Since I paddle mainly in Mexico I have learned to approach night paddling a bit differently than I might in the U.S..

First off, I don't show a continuous light at night. It simply attracts panga fishermen who are curious about a strange light.

Second, If I hear a boat I stop paddling and listen. There's not much point in looking since few boats show lights of any kind (in the Sea of Cortez).

If I get the sense that the vessel is approaching I turn on both front and back deck mounted strobes. Now for sure I will be approached... After greeting the pangeros I turn everything off. A kayak in the dark makes for good conversation and a few shared chukkles.

I know of one paddler who had the front of his kayak removed by a mexican military panga that failed to see him (he couldn't get his headlamp turned on in time...)

Always wanted to get to Mexico. Have you posted about the areas there to paddle?

No I haven't Stormy since my local area is limited to the Midriff Islands. I've been from Mulege to about half way between La Paz and Loreto but that was in 2002 - I'm sure there are contributers with much more up to date info for that area.

As for the Midriffs, I am working with a student at Prescott College to create an information clearinghouse for small-craft users (paddlers and open boat sailors). We hope it will be up and running by December. It will probably appear as part of my website at: www.kinopangas.org

Here are the places I recommend to:

Novices (day trip experience, no roll, easy navigation)

Loreto and the Marine National Park (with a guide preferably)
San Carlos bay
Conception Bay
Kino Bay

Intermediate level (Some multiday experience, have roll, coastal navigation)

-Sonora coast north of Kino Bay to Isla Tiburon and around the south coast of the island
-Sonora coast from Estero Tastiota to Catch 22 beach (San Carlos)
Bahia Los Angeles and Islands
The coast from Puertocitos to Bahia Gonzaga
Baja coast from Mulege to la Paz

Advanced level:

You name it...

That's the Sea of Cortez. I like the Yucutan coast and the fresh water lagoons towards Belize.

Martin

I presented my options on night paddling in the Rhode Island area on my web site which include mulitple lights, strobe, reflector tape, etc.
http://www.krabach.info/night_paddle/nightpaddling.html

I just finished a long solo expedition and I used the Scotty Sea Light. It works really well and uses two AA batteries.
The best solar charger is the Solio (make sure you get the right model for your needs). I actually run two different models for all of my electronics. One interesting option are the special AA batteries which can easily be recharged with this unit. Also many other light attachments can be used with the unit.
Be careful at night, especially when in shipping lanes. No music should be played and keep your wits about you on long night crossings.

I paddle in waterways with shipping lanes. It really helps to monitor Channel 13 on the VHF(at least for Delaware River/Bay). Not sure where you paddle, but look up your aprticular area's ship/tug channel on VHF. They are really good about letting other boaters know from where they are originating, where they are heading and frequent updates in laymen's terms.

I am certainly no expert, though I've taken 3 beginner boating courses covering New York State navigation rules. As much as SOME of us would like to think of ourselves the highest on the boating pecking order and hence "all other boats must yield to me" is quaint but really a very poor mindset and largely incorrect.

I've seen in my short time since July this year a lot of things such as Kayakers almost being run down by a pilot vessel at night, a canoer waiting until a 50' powerboat is too close to manuver then entering the channel purposely forcing it to stop, a kayaker with "skills" challenging himself to beat me and several other boats leaving an inlet across the inlet before we hit him, kayakers on VHF challenging a power boater that they aren't afraid of them while not noticing a large comercial vessel coming up on them since they were in the middle of the channel, boaters proudly boasting of their 30knot average speed night trip or in fog and near zero visability, boaters with an entire open river almost hitting me in Kayak because they think they can do whatever they please etc. etc. I guess it goes both ways, and understanding your rules will help you and others.

From what I gather the following things should be considered:

1> Rules - You are a vessel, you are not just a pedestrian crossing the street, you must obey the same times of regulations all boaters are supposed to adhere to. Off hand, the 'minute guide' rules 1-13 (I believe) all apply to Kayakers (plus a couple of others). In short, you must make your actions clear to other boaters, you must understand who is stand-on or give-way vessel, you must above all else never engage in risky behaviour, and always superscede all rules to avoid accidents. Failure to understand this can make you negligent and liable etc.

2> Night Lighting - You MUST have a white 360deg. light on at all times (most people know this) vessels under X length and type. I would add that a high powered spot light should also be readily available. Flashing LEDs, reflective tape, etc. should also be considered.

3> Channel behavior - Stay out of the channel at night. During the day, follow the minute guide, do not play "frogger" with your Kayak, stay to the starboard side of the inlet (like other vessels). If you have to cross do it in the most direct way.

