Stand-up Paddleboarder’s Dealt Blow by U.S. Coast Guard(Vid)
Chalk one up for all the surfers who can’t stop making a fuss over the ever-growing number of stand-up paddleboarders. The United States Coast Guard has recently stated that it now officially recognizes both stand up paddleboards and traditional paddleboards as “vessels”. This basically means that they are subject to all applicable laws and regulations that go along with being classified as a vessel; such as wearing lifejackets, getting necessary registration, and staying safe distances from swimmers and surfers. Otherwise they could be subject to hefty fines.
With that being said, those (and there are many) who have taken to this blossoming sport can take solace in a couple of points. First, the USCG determined stand-up paddleboards to be classified as vessels when used ‘beyond the narrow limits of swimming, surfing or bathing area’. So depending on how much of a pri…stickler your local USCG officer wants to be in determining just where those limits are, you’ll probably be just fine. Also, I doubt there will be a large number of patrols set out with the intention of nailing SUP’ers for not having a life-vest, although I could be wrong.
It would really be a tragedy if this recent classification of stand-up paddleboards as vessels has a sizeable effect on the sport. I’ve never had any issue with those who choose to ride waves this way, nothing beyond the normal type of stuff that goes on in the water with waveriders of every sort. And, as evident in the clip below, seeing what guys like Bonga Perkins, Laird Hamilton, and Garrett Mcnamara are doing on sup’s, the future of stand-up paddleboarding has quite a bit in store for all of us.
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Posted by Shaun on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 in Surfing.
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October 9th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I forgot to mention this before, but you won’t be required to register your SUP. The paddleboard falls under the same classification of vessel as a kayak or canoe. The Coast Guard just wants you to have a life jacket aboard where you can get to it quickly, a sound device like a whistle or horn and a flashlight you can use to alert oncoming boats. It isn’t about ruining anybody’s time. It’s about safety.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:53 am
“The Coast Guard just wants you to have a life jacket aboard where you can get to it quickly, a sound device like a whistle or horn and a flashlight you can use to alert oncoming boats”
Are you kidding me? I’m supposed to lug this stuff around with me now? Sounds kind of ridiculous if you ask me
October 9th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Great, now we not only have to deal with SUPs, but they’ll also be armed with whistles and flashlights:(
October 10th, 2008 at 7:48 am
One clarification: The statement,”beyond the narrow limits of swimming, surfing or bathing area” means that you can use a SUP in a beach area WITHOUT a lifejacket, whistle, etc. It’s only when you’re out in the open ocean, lake or river that the SUP is considered a vessel for boating safety regulations. The object here is to let SUP surfers keep surfing as before (no lifejacket) but add some measure of boating safety when playing where other boats are.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I am continually amused by the utter lack of knowledge and the knee jerk reactions some people make when something like this comes along. Instead of doing some research and finding out what technology is available or even what the correct regulations are, people will revert to the “chicken little” syndrome. The sky is not falling here.
B Andrews, are you telling me that an inflatable lifejacket with a whistle on it is going to burden you. If you are that weak and decrepit you should get a wheel chair instead of a SUP. Stop making mountains out of mole hills and don’t give me that sniveling “Violation of Civil Liberties” garbage I have been reading about on other sites. If you make your kids wear a helmet when they ride their bikes or put your seat belt on when you get in your car then don’t belly ache about lifejackets, it’s hypocritical.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I can’t speak for B Andrews, or anyone else for that matter, but when the water is calm I enjoy paddling outside by the kelp beds here in Southern California when distance paddling. I also like to take breaks and paddle in to catch a couple of waves along the way. If I don’t carry my life-vest, my whistle, or my flashlight, am I going to get nailed by some over-zealous USCG officer who thinks I’m beyond my limits? I really hope not.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Check out inflatable lifejakets. There are a variaty of them available and they never get in the way. A whistle can be worn around your neck. If you are not out when it is dark or so foggy you cant see 50 yards you don’t need the flashlight but they also make flash lights the size of a ball point pen that are water proof and are very bright. It all depends on how you see the glass, I like to see it half full.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Dont mind the sweepers “costodians” etc. But there should be some regulation. I’ve seen inexperienced SUPs at the main peak here, when its big and hollow. Just backing out of sets and ghost riding the canoe into people duck diving in the inpact zone. People coming up under the vessel all in tangled.I have mixed feelings for the SUPS but they will injure someone or even kill somebody if these practices continue.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Sweepers go home!!! I hope they kick all the janitors back to land with their airplane wing.
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