2018-May-31
What’s Up with Sup’s
As many of you know Transport Canada had proposed some changes to the Small Vessel Regulations. The changes pertain to Flare Carriage Requirements and Boat Licensing and Stand Up Paddleboards. We have addressed the flare and licensing topics in previous notes.
The good news is that Stand Up Paddle Boards have now been added to the list of recreational sealed-hull vehicles like paddleboats, watercycles, and sit-on-top kayaks and so, if each person on board is wearing a properly sized life jacket or PFD, you will now only have to carry a sound signaling device (ie a whistle attached to the PFD) and, if out before dawn or after sunset, a watertight flashlight.
If PFDs are not present you must also carry a 15 meter buoyant heaving line. So clearly the changes are designed to encourage PFD use. Besides, wearing PFDs is just the smart thing to do!
