Ralph,etc- I was under the impression that a steady white light was required by the USCG for small craft operating at night. AquaSignal, and others, make special purpose "flashlights" that mount to the deck with suction cups or some other method, for small boats such as kayaks, canoes, inflatables. Is the Coast Guard thinking about changing this requirement, or is the study hoping to propose additional lighting specifically for paddlers? If the white light requirement is to remain, the best use of LEDs may be to reduce the weight and power requirements for a headlamp-style device which would be out of the paddler's field of vision, visible for 360 degrees and visible for greater distances due to the greater mounting height (as mentioned in another post). -Pete *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Pesce" <peterpesce_at_earthlink.net>> > I was under the impression that a steady white light was required by the > USCG for small craft operating at night. AquaSignal, and others, make > special purpose "flashlights" that mount to the deck with suction cups or > some other method, for small boats such as kayaks, canoes, inflatables. > Is the Coast Guard thinking about changing this requirement, or is the study > hoping to propose additional lighting specifically for paddlers? The requirement currently in the US is just to have a white light handy...it need not be steadily on. Quite a few companies have lights such as the AquaSignal to use on dinghies and the like but adaptable to kayaks obviously. The Coast Guard is not contemplating any change. What is at issue is what lighting scheme actually will work in places like New York City, San Francisco etc. with lots of traffic and background light blotting out the effectiveness of a small white light on a kayak. This is a project for local use and recommendation. A discussion came up about eventually leading to new rules but I and Bonnie question this since what is need in SF Bay or NY Harbor isn't really applicable to the need in Stonington, ME. The local decision is also to think outside the box. That means for example the possibility of strobes not as a distress signal but rather as a running light for kayaks. We will explore this too. A possibility is to pick a strobe light not in current use although I do favor using the orange strobe used to designate a surfacing submarine; imagine how much that would frighten away motorboat traffic from a kayak! :-) I am being facetious here but it is possible for a local district to say a strobe is okay. The Coast Guard seems to have avoided this and even at one time made a big issue of fishing boats in Puget Sound that were using strobes to avoid being hit by major commercial traffic pouring through those waters. > If the white light requirement is to remain, the best use of LEDs may be to > reduce the weight and power requirements for a headlamp-style device which > would be out of the paddler's field of vision, visible for 360 degrees and > visible for greater distances due to the greater mounting height (as > mentioned in another post). That is one thought, i.e. a headlamp or dome skullcap. LEDs are a possibility but while they last a long time and are sparing of battery life, it may be that you need so many LEDs that you will not have that savings. We don't know yet but will explore them as well. 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 - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>The requirement currently in the US is just to have a white light handy...it >need not be steadily on. I often take, (that is on the occassions we have a night paddle), my bicycle strobe. You can buy them made by Cateye but I make them by using the flash from a disposable camera. The capacitor is reduced in size by x100 which allows for a fast flash rate. Reduce it a bit more and you'd get a faster flash. Runs off one AA. Actually we were give some 2 volt rechageable outdated cells a year ago and my main one is mounted in a clear plastic screw-top jar. If there is a problem with night vision for the rest of the group, how about mounting on the top of a short mast in a shallow saucer? > What is at issue is what lighting scheme actually will work in places like New > York City, San Francisco etc. with lots of traffic and background light blotting out > the effectiveness of a small white light on a kayak. Our local Coastguard have a strobe at the top of their mast, same as aircraft. At least the fast-strobe would be different from back-ground "clutter". > A possibility is to pick a strobe light not in current use although I do > favor >using the orange strobe used to designate a surfacing submarine; imagine >how much that would frighten away motorboat traffic from a kayak! :-) And Japanese fishing boats...... A coloured cover should be easy to fit to a strobe and partially opaque to drop the light output if necessary. Alex . . Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have just received an inquiry about what boat I would suggest for a man who has only limited use of his legs -- uses a walker, needs a hand control vehicle, etc. I know that some time in the past we had some discussion about "adaptive paddling", but wasn't paying a lot of attention. Does anyone have any good URLs or other resources I can pass along? -- Wes --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wes Boyd's Kayak Place http://www2.dmci.net/wesboyd/kayak.htm Kayaks for Big Guys (And Gals) | Trip Reports | Places To Go | Boats & Gear --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Yahoogroups has a group on this subjct and I am a member- also I have similar problems and use a cane or a scooter type wheelchair. He can contact me back channel for more information. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I have just received an inquiry about what boat I would suggest for a man > who has only limited use of his legs -- uses a walker, needs a hand control > vehicle, etc. I know that some time in the past we had some discussion > about "adaptive paddling", but wasn't paying a lot of attention. > > Does anyone have any good URLs or other resources I can pass along? > Hi Wes, The ACA has an instruction manual titled "Canoeing and Kayaking for Persons with Physical Disabilities", by Anne Wortham Webre and Janet Zeller, ISBN 0-943117-02-X, 1990. Although it is meant to be a manual to help instructors with students who have disabilities, it has good information for all readers. The very first page of the book references two other books: The Canadian Recreation Canoeing Association's "A Resource Manual On Canoeing for Disabled People" by Michael Arthur and Stacy Ackroyd-Stolarz The BCU's "A Guide To Canoeing With Disabled Persons" by Geoff Smedley A boat recommendation would have to be tailored to the individual's (dis)abilities, general fitness level, etc. The question is really no different from asking which boat is best for any paddler, except that the particular nature of the disability would be a factor in addition to the usual factors to be considered in the purchase/use of a particular boat design. Regards, Erik Sprenne *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 03/07/2001 4:18:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, boydwe_at_dmci.net writes: << I have just received an inquiry about what boat I would suggest for a man who has only limited use of his legs -- uses a walker, needs a hand control vehicle, etc. >> Among my fleet is Old Town Canoe's Dimension Solo. It's a SOT, but doesn't have scupper holes which seems scary, but I've been told that with its external sponsons (I think the beam is about 28") that thing will never sink. It's about 13 1/5 feet long, very comfortable incorporated seating (no need to buy a separate seat) and glides beautifully. Not sure about the weight but I can move it easily. It only has a small hatch cover in the rear so I have to put a mesh bag inside and then throw stuff in. It does have velcro paddle holders and built-in handles. I bought it from an outfitter who had taken out a group on a houseboat trip and used the Solo for a handicapped member of the group. Best of all, I've now seen them for $400...new! i guess you can check out www.oldtowncanoe.com sandy kramer miami *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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