Third the Luci lights. Also handy to have around the house when the power goes out. Mine are stashed on a window sill so they’re always charged.
I carry some small flares. The day night provide options. They can also be used for fire starters. But not for rookies. (apologies Rookie small letter rookies)
Good for you to consider safety. Suggest you check with your state’s DNR for local regulations / prohibitions for vessel lights and emergency signaling devices so that you are seen as a paddle craft and not sail or power. Headlamps are great for keeping your hands free.
I love the ACR firefly strobe https://amazon.com/acr-Firefly-Manual-Activation-Strobe/dp/B00JCB3NWA/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1541691673&sr=1-1&keywords=acr+firefly+pro.
I keep it on the rear lash tab of my PFD. It puts out a bright white light (you can do constant or blinking or SOS pattern). I usually keep it on when I get back to the ramp and orient it such that it illuminates my kayak when I go get my truck as a way to make sure no one comes along to do an evening launch and runs over my boat. It also provides some light when I’m packing up.
I also carry a Pelican 1920 light in my PFD pocket, tethered to a Seattle Sports coil. https://amazon.com/Seattle-Sports-Coiled-Tether-4-Pack/dp/B00SLKJ9XA/ref=asc_df_B00SLKJ9XA/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167124246852&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16674491199312883051&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9052538&hvtargid=pla-309457333578&psc=1 https://amazon.com/gp/product/B005OLYVS2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I like this little light so much, I now have one by my bed, in my truck, and with my camping gear.
It’s amazing how much illumination they are packing into little lights these days.
Blinking light is SOS so you can’t leave in on unless your in trouble.
I use arc lights. Strobe and non strobe. They’re cheap. Also headlamp Princeton Technology Apex. I use 4 rechargeable Duracell batteries.
Use one front and rear on deck.
I just bought a Luci light that’ll be used mostly for camping and household emergency light. Does it fully charge in 7 hrs? We do get plenty of bright sun here.
The Greatland rescue laser light I bought several years ago crapped out sometime while in storage. I put in a spare battery and it still doesn’t work, but the battery doesn’t show any expiration date so might be too old. The laser doesn’t have any corrosion in it, nor should it since it was never put in water.
It will fully charge in seven to eight hours in bright sunlight. Takes longer on cloudy days. I partially deflate mine and keep them on a windowsill which faces east. They’re always bright when I need them.
Most rescue folks operating at night these days are using NVGs when looking for people/boats/etc. I would think some IR signal capability would be a good idea since NVGs (based on experience) see IR stuff a whole lot better than visual light. Things that come to mind are IR strobes, chem sticks, or things like flares that produce heat.
Follow-up report:
The Greatland rescue laser works now. I put in a new battery touted as having a long shelf life.
I charged the Luci light for 6 hrs the first day and a couple more the next morning before turning the light on.
I had also recently replaced three dead headlamps (alkaline batteries leaked inside them) with two Black Diamond Spot and one Cosmos. The Cosmos was simple to figure out, but the Spots’ touch feature annoys me. I need to see if I can lock it out. Cosmos will do well for reading and in-camp use, but I like the brighter Spot beams for walking with. All three of these are supposedly immersable to shallow depths, but you are supposed to open the battery compartments and dry off everything after immersion. That doesn’t sound like a great choice for actually paddling with.
My Black Diamond has been used since 2012 it has been used in the rain, but hasn’t gone underwater yet. The head band stretched out, but I replaced it with one I saved from another headlamp that died. I don’t have experience with the newer models, but do like the beam, area light, and red light features of the light I have. I had a pezel fail from moisture then bought the black diamond.
I have the Black Diamond Spot and find the yellow spot in the center of the LED beam annoying and distracting. So much so I’ve reverted to my Pezel when I need bright light in a small area.
Since we’re on the subject of headlamps, does anyone know of a brand/model where the brightness and colour are remembered when turned off and restored on startup? I hate how most of them come on at full brightness even if they are turned of at the lowest setting.
The Black Diamond models I just bought remember their dimness setting if turned off at that setting. I like them for the dimmed red light, to preserve night vision. What I do NOT like is that touching the side of the light toggles it between dimmed and not dimmed. I still gotta sit down and learn how to lock that tap feature OFF.
The yellow/green spot in the beam center of the white light bothers a lot of people, judging from reviews. I can live with it. It is less noticeable in the Cosmos than in the Spot.
[Later edit:]
The lock feature locks the headlamp either on or off to prevent accidental powering. It does not lock out the Power Tap feature. I’ll just have to learn to avoid touching that spot on the side of the light.
The Luci light is still on, after 22 hrs and 20 min on dim, on one full charge. Room temp in the garage (50 to 52 degrees), with windows curtained so it is dark in there even during the day. Luci says one charge provides “up to 24 hrs” on dim. Looks like a keeper!
[Update from still later:]
The Luci light stayed on for a total of 26.5 hrs on dim before I shut it off to take advantage of charging it again in full sunlight. I don’t know how much longer it would have stayed lit, but it exceeded the manufacturer claim of “up to 24 hrs.” I think we will buy a second Luci, one for each building.
Good thoughts guys. Thanks
Here in Western New York, the primary concern is not getting run over by power boats. We all use the Kayalu deck light. It accomplishes 3 important things. 1. Can be seen from miles away yet does not blind other yakers. 2. When mounted on the rear deck it is elevated and can be seen 360 degrees even in swells. 3. The mounting makes it nearly indestructible and you can even roll with it. Remember, flashing means distress and headlamps are directional and blinding to others, And can’t be seen from the rear.
Recent article, “Being Seen at Night”, misquoted USCG Navigation Rules, and says lights on a kayak at night are not required, but a white light “can” be carried. Rule 25(d)(i) says a vessel “under oars” (which includes kayaks, paddleboards and canoes) may carry same lights as a sailboat, “but if she does not, she shall exhibit an all-round white light or have [one] ready at hand”. “Shall” means mandatory. Be aware that bright lights on shore and docks can obscure small lights and destroy the night vision of other operators. A few pieces of retroreflective white tape on the paddle blades attract notice and help identify the craft.
I use a Kayalu Kayalite mounted with a Scotty base and PVC extension that holds it 36"+ above the stern deck. It keeps me on good terms with the Marine Patrol while paddling the backchannels and the mouth of the Piscataqua River in New Castle, NH.
I use white Adventure Lights Guardian expedition lights one on my rear deck and one on the shoulder of my PFD they are waterproof and can be seen for a fair distance these can also be set to constantly flash just by flipping the battery around. For an emergency light I picked up one of those small black aluminum LED flashlights they are waterproof and very bright and you can get one that will continually signal an SOS I have seen them on Amazon. I also use a regular headlight to aid visibility.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VX0JW9Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$25
works great, mine has spent time in the water. I use mine for sunset/moon rise paddles.