There was a TV news piece on a doctor paddling a yellow fiberglass kayak
attacked last year in S. Florida waters. Think the story also appeared in
Paddler mag. It was a new boat, and he had never had problems in his red
kayak with gators, but figured the large male that attacked thought he was
seeing the under-throat of another male encroaching in his territory. I've
been watching for more details, since I am planning at trip to the Keys
this
winter.

Keys=salt. Gators=Freshwater -- at least most of the time.

I regularly paddle in Tampa Bay (salt). A few years ago there was a gator in
one of the local bayous at the mouth of a little creek. Surprised a lot of
people by its presence -- which only lasted some 6 months or so.

I also fairly regularly paddle in a local lake that has hundreds of gators.
I've seen 20 or more in a hour of paddling. The bottom of my boat has been
bumped by spooked gators fleeing the approach of my fearsome vessel and
swimming from shore to deeper water (Not too swift, running toward what
you're trying to get away from, but nobody ever accused a gator of genius).
And, I did once put the boat on a ramming course with a big gator -- he
ducked, I was beyond the point of being able to change course. Mostly,
however, they start getting out of the way as soon as I'm within a hundred
yards or so of them.

Gators are not crocs.

--
David Kiewit
www.patent-faq.com
(1) 727 866 0669
5901 Third Street South
St. Petersburg FL US 33705