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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: Optimum running lights sought
Posted By: Lee In Response To: Re: Optimum running lights sought (Capt. M. Hamilton)
Date: Thursday, 14 December 2000, at 11:12 p.m.
Hi Capn, Thanks for bringing in your experience. There are more boats out there than kayakers and it makes no sense to operate contrary to the rules as they apply to boats. Do you see any problem with two lights, one 360 degree mounted on the back deck or back of the paddler and a flashlight pointing forward from the deck bungies? Only one 360 degree light leaves a shadow from forward or aft, or blinds the paddler when in front.
If I'm out at night I paddle in waters that boats cannot travel in by paddling close to shore, in shallow water or near other obstacles.
I was part of an ACA instructors workshop and exam a couple years ago. Another participant was a pilot of large ships and he really opened our eyes about the nature of large ships and their interaction with smaller vessels, and these smaller vessels are big compared to 100ft boats ,compared to your average rich persons toy, compared to a trailered boat, on down to us 250lb speed bumps named paddlers.
Did you ever see the picture of the speed boat that was intersected by a piling on the Chesapeake last month? It was about 30ft long with a 17ft rip down the center to the console. 1:45am, drunk. They said that a boat had shined a lit on them and the were blinded before hitting the piling. The sailboat that was motoring nearby (at 1:30am?) said they used their light to find the guys in the water after the crash. Lordy, I've been out in the wee hours but motors and the night life are a dangerous mix.
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