RE: [Paddlewise] paddling at night

Patrick

I paddle at night all the time and haven't had any problems.  Of course, I
also don't have a good solution to the light problem, but I can at least
share what I do to deal with it.

I keep a bright white flashlight on my PFD.  I normally keep it off and only
when a boat is heading my way and not appearing to know of my presence do I
turn it on to signal the boat. I think in the final analysis, its really
this white light that does any good which is why I suspect its all the coast
gaurd requires.

I also use those LED lights bicyclists use in steady mode (our local sheriff
gets angry if we use flashing lights on the water).  I know its a bit
twisted, but I put a red one on my back and a green one on my front.  With
my torso rotation, the lights wag back and forth as I paddle along.

Why front and back?  Well, I am most concerned about what's straight behind
me where I can't see.  These bicycle lights are very directional and I worry
that  the standard side to side configuration wouldn't be seen by a boat
coming straight at me from behind.  

I'm going to experiment with other configurations and other lighting setups.
I'm thinking of building a small disk with a short "T" rising off of it.
This could be placed on the back hatch of my boat and held in place with the
bungie cords holding my spare paddle.  I would then put LED's pointing back
and to the side on the ends of the T.  This could be build cheaply and would
provide almost adequate visibility.  I say "almost adequat" 'cause I think
there is really no good way to make ourselves visible at night.  I assume
I'm invisible, avoid the busiest shipping lanes and paddle defensively.

--Tim

 

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Patrick Maun [SMTP:pmaun_at_bitstream.net]
> Sent:	Wednesday, March 03, 1999 10:45 AM
> To:	paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] paddling at night
> 
> Chuck wrote:
> >
> >LEDs might also be the way to go if you want to put running lights
> >on your kayak. One possible problem: if the lights are too dim, power
> >boat drivers might run you down thinking they are on a larger boat
> >much farther away.
> 
> Running lights have been on my mind quite a bit, and after making a few
> night crossing I am interested in hearing in people's (legal) solutions. I
> know we've hashed this over on the list a few times, but I don't recall a
> really good solution for something that will let boats know you are there
> and is also unobtrusive on the boat. What I've always done is to hang my
> headlamp off my PFD in back, and when a fishing boat is heading towards
> me,
> grabbing the light and flashing it at them. Problem there is, they may
> think you are signaling for help. Not to mention this really isn't a
> running light set up.
> 
> I am less worried about large boats. Those small fishing boats are what
> worried me. Last summer, I was on a solo crossing (OK, there were two of
> us
> in a borrowed double, but we're a couple so think of it as solo). This was
> on Lake Superior out to Sand Island, about two miles. We embarked right as
> darkness fell. I was compass navigating, and headed towards the dock on
> the
> island. More accurately, I was heading towards the light on the dock.
> Imagine my surprise when over halfway across the dock light drove right by
> me. It was a small fishing boat that had been trolling around the dock.
> This is when I discovered how difficult it is to a). discern how far
> something is simply by judging its light intensity and b). you simply
> cannot hear those boats until they are literally on top of you. Luckily, I
> had taken a bearing before leaving and arrived at the dock without a
> hitch.
> Of course the fog rolled in before we landed so I didn't even know if we
> were at the dock until we were about five feet in front of it.
> 
> Then I woke everyone in camp up. Those Iowans are *lazy*. ;-)
> 
> -Patrick
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------
> Patrick Maun
> pmaun_at_bitstream.net
> 
> 
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