Lights for Night Kayakers

By Tamara Williams

Editor's Note - here's a great article by Tamara Williams about using lights while night kayaking. Kayaking at night can be a risky business under the best of circumstances, and it's not recommended for inexperienced paddlers. If you are going out at night, make sure you're paddling with at least one other person. Also bring along flares, a good VHF radio, have reflective tape installed on your paddle and PFD. And make sure to check the boating laws in your area regarding boating and kayaking at night, and be aware of other boats that may not be following the safety guidelines.

Lights for Night Kayakers

At night a kayaker will need at least one white light on their kayak so that it can be shown in the direction of any oncoming boaters. All Lights used for Kayaking should be waterproof and be using new batteries when starting out for the night. A handheld flashlight will do for most kayakers. It is wise to check your local boating laws for the exact requirements. Boats over 16 ft often have greater lighting requirements. Find out Your Kayaks Length and be prepared for the safety rules that apply to it.

The best form of "white light" for a Kayaker is a "Deck Light" (also referred to as an anchor light). A strong white light that you can see from all directions is ideal, yet not very practical for a kayaker. If they had a pole light it would be cumbersome and inhibit the maneuverability of the kayak. A simple deck light would suit the kayaker better.

Deck or (Anchor) Lights are usually mounted at the Stern (back) of the boat. Often other lights such as Red for Port (left) and Green for Starboard (right) are used in combination with the Anchor light. The white front light is not as important if these other colored lights can already be seen from the front.

Navigating Lights are often not required for small vessels like the Kayak but they increase your chances of being seen. For Your uninhibited vision sake be sure to have all Navigation lighting not glaring in your eyes (point them straight or slightly down if effecting your vision. Along with this be sure that your white anchor light is behind you as well. All these help preserve a clearer night vision.

Headlights can also enhance your night vision. As well they can help locate navigation aids such as the channel markers and buoys.

Tamara Williams is a successful author and regular contributor for Inflatable Kayaks and Boats. a site dedicated to providing valuable information and tips on kayaking products and boating in general.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tamara_Williams

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Tips & Tricks

Stuff those bulkheads

You may have noticed, but loading up the aft compartment on your touring kayak can significantly improve handling. The only problem is that gear in a half-filled compartment tends to shift when your boat rolls, which can cause real problems when you try to right your kayak. One solution to this problem is to fill that unused space with air bags. And if you really want to stuff that aft stowage area, try loading it through the cockpit instead of the hatch.