[Paddlewise] "Just In Case" Night Lights

I was out paddling on Saturday and was coming into my take out about 5pm
when I commented to the guy paddling with me, "You know if we were
paddling tomorrow at this time it would already be dark because of the
switch from daylight to standard time."  Both of us, luckily, would not
have a problem as we both were sporting what I term "just in case"
lights.  This is a light setup to have with you at all times for just in
case.  Planned night paddling demands even more lighting but this
minimum setup will serve to get you those last few miles after the sun
goes down and you were not planning to still be out.

I wrote extensively in my newsletter about both kinds of light setups
and feel I should certainly share some of the thought I have regarding
the "just in case" one as it is a safety issue.

Here is what I wrote and at the end an added idea I have stumbled
across:

>From Folding Kayaker, July/Aug 1999

START EXCERPT......
“Just In Case” Lights
Since you never know when you may be caught by darkness, you should
always have some kind of lighting on you at all times.  Preferably it
should be on you, in or on your PFD where you can mobilize the light or
lights in a hurry as darkness descends on you.  Say you are paddling and
a storm starts up.  The sky darkens and the seas pick up.  You have no
time or inclination to open up your spray skirt and dig into a cockpit
bag.  Or you are using a sea sock and don’t have ready access to
anything that you are not wearing.
	The light that you should reach for in your PFD and attach to you is
the new Eco-Flare from Princeton-Tec (it is also called Sea Star in some
packaging).  The light is minute since it uses just 2 AAA batteries and
weighs next to nothing (1.5 oz. with batteries).  It has a lanyard cord
that can be run through the top of your PFD.  PFDS such as those from
Lotus Design that have shoulder adjustment straps are ideal since the
light can be held by those straps while still secured from falling by
the lanyard cord.  My suggestion: use two of the Eco-Flares, one on each
shoulder.
	The Eco-Flare has an extremely high intensity bulb not dissimilar to
the “C” Light.  However, it also employs a cone cover about 2 inches
high that gives off a brilliant 360-degree light.  It is amazing how
visible one of these lights is alone.  One on each shoulder is better
because your head will at times temporarily block one shoulder light. 
Also two lights so close together when seen at a distance from ahead or
behind tend to blend together as one larger light.
	The downside of the Eco-Flare is that it will only give off light for
about 90 minutes but that should be good enough for emergency paddling
in darkness.  You could carry spare AAA’s and replace batteries when the
light starts to dim.  Cost of the Eco-Flare is $12.95.  It may not be
available at outdoor shops that normally carry Princeton-Tec lights. 
The New York Kayak Company has them (1-800-KAYAK-99).
...........END EXCERPT

The added idea is that Princeton also has a 4 AAA flashlight called the
Mega-Blast (in some packaging).  It gives off 2 watt of light (as
opposed to 1 watt of the Eco-Flare) and should last nearly twice as long
in lighting.  You can buy one and switch its flashlight cap for the
flare cap of the Eco-Flare.  You then will have a nice 2 AAA flashlight
for uses around camp or elsewhere and the Eco-Flare cone on the 4 AAA
flashlight for longer, brighter "just in case" lighting (maybe Princeton
could be pursuaded to combine the two and call it the Mega-Flare).  The
whole thing ways just an ounce more, i.e. around 2.5 ounces total.  I
have decided to work that light into my regular night paddling setup,
which employs a headlamp as well.

This is insurance that you just owe it to yourself to have especially
now that night can come sooner and you may be caught out in the dark at
the end of a paddle trip.

safe paddling,

ralph diaz
 
-- 
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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."
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