RE: [Paddlewise] Retro-reflective tape versus Reflective tape

Craig Jungers wrote: "Google for retro reflective tape for sources to
buy it. It's great to put on paddle blades to make you more visible to
the dru.... er, I mean powerboaters. :P"

Another way to be sure you're getting the best reflectivity in tape is
to go with SOLAS-certified (Safety of Life at Sea) tape.  It has
physical characteristics that work well for maritime applications --
flexibile, conformable -- and it should give you optimal light return.
(There's a significant variance in the reflectivity of tape, but be
cautious about "retroreflectivity"; it's more an adjective than a
category.  For example, 3M, possibly the leading producer of
retroreflective tape, refers to all their tape as "reflective" in their
product titles, but will sometimes refer to their tape as
"retroreflective" to emphasize its performance.)

The other thing to consider is that your reflective tape will make you
more visible to "the powerboater" only if he sees you illuminated by a
light coming from his approximate location.  Reflective tape -- and more
importantly the highest performing tapes categorized as
"retroreflective" -- require a light source at or near the viewer to be
effective -- and more so for retroreflective tape than other levels.
You need contrast -- a dark environment and a light source in the
vicinity of the viewer that illuminates you -- to make this deal
effective.  The tape, in and of itself, just looks cool; the tape in
combination with a dark environment and a light shining at you from the
viewer's position is very cool.  And bright.  In an overall bright
environment, the tape just looks grey.

That said, one thing that I haven't noticed in this thread is the
advocation of flourescent surfaces for kayaker visibility.  Wearing a
bright flourescent cap or painting your paddle blades with a hardware
store flourescent yellow "high-visibility" or "day glow" spray paint
provides any viewer in any daylight or dusk scenario with an enhanced
visible signature of you as an object of interest; you are passively
bright and stand out from the visual clutter of the water.  This is
especially true in low-light -- dusk, dawn -- or obscured environments
-- fog, haze.  Just try it at your next outing, particularly if you're
launching in early light or paddling into dusk.  One kayaker with a
flourescent ballcap or paddling with flourescent blades will stand out
from the crowd at great distances.

(On a personal note, I place great value in reflective tape; as a combat
search and rescue pilot in the Navy, I have first-hand knowledge that
having reflective tape in evidence on a downed aviator provides all the
difference.  Three of my rescuees are still walking around because of
it.)

Jack "Joq" Martin
Canoe Neck Creek
Abell, Maryland
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