The weak color LED does not interfere with night vision. It does not interfere with seeing what is left outside the beam. After all, there is not always total darkness around. A powerful white beam, reflected from objects, shines on the eyes.
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Clap on clap off 
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Lights with a red filter have long been used by the military and astronomers to protect night vision. It is true that when map reading, anything printed in red color will disappear under red light. Military maps added a brownish color to what otherwise had always previously been printed in red, hence “red-brown” is the correct answer on land navigation training quizzes. Similarly, astronomers, both pro and amateur use a red light to read their sky maps.
When I paddled the Yukon River races, we were required to have headlamps on during “nighttime” hours of twilight (11:30PM - 3AM - it never really gets fully dark at that time of year), especially if other boats were nearby, and also to have a white flashing strobe light available to turn on if we encountered any large commercial boat traffic during the race.
When my team and I frequently paddle the unofficial Adirondack 90 mile “Cannonball” (the entire traditional 3-day route done in a single day, usually near summer solstice), we typically begin at the stroke of midnight. Normally we paddle with lights totally out until we run the first couple of portages before early twilight. Rarely a motor boat (likely with a drunk driver at that time of night) is encountered on one of the big lakes and only then headlamps are turned on for safety. On a clear night there are as many stars visible on the surface of the water as there are in the sky for navigation. Knowing from daytime memory the exact lakes, route layout, obstacles, and turn points helps a lot.
Cyclists and paddlers have similar lighting needs: (1) to see and (2) to be seen, two separate functions and therefore at least two separate lights. In rocky areas at night I like to be able to see obstacles in the water. I wear a cheap Coleman headlamp that can illuminate the shore at about 30 feet. For trickier places and seeing over longer distances I use a fairly powerful rechargeable bike light (1200 lumens, made by Brighteyes) mounted on the deck in addition to a headlamp. 1200 lumens is the same as halogen car headlights. I also clip a blinking bike tail light to the back of my PFD, in addition to the state-required illumination of the kayak. In any case, I never paddle at night where there are power boats. These are mostly emergency lights for when I’m caught on the water unexpectedly after dark. The one light I had that was specifically designed for a kayak was useless—could not be seen over any significant distance. At times, vision is better with no light.
Many bike lights are waterproof. I once dropped a bike light in about 8 feet of water. It stayed lit for 45 minutes while I paddled to shore to get a net to retrieve it.
Red light preserves your night vision.
But if you want to see something or be seen then you need a bright white light.
I do not trust power boats in the day time. No way I am paddling at night if they are around.
I have paddled some at night in remote locations at night in calm conditions. The Boundary Waters is a great place for it with warm nights and warm water.
I paddle at night but you can’t feel safe even in 2 feet of water when you see boats 30 plus feet in the marsh high a dry.
With its impressive list of advantages, Led optics has virtually no negative sides. Service life will be 10-20, and the low power consumption will save on fuel and will not discharge the battery during prolonged use. Vehicle vibrations from driving will not interfere with operation. Water splashes and jets won’t damage the equipment since the sealed molded housing prevents moisture from penetrating. The IP67 designation ensures that the internal parts remain intact, even if the unit gets into the water. Along with these lamps, I bought wifi light bulbs. The LED lights work perfectly in all conditions.
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I have started to kayak after dark the last couple years because I spent a lot of money on our boats and wanted to get maximum use of them. As long as its not windy I will go out after dark and without any lighting its fine. AS a matter of fact the light will reflect off your boat and kills your night vision.
Obviously you need to follow all laws and be mindful of other boats. If they are trafficked waters then obviously you need to have a light ready to turn on, strobe effect even better so other boats know you’re there. But if it’s just a chill lake or river with no real boating traffic or a 5hp motor maximum then you don’t need light and having it on is counterproductive. Said differently you’d be surprised how well you dark adapt. That said please stick to bodies of water you know well during the day, well enough that “Yup I am getting close to that rock and looking in that general direction I can see it so here I am changing course to avoid it just like during the day”.
Never, ever paddle a body of water you don’t know after dark. Follow all laws, some parks or lakes or beaches or ramps shut down after dark for good reason. And have an extra index of safety. For example as the temps start dropping to very cold I won’t go after dark. Or if its windy AND dark even in summer I won’t go.
Depends how your eyesight is or if you have cataracts. Also where you are paddling like open water or in marshes.
I’ve seen it stated here several times, and even seen the regs quoted, that using a strobing white light is for distress only and not to be used as a nav light.
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Agree strobe is for emergency situations only.
Interesting! Have you tried a Kayalu light? I have one but haven’t used it a lot yet. It seems great though!
Honestly marshes after dark are dangerous because the obstacles are variable. It’s not like more open water where you can get to the point where you know and remember where every underwater log, tree or rock is located and not only mostly see it after dark because you know where to look but avoid it from muscle memory.
I tipped the first and only time 6 weeks ago in a marsh after dark. The first time I ever went out after dark I brought a headlamp a few years ago and found that the reflection was so bright it constricted my pupils especially given the reflection from my boat . I could see better farther and better WITHOUT it. Now I only have a light to strobe in case I see boats out there. But given the restricted flatwater I paddle and almost all these bodies have 5hp limits I really don’t have a boat problem either. Still better have it and not need it and need it and not have it. It always stays off but its there just in case I see/hear a boat.
Yes if I see a boat. Only if I see a boat. That has not happened. But when I bike I have multiple (more than one) strobe in all directions. More than once people have stopped to let me by then with their window down asking me if I was a police officer. Many times when turning left cars stopped even though THEY have the right of way, or I was at a stop, or a few times at a red light yes the light was red for me and the cars that stopped had green light. I also have a pretty bright 3000 lumen tactical flashlight on my hip sack and carry that for walks. I call it my “automobile repellent” and flash it whenever I hear a car approach. 100% of the time the vehicle slows way the hell down, almost creeps by me with a WIDE berth. Doesn’t happen if I just shine a light, but with strobe oh yes, they steer an emormously wide berth. I would recommend everyone have a strobe or flash type light with them for this reason alone although like I said, lights on when paddling is very similar to indoor car lights on when driving and causes pupil constriction.
There’s something about strobe that instinctively freezes people like deer in the headlights. They stop and let you go. Not abusing it so I can always have right of way and avoid traffic laws of course but it’s so good I could abuse it pretty effectively like that. So for accident avoidance it’s very useful.
Strobes are to signal an emergency situation only. I have headlamp, three tektite lights, and two strobes for emergencies only.
Marshes I am in are safe you just need to see you way and be able to see the current flows to know where to go.
I really like them, HOWEVER, they are a tight fit for the 3 AA batteries (width).
I like to use rechargeable batteries, and, for some reason, they are slightly wider that standard AA batteries, so I can’t use them in the Kaylalu. (and I paddle many hours in the dark)
You are correct rechargable batteries don’t fit but regular batteries last a long time. You can get 4 or 2 LED lights which last longer. They tell you the hours on their website.
I would qualify an approaching boat at high speed as a potential emergency situation and deploy the vision spoiling (for me) light. That said where I paddle you don’t see powerboats at all. After that first paddle where the light ruined my night vision I stopped keeping it on and only carry it just in case I hear/see a boat get near.
My mother getting hit by a car at dusk breaking her hip from the fall three years ago got me into an “as aggressive as possible” hi vis and lighting strategy.
Yes someone coming at you is an emergency. They come in the general vicinity I wave my paddle and headlamp, and my tektite lamps. Few close calls from morons in boats.
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Strobe/flashing lights are the story of my outdoor exercise life.