Lights.. red, green, white... another DIY hack :-)

[rob-kayak]

Lights.. red, green, white... another DIY hack :-)

Well... the days are getting shorter... and going out pre dawn will become a reality quicker
than we want...



The top rear white light is from Advanced Auto... $3... (supposed to be water proof).
The two aka front lights are from Target $17 bicycle lights two pack... the Red was easy as is...
The Green is the white light from the Target two pack... but to make it green I found at The Party Store
a green clear hat visor... that I cut a strip of the green clear plastic.. and just shoved into the body
of the light housing... super easy.

The whole unit measures about 4 feet... and goes into my rear vertical rod holders... and as you can
see from the next picture... breaks down for storage when the sun comes up.
While the Green and Red are not exactly on the front of the kayak as the unit is one piece.. on a ten foot
kayak I don't think the separation of the lights will have the Coast Guard complaining if the situation were to arise
that they would come upon me in the water. As opposed to no lights at all.

And as always... I'll probably re-make the hack some how some way... but for now... it's no worries on the water.

[JohnE]

Came across this searching for diy lights. In the past, I've read a bit about red/green on kayaks and the general consensus is that it is not a very good idea since power boaters will assume you are also under way and expect you have the means to and will follow the rules.

I've seen people with red lights only and they are much more visible at a distance than just white in certain conditions, but again may cause confusion with power boaters.

I have a diy light pole that I've used in the past with just a fantasea nano spotter dive light stuck in a piece of pvc for a mast. I'm currently working on a new and improved diy light pole which will use the same light as the visipole. I've ordered a 4 led version of the tektite mark iii for $25 shipped (the visipole and visicarbon come with a 2 led version that can be upgraded with a 4 led module found online in various places), and have some pvc, orange duct tape, reflective tape...etc on hand. Should be here tomorrow...will post a pic when it is done.

I would have bought the basic version of the visipole for $40 if they offered the 4 led version for a small upgrade charge. That and the scotty ready visipole for $55 are very reasonably priced, but the 4 led upgrade module is another $12 plus shipping. I've seen more than few people using the visipole or the visicarbon at the hrbt and the light tends to wash out a little bit with all the background lighting in that situation. The 4 led module should help a little bit with that; it is supposed to be extremely bright (at least as bright, if not brighter than most of the lights on power boats).

I did see somebody out at the hrbt one night recently on the norfolk side about 3 am who had something rigged and it was a substantially brighter and bigger light than a standard visipole. I still wonder what it was.

[Southerly]

if a powerboat is steaming along and sees your green light, to some extent he is obligated by law to hold his course (to allow the give-way vessel to make the required change in speed or course with a minimum of confusion), until it becomes clear that he must take action to avoid a collision.

if on the other hand, he sees a white all-round, it indicates an anchored boat, small sailboat, or other small craft that he should take action to avoid.

quite honestly, I think the most important thing is to be seen and to that end, the more lights the better. and think the flashing strobes may be the most effective. but also believe in the coast guard way (ie the regs). rowing shells were using strobes for awhile and I thought they were easily recognized as being a vessel, easily distinguished from dock lights but it seems like they have discontinued that practice. not sure if there's a story as to why,..

I think having a hand-held light ready to be pointed and waved in addition to a white all-round may be a good way to go.

[JohnE]

So, only white seems like it is probably the safest way to go. That is what I have done in the past and will continue. I have not actually seen any kayaks out on the water with red and green...just white or sometimes white lights and red headlamps. I have seen a couple people with flashing red lights in addition to a visipole. Whatever it is, I guess any light would be better than no light--and I have seen kayakers out with no lighting or just headlamps they only turn on when they think a boat is approaching. The light needs to be visible from 360 degrees, if a boat approaches from behind they will not see it.

[russ498]

So, only white seems like it is probably the safest way to go. That is what I have done in the past and will continue. I have not actually seen any kayaks out on the water with red and green...just white or sometimes white lights and red headlamps. I have seen a couple people with flashing red lights in addition to a visipole. Whatever it is, I guess any light would be better than no light--and I have seen kayakers out with no lighting or just headlamps they only turn on when they think a boat is approaching. The light needs to be visible from 360 degrees, if a boat approaches from behind they will not see it.

