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.
I have used a lot of headlamps over the last 50 years. The early ones had incandescent bulbs and large battery packs.
I like lamps that are simple to operate. I like ones that are bright colors so I can find them. The good ones will have variable amounts of lumens. Then you can use low power for most things, and high power for tasks. The batteries last a long time.
Just don’t walk up to your comrades with your light on and blast them in the eyes with it.
My wife and I often paddled with no lights on until one moonless night we came within inches of being run down by a large dinghy running with an electric motor and no lights (illegally).
From then on we use an LED rear deck pedestal light and a shoulder mounted PFD light. Both are pretty much behind us so they have minimal effect on night vision.
We also carry strobes in a PFD pocket and a dive light under the front bungees that can be used if necessary. If one of these dies, I will probably replace them with a compact combination flashlight/strobe that fits in a pocket.
Most LED lights used for kayaking will last for over 12 hours.