Re: [Paddlewise] How to ruin a perfectly good paddling day...

From: <Goffma_at_aol.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:56:00 EDT
Craig wrote:
 
<snip>
>Even not showing a light might be excusable under certain  circumstances.
>I've had power boats suddenly leave from a nearby dock and  head for me so
>close that I had little time. I could have turned on the  flashlight and sat
>there while he ran me over or I could have paddled as  fast as I could to get
>out of his way.

I find that a head lamp is pretty much the perfect light for night  paddling. 
 You can paddle towards safety while keeping your head turned  towards the 
threat, warning it off.  Shaking your head makes it blink; it  might catch their 
attention better.  If the threat is from directly behind  you, you will 
probably have to stop paddling in order to aim the light, but it  works great from 
all other angles.  You might also want a backup light  fastened to your kayak 
bungees in case you lose the head lamp in a capsize or it  fails in some 
fashion.
 
Mark Goff
Hampden, Maine



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Received on Mon Jul 30 2007 - 14:56:23 PDT

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