RE: [Paddlewise] Sea Kayaker - Feb

Have serious doubts that a polished tape would do any good at all.
Would be just another element of glint in the ambient light.

Don't confuse mirrored or bright surfaces with a signaling mirror: a
mirror is a very good device if you have a bright, clear sun and a known
or potential observer.  It invovles reflecting a bright beam of sunlight
at an observer, but it's very, very directional -- as well as incredibly
bright as far as the observer is concerned.  It's a visual element that
you will not see under any other circumstances, especially if you're
airborne.

Personally, for passive visibility, I'd go with flourescent surfaces on
a paddle and a cap, and retro on the chine of the kayak.  Even a pencil
thin line of retro-reflective tape will "bloom" into a light show if
you're illuminated by a light source in the vicinity of an observer.

Joq

________________________________

From: Craig Jungers [mailto:crjungers  _at_gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 1:55 PM
To: Martin, Jack
Cc: Dave Kruger; Paddlewise net
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Sea Kayaker - Feb


On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 10:36 AM, Martin, Jack <martin.jack_at_solute.us>
wrote:


	There are some misconceptions about retro-reflective tape.....



	However, a retro-reflective surface is highly visible only when
	illuminated by a light source radiating from or close to the
observer's
	position and only when that light source is much brighter than
the
	ambient light.


Good point!!! So maybe retro-reflective tape AND in addition some highly
polished tape (silver or chrome) in alternate stripes might be the
answer here. That way the reflections from the mirror-polish tape would
be seen easily. Of course, then people would report distress situations.
You just can't please everyone.

Any ideas about what polished tape would hold up on a paddle (or
kayak... or PFD) in a marine environment?


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA



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