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.