: First off, no experience with these. But one of the guys had a LED set that
: was amazingly bright. But like Bill I am of the no running light crowd. Or
: at least be able to switch them off! By law here we just have to have a
: white signal light to warn approaching boats and I prefer to just have a
: bright flashlight over running light.

: Reasons are two fold. Like Bill I want my night vision unimpaired.

: Secondly, as an avid boater for many years (power, sail and paddle) I know
: that running lights are not nearly as visible as most people think. As I
: sailor it is quite and I have time to see hear what is around me. As a
: power boat with an inboard roaring, glass windscreen in front of me with
: reflections of any lights around me, red/green running lights are not
: always obvious. And white anchor light just blend in with all the other
: street lights, cars etc.

: I have never come close to running over someone but I have been surprised to
: see a boat 'suddenly appear' that I should have seen long before I did.
: But they just don't show like you may think.

: Now a flashing light is much more obvious, it stands out. Waving a bright
: flash light is sort of like a strobe and captures my attention much
: quicker. So even if you use running light, remember you are low to the
: water and hard to see. So I would still carry a GOOD flashlight. It might
: save you life.

I agree completely, the idea of running lights is fine, but they tend to destroy your night vision primarily, otherwise they do very little unless it's dead calm when you really don't need them since at best they are only a few inches above the water and any waves will blot them out completely to any larger boat, even a 6" chop will do it, doesn't take much wind on a lake the size of Lake Ontario to have the lights end up as completely useless. A bright white light will carry over much greater distances and you're up at least a couple feet higher than the boat is and can aim at the sound if not the sight of the boat, who'll then have much greater odds of seeing you.

Still when I find my buddy with the lights I'll get his Email address for you, might be a week or so as I'm leaving town this weekend and his work schedule means I don't see him very often.

Actually had a thought, if you put a note on our paddling club's website he'll see it much faster and can reply, his name is Jeff Reuter and the club's address is: www.statelinepaddlers.org

Bill H.