Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle colors

From:           	rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
Date sent:      	Thu, 10 Jun 1999 09:57:14 -0700
To:             	"Paddlewise (E-mail)" <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Subject:        	Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle colors

> 
> Aquabound makes a fairly inexpensive paddle with some carbon in it that
> makes it lightweight.  But all black.  The first thing I did was put
> those 4 inch by 4 inch (I think that is their size or perhaps a bit
> smaller) reflective sold by ACR (I think) on both sides of each paddle
> blade.  I was in a hurry and so just did it.
> 
> But if I had had time or thought about it I would have used some day-glo
> paint.  I don't think the reflective tape is as visible except under
> some lighting conditions.  One of these days I may try to get the best
> of both worlds; temporarily mask the reflective tape and spray paint the
> blades with day glo paint right down to where they meet the shaft.  I
> suspect the paint doesn't hold up that well over time and so would need
> retouching every so often.
> 
> 
Great idea, Ralph. 

I bought what may be the same paddle at EMS --- Aquabound's 
"Expedition", I think --- at a scratch and ding sale.  Incredibly good 
deal!  Nice paddle.  But it's all black.  Hit the blades with a can of 
cheap white enamel, then with a can of hi-viz yellow.  That was 
early last summer --- still looks fine!  A few black scratches.  This 
kind of treatment is of special value when paddling in low-light and 
hazy conditions --- those blades really do stand out visually!

>From practical experience in testing the use of retroreflective tape 
on deployable and --- hopefully recoverable --- beacons used on the 
open ocean --- and as a one-time SAR pilot --- this type of tape is 
and will continue to be a life-saver.  Literally.  The limitation on all 
retroreflective tape --- including the ACR type Ralph mentioned --- 
is that it requires that it be illuminated by a light the source of 
which is essentially colocated with the observor.  (E.g., a 
headlamp aimed at retroreflective tape provides a slightly but 
noticably better visual return than by that provided by a handheld 
flashlight.)  As an example, my paddling partner, Jenny,  and I 
were running through Solomons Island harbor one evening last 
summer; she was not more than 15 or 20 feet off my beam and 
slightly aft on a parallel course, and both of us had high output 
flashlights on our bows illuminating the area in front of us.  As we 
approached an unlit channel marker which was probably 30 yards 
away and directly on my bow, Jenny could not see it.  She only 
"saw" it when she turned ten degrees to get it in the beam of her 
light.  What was brilliant to me was invisible to her, prior to her 
turn.  There are different numbers for different tapes, but, to be 
seen, the retroreflective tape must be within a cone of light 
approximately five to ten degrees directly in front of the observor.

So, for practical purposes, those ACR patches are an excellent 
idea, but they are not "passive", as is day-glo paint, which is visible 
for 360 degrees in ambient light.  Retroreflective tape is only of 
value to you when the observor is also <at> or very close to the 
source of light which illuminates you as a target.  Without that 
specific connection ---  the close colocation of the light and the 
observor --- ACR patches are no brighter than Ralph's black paddle. 
Still a great idea, especially in urban paddling, but there are 
specific limitations on their value to you as a paddler.

Jack 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/
***************************************************************************