing my whistle, yelling, and pedaling like mad to get out of the way).

[Cowpokey]

I agree with everything about the paddle being the most visible. Even if it's a dark color, I can see paddles moving from a LONG way off. Add bright blades to the paddle and it's like a strobe light. But, alas, I pedal and my paddle hangs on the side of my kayak all day long.

[Salty Dog]

Since I am one big olde bunch for orange, I asked a boater once, you guys should be able to see me out there, the reply was, the only thing we will see is the flag or your vest.