I have heard a lot of discussion about paddlers carrying this or that form of light. But I caution that you should have a redundancy of lights, not just one. How many times in ordinary life has a flashlight gone weak or died on you? Would you have wanted that light to have been you _only_ light on a night paddling trip in waters where bigger boats were running? Have at least three. Shine one white light behind you from the shoulder strap of your PFD. Have the other white light on the shoulder strap hanging in front. Keep the back one lit all the time you are in any water where you know something might come up behind you unnoticed. Light the forward one when you see boats approaching or crossing ahead of you. The third light could be a headlamp; to turn on if you feel particularly vulnerable. And you can also put a "C" Light or two into the band that holds the headlamp. The "C" light is so light that it won't strain your neck having one or two of them on your head as well as the headlamp, so long as the headlamp is supported by a head band and a band across the top of the head to distribute and steady the weight. The only time I have less light than that is when I get caught out later in the day than I thought I would be. Then I have one flashlight that is always in my PFD that I can access immediately. If I have my emergency bag with me (I have it probably about 90% of the time) then there is at least one other light in it plus some spare batteries. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Mar 03 1999 - 21:43:38 PST
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