: Some suggestions I have read about for rescue that make sense to me, are to
: use parachute flares that show up better then regular flares and to use
: them for night time since they are harder to see in the daytime. To use
: smoke flares for daytime use. To carry dye markers to color the water
: around you when a plane is in the area. And I would think a laser to
: signal planes or the shore would be a good addition and better then a
: mirror. And I always thought a metallic space blanket spread out over a
: kayak and held by our bungee cords would be better the a signal mirror.

: John

Hi John,
Most of these make perfect sense. Except for the laser. It does have range and accuracy but that pinpoint accuracy is what makes it less effective. Keeping the laser on target from a moving platform is most difficult, specially if the target is moving about as well.

Some of the new LED bicycle position lights would actually be better than a laser. They can be seen clearly from over 2000m away according to the literature. In reality, the visible range is much greater, I set one up at my house and found I could see it flash at close to 5000m (3 miles) in clear conditions.
They're waterproof as well.

Plus, they're real handy on the bike.

Mike Savage
South West Cork