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The canoe saga
I wasn't able to go to the Fish & Game meeting this past Monday, but today I received a call from the head of the Parks & Recreation Dept. He said that they made these changes to the canoe rules:
1) All occupants must have life jackets
2) No motors on a canoe (I told them that there are special canoes built for use with a trolling motor. They ignored that)
3) A canoe under 12 ft can only have 1 occupant. 12 ft to 16 ft, 2 occupants, over 16 ft, 3 occupants. I told him my canoe, at 14 ft, is rated for 3 occupants or 700 pounds. That means 3 adults and 100 pounds of gear. There's no hope of changing that.
On the 20th it goes to the Water Board (?) and then on the 27th it goes before the City Council. It can go into law on the 28th, if they pass it as an emergency measure. I would fight it further, but I don't want to delay this thing anymore. I'll fight it some more after doing more research.
Dwayne,
I was pretty distraught about ordering a Kayak and then seeing that I'm about 5 inches short of being able to use it in local lakes.
Then I read about the Canoe Saga - ultimately reading the city council minutes.
Way to go!
James
James
Dwayne,
Last year some members of the Oklahoma City Outdoor Network approached the city council about these exact changes, Including the lighting requirements that a white light be on at all times when a canoe or kayak is operating at night and for the $25 fee in order to use city lakes and the North Canadian river (and is therefore subject to interstate trade- but that is another matter).
We basically got nowhere fast so we are thrilled to see some changes
Kirby
James,
Ironically enough, the lake regulations for canoes does NOT apply to kayaks. The Fish & Game board said that there is no limitation on the size of kayaks. Contact the Parks and Recreation department to get a current copy of the lake regulations.
Here's hoping that everything will be changed on the 27th.
Dwayne
It's good to hear that. I was worried since you still have to license it,
"interpretation" of the rule would lie on the officer. No offense intended
to anyone out there in Law Enforcement, but grey areas leave way to some
risk.
"Kayak....Canoe...You have a license for it, don't you? They look the same to me.. Let me see some I.D."
I don't have any boating/kayaking/canoe experiences in Oklahoma for reassurance.
:(
Sounds like it's all OBE anyway. Thanks again!
James
