In relation to right of way boating rules
And considering a row boat is a vessel as are windsurfers and kitesurfers.
Should SUP's also be considered Vessels and thus be under the control of RoW rules?
Just like a row boat, sailing boat, etc., a SUP is a vessel and as such is governed by the RoW rules.
Obviously the RoW rules fade to grey when you get into the waves, just as they do for windsurfers. However, a SUP paddling along on the Swan River has to obey the same set of rules as everyone else.
Why do you ask?
I'm leaning towards guessing so, otherwise they may be considered just floating debris and thus quite okay to run them down...?
me and greeny once got stopped by the fun police paddling back from seals.
He said - we were on a powered vessel more than 200m from shore, without a type 1 life jacket , 3 types of flares and wait for this... an anchor :- we were breaking the law and up for a big fine - he lets us off with a warning...only because by the time he stopped us we were on our way back and close to the imaginary 200m line.
but he did mention it was ok to kite and windsurf this far out without all the above .
also possible to sup 200m offshore if you have a safety boat with you, ... sheesh!
Thanks Flicky, understood (finally) and totally agreed. We are saying the same thing, I just misinterpreted your statement as "wave users and windsurfers use different rules" 
This came to me with my boat rego and will answer all your questions.http://www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/45250/TSV-Paddle-Safe-Paddle-Smart-brochure.pdf
www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety
I'm not a Vicwegian, but if I was in a fiesty mood I'd take on anyone who claimed that a board was a vessel, which is defined as "any kind of vessel that is used, or capable of being used, in navigation by water, however propelled or moved"...(tautology anyone?) Some other laws define a "vessel" as being "something used in navigation"; sadly in NSW I think windsurfers are expressly caught out by certain laws, but I don't think SUPs are. Things paddled or rowed are expressly said not to be powered vessels in NSW, I think.
This is relevant because there are a couple of old British cases that say that someone messing about in a small boat on a lake or even (if I remember rightly) rowing an "eight" was not "doing navigation" - "navigation" was said to mean going from A to B and not just noodling around. So if you're not "navigating" a board it may not be a vessel.
There was a surf law symposium a few years back where judges and lawyers spoke and it was pretty much agreed that IRPCS would not apply in the surf. I think that the courts (which are a lot more sensible than most people think) would agree that they were impossible to observe in the surf and therefore they would not be applied.
Leaflet states: Bailer (if no electric or manual
bilge pumping system) Self bailing is included in this. It covers all self bailing craft such as sit on top kayaks, catamarans, sailboards and SUP.
You do need a bailer in a sit in kayak or a canoe.
It's still a bit of a wank. My old canoe was filled with foam at each end to stop it sinking. I bailed the water out by jumping in the water and tipping it upside down. Realisticly, I think if the water is coming in slowly enough to chuck it out with a bucket, then pretty well any boat on inland waters could make it to shore before sinking. Much like our recent life jacket law changes though, they take common sense out of the equation and focus on protecting the stupid.
When its in the OLYMPICS or when your suppen with surfers riding boards under 7 foot
