I would second (third?) the comments about avoiding paddling at night in commercial traffic areas at all costs. Especially in harbor areas, where shore lights mask running lights, you will not notice the barge/ship until it is too close for comfort. On the night lighting issue, I wish there was some "legal" solution better than carrying a headlamp. It seems to me that a headlamp will only be visible from in front of you and has the potential to blind the skipper of the vessel you shine it into. One thought that occured to me: how about lights or LEDs built into paddle blades? An LED and wire could easily be epoxied into a wood/glass composite paddle blade with the batteries and switch in the center of the shaft. The LED could be recessed so that it does not affect the surface of the balde. From a distance, the lights may appear to blink, but as you get closer, there will be no mistaking that the lights are coming from something that is not a motor boat or a buoy, and probably will be pretty clear that the lights are coming from a paddler. Just a thought. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Karl Coplan wrote: > One thought that occured to me: how about lights or LEDs built into > paddle blades? Here in Southern California, the California Kayak Friends club (www.ckf.org) requires participants to tape chemical light sticks to their paddle shafts for night events. Not a perfect solution, but pretty good. Solves any electrical/corrosion concerns. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> One thought that occured to me: how about lights or LEDs built into > paddle blades? An LED and wire could easily be epoxied into a > wood/glass composite paddle blade with the batteries and switch in > the center of the shaft. The LED could be recessed so that it does > not affect the surface of the balde. From a distance, the lights may > appear to > blink, but as you get closer, there will be no mistaking that the > lights are coming from something that is not a motor boat or a buoy, > and probably will be pretty clear that the lights are coming from a > paddler. > > Just a thought. > [] Just another thought. I dunno if they would stay on or do much good but how about taping reflective strips to the blades? A 400 ton ship may not see it but they're not going to see much of anything anyway. It may provide some warning to smaller boats though. Every little bit helps. The moving strips will probably confuse the hell of them but at least they'll know something is there. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 98-07-02 12:17:38 EDT, kcoplan_at_Genesis.Law.Pace.Edu writes: << On the night lighting issue, I wish there was some "legal" solution better than carrying a headlamp. >> There are probably a lot of "legal" solutions better than a headlamp which, as you point out, is directional. Most of the chain boating stores sell battery operated lights for sailboats and inflatable dingies which mount with a suction cup as a base. There's a good 360 degree "stern light" sold, powered by a couple of "D" cells, with a suction cup base that puts out a respectable amount of light; mounted on the after deck of a kayak, it will cover about 330 degrees of your "six", and allow you to show a white light forward when needed. As a user of LEDs in marking special purpose buoys and as a SAR pilot on early tests of LEDs, this type of visual marker is essentially useless for a kayaker at sea or, particularly, in a crowded, light-saturated area like a harbor. (The only ones that really worked well were infra-red, night vision device- compatible, high frequency strobing LEDs that were used during the Gulf War as identification, friend or foe [IFF] indicators. When waterproofed and attached to small, low-floating bouy-like devices, two little LEDs looked like the Washington Monument on the Fourth from several miles away when viewed with night vision goggles, but were virtually invisible when activated in your hand in a dark room. Highly impractical for our purposes, I think.) Best advice --- as stated repeatedly: stay out of channels whenever possible. Use the USCG and international rules --- no strobing lights except for emergencies --- and at least be prepared to show a white light when near other vessels. But one thing not mentioned much if at all in this thread --- the use of retroreflective tape on PFDs, the boat hull itself, and on paddle blades, and the use of high viz, flourescent colors in low light conditions. Again, with my old search and rescue hat on, I can state that flourescent items are far more visible from the air and from low incidence angles than any other, and that retroreflective tape literally saves lives. Jack "Joq" Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
A steady light is the best solution, I like the little 360 degree "lanterns". Ray-O-Vac, etc sell inexpensive lights that will serve this purpose for those who travel at night irregularly. Lightsticks ("cyalume") are really cheap, but pick an appropriate color--not red or green-and should be on a quasi-stationary object (you or the boat, not a paddle) to avoid the strobe effect that signals distress. Reflective tape is super cheap. West Marine sells a product designed to stick to your PFD for $1.85US per foot. Two feet will provide tons of reflective area front and back. Wynne Americus, GA USA At 01:17 PM 7/2/98 EDT, JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com wrote: >There are probably a lot of "legal" solutions better than a headlamp which, as >you point out, is directional. Most of the chain boating stores sell battery >operated lights for sailboats and inflatable dingies which mount with a >suction cup as a base. There's a good 360 degree "stern light" sold, powered >by a couple of "D" cells, with a suction cup base that puts out a respectable >amount of light; mounted on the after deck of a kayak, it will cover about 330 >degrees of your "six", and allow you to show a white light forward when >needed. > >As a user of LEDs in marking special purpose buoys and as a SAR pilot on early >tests of LEDs, this type of visual marker is essentially useless for a kayaker >at sea or, particularly, in a crowded, light-saturated area like a harbor. >(The only ones that really worked well were infra-red, night