I don't like the 360 white light for use in our local waters because good night vision in the paddler(s) is more important than being seen by the skipper of a motor boat who may be limited in his ability to maneuver. Hearing is even more useful as boats come around oxbows on a plane. In an open bay or other situation where both the paddler and motor boat may criss cross on any course, I still prefer a good waterproof hand light that can be directed in the direction needed to a fairly weak 360 bulb. A strobe would be easier to see, but illegal here. A 360 white light only appears to be 360 to the person sitting under it. To everyone else it could be a power vessel moving in the same direction you are, or an anchored vessel. With respect to collision avoidance, a kayak may as well be treated like an anchored vessel, so long as you are not paddling at 90 degrees to the course of the power vessel, in which case you might be paddling into his evasive action. There is no mistaking a hand light being waived in your direction, and that light doesn't much bother the night vision of the paddler. I once thought myself clever mounting my 360 white light from my inflatable to the aft deck of my kayak. I spent the whole moonlight paddle unable to see much other than my own deck. Not very good actually. I feel it's the paddlers responsibility to make the motor boat realize they are there, and don't want to trust that job to a fixed white light. I want to be able to be as frantic as necessary in attracting the attention of the boater, and sometimes it's helpful to turn the light onto myself to show what I am. That said, we do affix chemical glow sticks to our hats and/or use other dim markers that allow the other paddlers to keep track of members of the group without harming anyone's night vision. *************************************************************************** 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 Fri Mar 26 2010 - 08:35:28 PDT
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