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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
No Strobes; link to red-green bow lights *LINK*
Posted By: Mark In Response To: Optimum running lights sought (Dan)
Date: Thursday, 29 July 2004, at 9:41 a.m.
Greetings...
I'd like to add my 2 cents to this conversation. First, let me qualify my background...
I'm a former kayak guide. I worked out of the lower west side of Manhattan and ran many trips in and around the mouth of the Hudson river, incuding trips to Statue of Liberty, circumnavigations of Manhattan, and trips up the Hudson North of the George Washington Bridge. It's one of the busiest and can be very dangerous with the strong river currents/tides and all the ferry, cruise-line, and commercial traffic. In this post 9/11 era, the Coast Guard has gone through phases where they really don't like having our small craft out and about, esp. at night. I've been stopped by the Coast Guard several times for incorrect lighting, mostly because my 360 degree light on my PFD slipped down and was no longer visible all around.
All of this said, a blinking light of any color signifies an emergency so only use it in one... in other words, it's ok to turn one on if you fear a collision is possible, but not ok to just run with it on. Though not required, the coast guard did appreciate the red/green bow lights that some NYC kayakers have... here's a link to an example:
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=navlight&Category_Code=siI would recommend that when on the water, have a stern mounted 360 degree white light, a hand held flashing light of some kind and it wouldn't hurt to have the red/green box lights...
I hope this helps...
: Hi All!: I've been reading with great interest the string about strobe lights and
: their appropriate use.... concensus seems to be "Yes" for
: emergency signal and "no" for running light/locating beacon.
: Given my fondness for paddling at night and being partially hearing
: impaired, I've been concerned about the best way to display a light to let
: other night waterway users know that I'm there. Not wanting to take my
: hearing aids for a swim in the event of a capsize, I never wear them in my
: kayak. Of course that diminished hearing ability allows the closer
: approach of a boat, before I hear it and can respond by showing a
: flashlight beam to the oncoming craft. By the same token, any fixed lights
: on the deck of my kayak are likely to be invisible to craft approaching me
: from a quarter where my body blocks the view of the light(s).: My idea is to build a small diameter "mast" from a section of
: fiberglass fishing rod stock (to be bungi-mounted on the deck behind the
: cockpit) which would hold the lights a foot or so higher than my head.
: Since they sit behind me, they would be less likely to destroy my night
: vision, but due to their higher position, would be less likely to be
: blocked from view by my own hulk. Ideas or suggestions, particularly from
: anyone familiar with legal requirements?: And now for the more embarrassing SOS: somebody please tell me (a new-comer
: to using bulletin boards), What does it mean when someone's posting on the
: BBS is followed by *NM* or *NT* ? Thanks!: Dan
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