Quote:
Originally Posted by dwest
At night there are navigation and running lights, and SOLAS tape, to consider. Maybe a radar reflector. Anything else?
In daylight there are kayak flags, outerwear in safety orange. Anything else? Other colors?
When efforts at visibility fail, there are last resort sound signals: whistles, air horns, etc. Anything else?
Thanks for your thoughts
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For night time forays, I use a vessel running light on the stern, and have a large waterproof flashlight for handheld signaling. The flashlight is one of the ones that uses 4 D batteries. You want it to shine a country mile. Radar deflectors may not be a bad idea, but the other vessel has to have running radar they are paying attention to for them to do any good. Some of the kayakers that kayak the english channel use them and maybe here for the trip over to catalina a few have used them. Keep in mind though commerical freighters often will not change their course whether there is kelp paddy with a dozen private boaters fishing it, or a twilight boat with passengers fishing from it. In both cases, the smaller guy moves.
Outerwear in a bright color is a good idea also. I use one of the NRS paddle jackets in orange. Other colors like yellow and bright green can also stand out well.
For audio signals, whistles are ok, but I carry a compact air horn like the boats are required to have. I've used it a few times, and whan you let it rip, I've been fortunate in whatever boat I mean it for it got their attention fast. Maybe the fact is they think they are going to hit or get hit by another boat and not a kayak, but hey I'll take it. Hope this helps,
Perry