vision device- >compatible, high frequency strobing LEDs that were used during the Gulf War as >identification, friend or foe [IFF] indicators. When waterproofed and >attached to small, low-floating bouy-like devices, two little LEDs looked like >the Washington Monument on the Fourth from several miles away when viewed with >night vision goggles, but were virtually invisible when activated in your hand >in a dark room. Highly impractical for our purposes, I think.) > >Best advice --- as stated repeatedly: stay out of channels whenever possible. >Use the USCG and international rules --- no strobing lights except for >emergencies --- and at least be prepared to show a white light when near other >vessels. But one thing not mentioned much if at all in this thread --- the >use of retroreflective tape on PFDs, the boat hull itself, and on paddle >blades, and the use of high viz, flourescent colors in low light conditions. >Again, with my old search and rescue hat on, I can state that flourescent >items are far more visible from the air and from low incidence angles than any >other, and that retroreflective tape literally saves lives. > >Jack "Joq" Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> From: JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com <snip> > vessels. But one thing not mentioned much if at all in this thread --- the > use of retroreflective tape on PFDs, the boat hull itself, and on paddle > blades, and the use of high viz, flourescent colors in low light conditions. > Again, with my old search and rescue hat on, I can state that flourescent > items are far more visible from the air and from low incidence angles than any > other, and that retroreflective tape literally saves lives. I don't know if this has been mentioned but I use a bicycle reflector vest at night (along with my other night paddling gear). It is easy to put on over a pfd and has reflective tape front and back and made of a lightweight open weave material which does not hold water. You can shove it into your pfd pocket during the day. Jackie _ _ _ _ _ \\ / \0/ \ / \0/ \ \\ " " `\ ,sSSs,\, )\w/( ,sSS..)/{) <<..> sSSS_v)/ \ )<*> sSS[(\_]___\ <(_/_o_o_ 'sS[_`-+---+) \----+-------+-------'---`-----\-------------') ~~~~~~~ ~~jf ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~\~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ o \ o \\ o o \\ o o ` (\ o o >jf:-) o (/ o *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I keep posting these to the sender rather than the group. . . hardware glitch, srewed up nut that holds the mouse. . . At 09:34 AM 7/2/98 -0700, you wrote: >Karl Coplan wrote: >> One thought that occured to me: how about lights or LEDs built into >> paddle blades? > >>Here in Southern California, the California Kayak Friends club >(www.ckf.org) requires participants to tape chemical light sticks to >their paddle shafts for night events. Not a perfect solution, but pretty >good. Solves any electrical/corrosion concerns. Ben at Pacific Wave puts complimentary reflective tape bands around the shaft ends of each paddle he sells. Not "active" illumination, but these bands are very visible and don't affect the performance of the paddle at all (unlike chem sticks, wires, light sockets, et al). C-Lite makes a 360 degree white light that's waterproof, has a velcro band for the arm or hat, a suction cup for mounting to the deck, also a lanyard. The light bulb is somethning sophisticated/sealed, rugged, and permanent. I've gone swimming and also banged the unit against the deck while practicing re-entries. No blown out bulb. It includes a safety latch that keeps the light either "on" or "off." The unit is about the size of a candle and fits in the PFD. Sort of spendy, they're about $30.00. Home Depot sells a 6 volt Eveready lantern which is bright yellow, waterproof and FLOATS. This is a boxy but well designed unit with a large handle that readily bungies to the deck and provides a "headlamp" to light your way. It also stands on end and lights by reflecting off the roof of a tent or in my case the canopy on the pick-up. These are almost free: $4.97 battery included! Visibly, Geo./Svenn ______________________________ George Bergeron, Secretary '99 Oswego Heritage Council www.europa.com/~heritage/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 05:56 PM 7/2/98 -0700, Geo. Bergeron wrote: > Home Depot sells a 6 volt Eveready lantern which is bright yellow, >waterproof and FLOATS. This is a boxy but well designed unit with a large >handle that readily bungies to the deck and provides a "headlamp" to light >your way. It also stands on end and lights by reflecting off the roof of a >tent or in my case the canopy on the pick-up. These are almost free: $4.97 >battery included! MOst $5 6 volt lamps are only almost waterproof. Run a bead of silicone around the lens and as an "O-ring" around the uppermost thread of the cap, stick in some plastic wrap, screw on the body, and give it a day to dry. Now it'll take up to 6-10 feet of pressure under water. Cheepos rule. Wynne Americus, GA USA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I used a headlamp once last summer in Kilarny Provincial park. Turns out, that even on the spotlight setting, there is enough scattered illumination to be distraction. The light spills an reflects off of hands and paddle. In a very dark environment, the only thing you can see is hands, foredeck and paddle. bob phillips Michigan *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
no UV problems here at night and if someone turns a light on while we are paddling, it would surely blind all of us! we need sunglasses to protect us from full moonlight in these parts (Chesapeake bay tributaries). who has seen a shooting star while paddling at night with lights? not in marked shipping channels, bye bye bliven ==================== >From bob phillips >Michigan >I used a headlamp once last summer in Kilarny Provincial park. > >Turns out, that even on the spotlight setting, there is enough scattered >illumination to be distraction. The light spills an reflects off of hands and >paddle. In a very dark environment, the only thing you can see is hands, >foredeck and paddle. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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