Has anyone actually used the 4" x 4" pieces of reflective tape sold at West Marine on their PFD? I am concerned that the tape won't adhere well long term to the fabric. Good comments from Jack Martin. Jim et al *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 09:29 AM 8/1/2002 -0400, jfarrelly5_at_comcast.net wrote: >Has anyone actually used the 4" x 4" pieces of reflective tape sold at >West Marine on their PFD? I am concerned that the tape won't adhere well >long term to the fabric. Good comments from Jack Martin. > > >Jim et al Jim, et al, et al, I have not used the patches but I have bought the 2 inch wide retroreflective tape West Marine sells by the foot (or inch, I forget). I have applied this tape to much of the open area on my PFD and it has held up very well. After a few years, the edges here and there are peeling slightly (maybe 1/16 inch on each side of the 2 inch width) however it doesn't look like the tape will come off easily. It really makes a big difference being seen in low, low light. Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Has anyone actually used the 4" x 4" pieces of reflective > tape sold at West Marine on their PFD? I am concerned that > the tape won't adhere well long term to the fabric. Good > comments from Jack Martin. I bought the reflective tape as a roll. It's 2" wide and you buy the length by the yard. I have strips of it on both sides of both paddle blades, a patch of it on each breast of my PFD and a stripe across the top of the back of my PFD (Lotus Rio Grande). I also have a piece on other equipment, like around my pump, on the paddle float, etc. The tape on my paddle blades has been in the water approximately 200 hours and isn't even beginning to come off. Not even on the corners. It's equally stuck to my PFD. IT's been in very salty water, and has endured low temps in the 20's and our recent heat index of 110-115 F. The other equipment doesn't get much abuse, so saying it's still stuck to that stuff isn't really saying much. Incidentally, when I first put the tape on all that stuff, I played a little hide-and-seek. One dark, moonless, cloudy night, I had my kids take all the stuff out into the front yard and place it in spots of their choosing but not behind a tree or around the corner. Behind some relatively thin bushes and amongst low lying flowers and stuff was acceptable. When they finished, I stood on the front steps with a flashlight. Some of the stuff was a good 50 yards away, and as I worked the light around, it all came into clear view very quickly. You don't have to have the light directly on the item for the reflectiveness to "light up" enough to spot it. I then had one of the kids carry the PFD into the ladies yard across the street. I passed my flashlight (small 2-c battery kind)across her yard and the PFD lit up very well at that distance. I haven't checked it out at further distances, like "down the block" and so forth, buy may give it a shot tonight, just for kicks. Anyway, after my little test, I was very confident that the tape would work for my intended purposes. Since then, I've also become confident of the adhesiveness as well. All in all, it's not "the" solution or an "end all" solution, but it's relatively cheap, easy and effective. I paid about $4 US for each yard. I bought two yards and still have some left over. Rick - Poquoson, VA *************************************************************************** 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'm curious. Would a strip of reflective tape running the length of the keel impact the boats performance? My thought is that if I were capsized, couldn't re-enter, was hanging onto the boat, and it was nght-time, the reflective tape would be an aide to the SAR folks looking for me. I've still got it on my PFD and a few things, but a 15ish foot strip of it would be a lot better. Wouldn't it? Another thought... much like the orange streamer from this morning, how about a reflective streamer for night-time? Rick *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Something I found that helps is reflective pin striping. You can find this 3M stuff at Auto Parts America. I used it around the seam of the deck. My boat is white and I used the silver color tape. The silver looks white, not silver. It does add to the night visibility. Abet it is not SOLAS grade, but it does help, and it isn't bad looking. Dan Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com wrote: > I'm curious. Would a strip of reflective tape running the length of the keel impact the boats performance? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
<Something I found that helps is reflective pin striping.> I use the solas grade of tape on my boat I have 2 strips on the top of the bow and stern of my boat. I use red on the stern because I trailer my kayak and I like it to be brightly lit when you view it from the side. I also have solas tape on my paddles. I can use it to signal and it is easy to find the black paddle at night with a flash light. It is also easy to recognize my paddle because of the reflective tape. Great when several people on a trip have the same paddle. The tape has held fast on many trips. -- MZ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
writes "I'm curious. Would a strip of reflective tape running the length of the keel impact the boats performance? <snip> Another thought... much like the orange streamer from this morning, how about a reflective streamer for night-time?" I like this floating streamer idea too, and will be consulting my West Marine catalog shortly, but do you all remember the story in SeaKayaker a few months ago on the South Pacific? The locals recommended a black strip on the bottom of the kayak to ward off shark attack. The author did it and had no problem, her boy friend(?) didn't and got bumped several times. Living and paddling in the red triangle off San Francisco, I'd like to know if anyone ever did any follow up on this theory? In addition does the old "yum yum yellow" theory actually have any scientific weight to it, or is it just an old sea story? Kevin *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
What's this "yum yum yellow" theory you are speaking of? > writes > > "I'm curious. Would a strip of reflective tape running the length of the > keel impact the boats performance? <snip> > Another thought... much like the orange streamer from this morning, how > about a reflective streamer for night-time?" > > I like this floating streamer idea too, and will be consulting my West > Marine catalog shortly, but do you all remember the story in SeaKayaker a > few months ago on the South Pacific? The locals recommended a black strip > on the bottom of the kayak to ward off shark attack. The author did it and > had no problem, her boy friend(?) didn't and got bumped several times. > Living and paddling in the red triangle off San Francisco, I'd like to > know if anyone ever did any follow up on this theory? In addition does the > old "yum yum yellow" theory actually have any scientific weight to it, or > is it just an old sea story? > > *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Well stuck down it should not effect performance much. However it will get a lot of abuse in that location. This will make it lose some reflectivity and as it gets ragged it might start adding drag. Nick At 10:38 AM -0400 8/1/02, <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com> wrote: >I'm curious. Would a strip of reflective tape running the length of >the keel impact the boats performance? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
(Moderator's Note: Content unaltered. Excessive quoting (i.e. headers/footers/sig lines/comments from previous posts, etc.) have been removed. Please edit quoted material and list footers when replying to posts.) I haven't used the 4x4s, but I have used some reflective tape (sold to be used on autos, mailboxes, etc.) that I bought at a variety store several years ago. I put diagonal lines on both sides of my paddles, figuring the stuff was cheap, and if it didn't last I could replace it. Years later (3, maybe 4) it's still there. Besides being reflective, they identify the paddles as mine, since many of the people that I paddle with have the exact Werner paddles. Joan ----- Original Message ----- From: <jfarrelly5_at_comcast.net> Subject: [Paddlewise] tape > Has anyone actually used the 4" x 4" pieces of reflective tape sold at West Marine on their PFD? I am concerned that the tape won't adhere well long term to the fabric. Good comments from Jack Martin. *************************************************************************** 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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