There are actually very specific requirement from the Coast Guard for light use, angle of view and placement. Kayaks aren't required to have any lights, but if they choose to use them or are under power and are required to have the, they must follow the rules.

http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/...ations/420.PDF

[JohnE]

I'm almost positive you are required to have at least a white flashlight or headlamp accessible to warn others of your presence on the water, even in a kayak or any other manually powered craft. Again, never seen a kayak on the water with red/green, only white lights on a mast. White light on a mast misinterpreted as a boat at anchor is going to be the best bet as far as I'm concerned. I also carry a small air horn, day or night.

[Southerly]

it looks like proper green/red and all round white is in compliance, but being able to produce a white light is an option for yak under power of oar as well. the surprise to me is there may be an additional requirement to carry other distress signals (flares) at nighttime. not sure - maybe this is something more of us should know more about,..

anyway - here's a link to copy of the lighting regs -

http://books.google.com/books?id=hzW...0oars.&f=false

[rob-kayak]

So.... am I legal or illegal... maybe an all around white light is needed ?

[JohnE]

Hopefully this will clarify, and I believe all the following to be correct.

In one of those links, I see that a vessel under oars "shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light". This is the requirement I was thinking about. You may actually receive a ticket with a fine if you have no lighting whatsoever with you on your kayak, not to mention that you would be putting your life at risk.

Sure, green/red would be in compliance, but not required unless you have a trolling motor hooked up to your kayak.

White light or lantern (preferably 360 degrees visible) would be in compliance and is required for a kayak "under oars." This is, in my opinion, a better option than using green/red because that is possibly going to cause confusion from boaters--causing them to not realize that you are under oars or at anchor.

While it is probably a good idea to have them with you, I do not think flares are a requirement. A flashing white headlamp will meet specs as a distress signal. I always have my waterproof headlamp that has flashing mode available.

You are also always required to carry a sound producing device as well. A whistle works, but I have been carrying both a whistle and an air horn. You can get the air horns for around $10 usually, and are obviously much more effective than a whistle.

I got inspected by the Coast Guard auxiliary one time down at Lynnhaven inlet about 5 years ago when I was heading out and passed their inspection with the items I always carry with me.

[Southerly]

rob-kayak - i expect you're in compliance at least since you have a light that you can produce in order to avoid collision. not sure if CG would take other issue.

re the regular green/red lighting. the green and red can be seen from the sides and the front (given some range of degrees) but not from the rear. the white light is visible 360*. and i missed this above, but a powerboater seeing a white nav light would recognize it to could be a boat they are overtaking (and must avoid) or anchored, or sm sailboat, or other craft, or other marked obstruction such as dock i suppose.

[JohnE]

I agree. Be seen and when necessary be heard. Reflective material is also very good to have. Some boaters out there are very courteous to us, but many could care less if they swamp you or cause you to turtle. Some might even be so drunk, they could run you over and not even know it.

[russ498]

I actually installed an LED Bow light and plug in stern light. They cost less than a visipole. I hooked a Hi-Vis flag on the staff of the stern light. I also have 4 2"X18" reflective tapes on each side of the yak. I use the lights day and night. They really do stand out.

[DOGFISH]

I use a red and green bow light, made by NaviSafe. This is only because of electric motor use. I use a 4 LED VisaPole. I also carry an all white NaviSafe light, for light in the cockpit and to wave off any boats running close. The NaviSafe lights are very bright. The 4 LED model light from YakAttack is as bright, if not brighter, than most regular stern lights on many boats. When I am out at night, it always amazes me the puny lights that some boats have. I tend to agree with the opinion of more and brighter lights are better. It is also advisable to have an air horn on the kayak, day or night.


For those interested: http://www.navisafe.co.nz/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTxR8oLoSf8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvfjlyEHgY4

[Bulldog]

I think paddle or peddle kayaks are best with a single white light, mounted on a pole, I think the green and red nav lights would be required if you are motorized but could be a safety issue when being approached by another boat. The strobe lights or flashing lights should be used only in emergency situations. This all is optional , what is required is a flash light that you can point at an approaching boat.......Jack

[JohnE]

I really like that 16 led 360 degree light from navisafe that you posted, Dogfish. But it is on the expensive side for me.

I got the 4 led tektite mark III and made a homemade scotty-ready mast out of rigid pvc with some flex pvc to attach the light to the pole. I heated up the flexible pvc to slide over the rigid pvc and the other end to hold the light, which fits very securely. I used a rotozip to create a channel in the bottom part of the pole so it twist locks into one of my scotty flush mounts.

The 4 led tektite mark III is very nice and made in usa with a lifetime warranty. Fully sealed and meant to be around the water, so it will not corrode like most other lights people try to use on homemade setups.