ICW Jerk of the Day...

Excellent point, CaptPKilbride: how many times have we witnessed the fast sailboat or trawler that forces the overtaking vessel to (barely) motor past at an almost-on-plane speed which makes the greatest wake.

I would never recommend brandishing a weapon of ANY sort on the water unless you NEED to use it. Someone could shoot at you with a real gun and under law if they felt their life was in danger would be in the right. Different people percieve different acts in different ways. Also brandishing a flare gun is a good way to get your butt in hot water with the Coast Guard as well. Whether or not you intended to use it, the other party does not know.

If you read my post, it says that if there is room to pass 100 yards away or more, then it isn't necessarily necessary to slow down when passing a 70'. I would see passing a 70' footer in a 150' wide channel as a definate slow down, no questions asked. That would risk the safety of the other vessel.

I have also ran into countless vessels that do not monitor the VHF. As well as countless vessels that have not grasped the concept of slowing down to say 5 knots, so that I can overtake them at say 6.5 knots and not wake them. I have also slowed down to 5 knots or less and had countless smaller vessels go by at maximum plow. I'm bringing a 75' MY down from Chicago right now, and running at 9knots (displacement speed) 95% of the time. Any vessel 50' and under overtaking me, I tell them to come around me at cruise and I come down to idle anyways, because it's usually better then half of them coming around at maximum plow. I had a guy in a 57' Carver come around me 2 days in a row at maximum plow on the Tenn-Tomm a few days ago "our own little world" he just didn't get the concept of taking an extra minute and coming around me at 7knots instead of 13 knots.

You make a very valid point in a sane world, Capt J, but...you must not be from around these here parts, podner.
The recent laws enacted in the Sunshine State allow one--indeed, it's an individual's right-- to protect one's self against an aggressor. I don't think the CG or Marine Patrol would have too difficult a time figuring out whether the 3 knot-60lb. kayak or the 40 knot-600lb. jetski was the aggrieved party should push come to shove.
Now, as far as "real guns" (as you put it) go, when the mouth-breathing jetski set starts to pack heat out on the water (those reckless kayakers, your honor!), it'll be time to move to a safer venue such as yours.

I am sure[hope] this does not apply to you, but I run into kayakers all the time that seem to feel they have superior rights. They will run right outside the channel markers and force you to slow down for them although they have a 1/2 mile of protected water that they can use. I have them race toward me like they want to play chicken and try to cross in front of me while I am in the channel. They also like to row as fast as possible toward the boat when they could have waited behind the shoal where they would not have any wake to contend with. Kayaks do not belong in the ICW channels, maybe competitive swimming across the ship channels will be the next sport. You need to give courtesy to get courtesy.