Is a paddle required for a 17’-2" by DNR or the Coast Guard?
Thanks,
Homey
Why would you have a paddle in the first place? Have you ever tried to paddle against the current for very long? In a Kayak I could see it. But I can’t remember seeing a paddle being required by CG.
http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/workflow_staging/Publications/420.PDF
A paddle may or may not be required, I’m not sure. But… I was very glad that we had one in the middle of winter several years back. Our old and very dependable Mercury stopped about a mile or more from home. We had fished for several hours and mostly killed the trolling batteries in the wind. Facing a strong head wind, we used the starter battery and a paddle to get us home. Without the paddle we would have been out of luck. Not many boats are out late in the evening in the winter. Now, I never go fishing without a cell phone, but they don’t always work either. My advice is to always have a paddle or two, cell phone and emergency kit with you. Luckily, we were on lake Murray, so there wasn’t a tide to fight. But a strong wind can be pretty tough too.
Also come in handy when the spot fisherman show up in MI, can keep them a little bit away from you!
Don’t chase reports, go out and make them!