RE: [Paddlewise] Strobes - was Smoke on the Water

Jeffrey, like others said, it's simply a signaling/rescue device.  My
strobe is a dedicated strobe (as opposed to being a setting for another
light).  It's waterproof and I have it mounted on the shoulder strap of
my PFD.  That way, it's always on me, since I always paddle with my PFD
on.  Also, by being on the shoulder strap, it's pretty high and
reasonably out of the water, if I'm in the water.  On the shoulder
strap, it's also got reasonably good 360 degree signaling.  I suppose my
neck would interfere with a few degrees, but considering that I'll be
moving in the water as the waves or swell push me around, it would still
be adequate.  Of course, if it's dead calm water, the strobe wouldn't be
on anyway.... I'd be too embarrassed to ask for a rescue  :-)  (just
kidding, of course - never be too embarrassed to ask for a rescue!!!)

As an aside and only slightly related to this thread.....  a few years
ago, I placed reflective tape on just about all my equipment - paddle,
PFD, pump, float, "crash bag", etc etc.  Then, on a moonless night, I
asked my kids to go stash the stuff in the back yard, but not directly
behind a tree (at the base of bushes, behind the slats on a picket
fence, etc was acceptable).  Then, I turned all the house lights off,
stood in the yard with my strobe, and turned it on.  It only took about
10 seconds to spot all my gear, due to the strobe light reflecting off
of the tape.  At that point, I couldn't tell which piece of gear it was,
but the reflection of the tape told me that "there was gear there".  It
was a comforting test, if nothing else.

I've been meaning to have my kids carry the gear way down the road, and
see if a flashlight would reflect off of the tape at a large distance,
but so far, I haven't done it.

BTW - three years of paddling with that tape, and it's not even
beginning to peel yet.

Rick 
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