There are some misconceptions about retro-reflective tape; I've worked with it a good deal, and strongly endorse its use on kayaks and paddles. As a former CSAR pilot, I have rescued people based only on their use of reflective tape on helmet surfaces. 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. In other words, if a kayak paddle is held up a quarter mile away at night, and an observer hits that paddle with a good searchlight beam, he/she will definitely pull the paddle out from the visual "ambient noise". Another observer standing 100 meters to the side of the searchlight-equipped observer probably will see little. (I recall that there is an ambiguity cone of about ten or 15 degrees -- beyond which, the light doesn't reflect back much at all.) The other issue is contrast: under normal daylight conditions, waving a retro-reflective tape equipped paddle at someone will have the same effect as waving a sheet of aluminum foil at the observer. Essentially, it has no value whatsoever during daylight -- although flourescent paint on a target surface (read: paddle) does have significant value, based on some Coast Guard work I did a while back. Again, based on research conducted with the Navy and with the USCG -- and coupled with years of practical experience -- retro-reflective tape on a kayak or paddle is terrific (1) at night (2) if there is someone actually looking for you, and (3) that observer has a bright light source aimed at you. All three conditions are needed, or you're part of the visual clutter. Flourescent stuff really works! Joq 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jan 28 2009 - 13:05:12 PST
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