4> Carry a VHF - Remember that these aren't as strong as the ones on boats, have it autoscan the emergency channels, learn to communicate with other boats properly in the area. Make them aware of your location.

5> Navigation lights - Know your lights! Is that a power boat? Is that a tug boat? Is that trawler? Is it engaged in commercial fishing? Are you in-between a tug and it's cargo ship? Is that approaching ship's red light mean that they or you are the stand-on vessel? This applies to the rules of navigation, basically stay the hell away from comerical traffic.

6> Emergency lights - Do I have two methods of night-time emergency signals (i.e. flares, lights)? Do I know how to use them and when? Does no good fire a flare off if nobody is looking at it.

7> Lights rule of thumb - the more lights you see on the vessel the more likely it's comerical and large, stay the hell away from them. Two lights yellow over white means it's a tug pulling a barge, there could be 3 or more lights meaning larger scale operation.

A very good topic.

Without going into exhaustive maritime regs, and jurisdiction, of which I am a poor student anyway, I use these guidelines:

stationary (unblinking) white light tells the other vessels there is another vessel there - which is Job #1 as far as this topic.

blinking white is reserved for distress - only. People who use blinking white for regular paddling are inadvertently causing a great deal of confusion. If anything the responding vessel may get very close trying to assist in what they perceive as a distress situation. This might cause a capsize or collision. A blinking white may also set off a chain of Channel 16 emergency calls which ties up Coast Guard and other resources for no purpose (on waters monitored by USCG & other mariners)

if it's attached by a suction cup, it's not attached. Unless a light is lashed to you or your boat don't count on it to come up w. you or stay on the boat in turbulent water.

LED headlamps do limit your vision. Your eyes will adjust tho, and they can be turned to the side or your head, or even the back of the head if there is ambient light (full moon paddling).
They are higher up than deck lights and more easily seen. Many also come w. a flashing option.

This does NOT mean each paddler shouldn't have a small strobe light pinned onto their PFD. That is your ultimate backstop light esp. if you go into the water and get separated from your boat.

Cyalume sticks are nice for group paddles in calm water. Not nearly as bright as LED lights. Wouldn't rely on them to be seen by other vessels.

As others said, kayaks are very low in the water, disappear for intervals in waves, and generally very hard to see by other vessels. Power and sailboaters say they see the paddles moving before anything else so my paddles wear big reflective silver stickers on both sides.

It's also good to invest in a PFD w. plenty of SOLAS tape (or sew some on) as that is very visible from a 1/4 mile off if a light source hits it. SOLAS was designed for SAR personnel to find people in the water.

Night or day, we should follow the Law of Tonnage - he's bigger, get out of the way. Cross channels, etc. as a group and do it in a quick,direct & obvious course. Kayaks are way more manoevrable than a barge or tug, so we should use that advantage and give other vessels the room they require to turn, etc.

A really good topic w. many good suggestions.

I am a poor student of maritime regs & jurisdiction, but I know this:

Blinking white/strobe - as you pointed out means distress, and only that. Paddlers who use a blinking white inadvertently cause a lot of confusion and create hazards. For example, a vessel trying to aid may actually come in too close & swamp a kayak. In monitored waters a kayaker using a blinking strobe will trigger unnecessary distress calls on Channel 16 & waste others' time in responding.

Stationary white --> vessel to another vessel. It lets them know we are out there which is Job #1.

As far as where to display the stationary white light my belief is if it ain't lashed to the boat or attached to you it ain't secured. If someone is relying on a suction-cupped light they will sooner or later be disappointed following a wave or capsize.

Whatever we display on our boats, our heads, etc, does not replace a strobe light w. a minimum visibility of 1/2 mile lashed to our PFD as the absolute fallback esp. if we are in the water and separated from our boat. That is what the USCG and other SAR personnel will be looking for.

I know this is an older topic but I thought I would throw this out there: This is a GREAT TOPIC! It's winter and I'm not getting out much right now so I started looking around and found this thread.
KATABATIC: you make some great points and I agree.
mkrabach: I like you webpage. Pretty cool stuff.

I think paddle craft should use the red/green navigation color scheme. I use a system from Illumarine, www.headtoboat.com. Its an all-in-one headlamp and kayak light system. they sell reflective tape too. pretty cool and not too expensive for the complete system. They were at cinci paddlefest last year.

to be particular about strobes, strobes don't necessarily mean distress. They are frequently placed on commercial fishing gear, such as long lines in order to locate it. That said, in other various jurisdictions, such as state by state, strobes can indicate distress. know the particular rules for where you paddle and use the red/green lights with care. as pointed out earlier, they can look like a larger boat that is farther away. if all you show is a white light other mariners will draw inferences based on that lights and know that you're a small craft.