Night Journey by Samantha Christen | Jul 16, 2012 | Journey, Recreational/Touring | 5 comments Gentleman at the put in: “Y’all got lights for them things?” Me: (with a very confused look, having caught only part of the question) “Pardon me?” Gentleman at the put in: “Y’all are takin’ your lives into your own hands goin’ out in them things this time’a night!” (head shake as he turns and walks away…) Emily, the friend joining me on this particular venture and ever the epitomal Southern lady: “Well, Sir, we don’t exactly feel that way, but we’d be glad to answer any questions you may have if it would ease your mind!” The gentleman at the put in says not a word; merely throws his hands skyward as he walks away shaking his head. We step into our boats and push away from the shore, into the river and into night… Growing up being lulled to sleep by the Critter Chorus wafting through my open window or playing full volume outside my tent during warmer weather; lying on my back gazing at the stars and pondering the mysteries of the universe while camping on clear, cold nights; feeling the gentle wind from the river on my face; smelling the rich colors of the forest all around me. All of this falls into place for me when on the water at night, culminating in one of the most peace filled times of my day. However, I do 100% agree with this gentleman’s concern for us being on the water at night. Night paddling, even on flat water, certainly isn’t for everyone. Above and beyond general paddling safety such as: sharing info; not paddling alone; being cognizant of flow/conditions/hazards/your surroundings; NOT paddling in conditions that you’re not comfortable in; NOT paddling unfamiliar areas at night, there are some safety measures that can very easily be taken to make hitting the water at night one of the most exhilarating, salient and gratifying opportunities you can have on the water. I know there are folks out there who full moon paddle rivers and creeks I personally would never dream of going near, even in the daylight (I’ll run shuttle for you on those!) Please keep in mind that what I’m talking about here is paddling on still water, and these are the measures that I take to ensure my own personal safety while on the water at night. I am by no means advocating or teaching anyone skills; merely sharing what I do by answering common questions I receive on a regular basis. First and foremost: I ALWAYS PADDLE WITH SOMEONE WHEN PADDLING AT NIGHT. Self-explanatory, and also comes into play as a safety measure at launch sites. There can be some – ah – shall we say “interesting” folks out there sometimes, know what I mean??? Second: despite the fact that I don’t paddle alone at night, I still ALWAYS LET SOMEONE KNOW MY PLANS (when/where/time frame/etc.) It kind of goes without saying that the person in the know needs to be someone other than who you’re with on the water. Third: I MAKE MYSELF VISIBLE!!! I have red, yellow and white reflective tape all over the blades of my paddles: Kind of obnoxious, wouldn't you say?! Merely a bunch of stickers during the day... I generally have reflective tape on my boat as well, I just ran out of tape before I got to decorating my Journey. I also use deck lights: Completely waterproof! And if I’m feeling particularly festive (and in areas with more motorized boat traffic) I have been known to duct tape lights inside the bow and stern hatches of my boat, effectively morphing into some type of mutant, floating, glow worm. Yup, indeed it is a mutant, floating, glow worm. The key here, though, is to actually remember to turn the lights on prior to hitting the water… I also intentionally choose to paddle brightly colored boats (red/yellow/orange/etc.) Fourth: I STRENGTHEN AND UTILIZE MY SENSES. Getting lost in reverie is easy. What’s more difficult is becoming and staying cognizant of my surroundings, and the movements and sounds in them that are out of place. I keep an ear out for sounds of reels being cast by fishermen, engines turning, and distant conversations. I keep my eyes open for out of place lights and movement. Long ago I learned the old hunting trick of not looking directly at anything when you’re in “off” light. In my mind I still hear my father’s voice telling me to focus on a point, then to look outside my sight for movement and shapes that didn’t fit the surroundings. Strengthening and relying on your peripheral vision is key when paddling, but this skill very much comes into play at night. Last but not least: I STICK TO THE BANKS/EDGES, and OUT OF THE MAIN CHANNEL. Motorized boats aren’t generally a paddler’s ideal companion; this is particularly true at night. Making myself highly visible, staying outside of the channel markers on the river, nd doing what I can to be cognizant of fishermen and their lines all help to keep the tenuous relationship between kayakers and motorized boaters on more friendly terms. On a more selfish note, these things also help to ensure that I’m less likely to get run over by a boat running full blast down the river! All of this may sound like ridiculous overkill to some folks, and you may or may not agree with it. You also may have some ideas or suggestions that I’ve not thought of yet. If that’s the case, PLEASE don’t hesitate to share them with me!! What I do know is that paddling at night will always be something I enjoy, and I will find a way to make it happen as long as I’m physically able. Employing these measures will hopefully help to keep me on the water longer throughout my life!! 5 Comments Butler Cox on July 24, 2012 at 6:33 pm Fine post! Staying alert to sights & sounds is definitely necessary. DOT trucker’s reflective tape makes the best paddle/hull stickers IMO. Sticks longer and reflects further. You can get it at most truck stops and some RV stores. A cat’s-eye (blinking red) bicycle light fore & aft helps, as long as they’re the bright ones with full batteries, and in addition to USCG/state regs and your suggestions. The mutant glow worm is a cute idea and probably a good one near (not in) shipping lanes, but I’d be concerned it would attract unwanted interest on some waters. Based on SAR waterwork, I’d suggest staying off the water on holidays unless its out there in the fardeep-puckerbrush. Be picky with white lights: brilliance, spread, and location. They can spoil your night vision if improperly used. But have a good strobe parked on the rear of the PFD where you can easily activate it. In some locales a VHF could be useful (though it spoils the ambiance). Likewise the right flare/pyro kit. (Be sure they’re current and you know how to safely deploy them.) Green/Red nav lights could be useful in some locales. It could help to practice in familiar surroundings before venturing out into harbors (even outside channels). Things are very different at night. Never forget the law of grosser tonnage! (Even a jon boat is grosser!) Practice rescues at night. They’re different! Thanks for your post. Night paddling is another realm entirely. Reply Samantha Christen on July 25, 2012 at 3:37 am You offer some extremely valid additions/suggestions! I fully agree that night paddling during holidays isn’t – IMO – one of the better ideas a body could have; way too much going on both in and on the water during those times, sometimes even in the fardeep-puckerbrush! I also second your suggestion of practicing rescues at night; this is something that folks may not think of doing. The more you practice all your paddling skills in all situations, the more natural they become and the more prepared you are to expect the unexpected. One thing I would add to your suggestion of green/red nav lights: if you choose to use these, make sure they are on the correct sides of your boat: green goes starboard; red for port. If an analogy would help here, think in terms of size: red/port/left are small (4 letters or less); green/starboard/right are big (5 letters or more.) And yup, deck lights can totally mess you up if used incorrectly. It took several different lights and some persistent finagling for me to get squared away with mine. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t give up: there IS something out there that will work for you! Flares are great to mention, too. I have a fairly hefty “Oh my!” kit that has flares and such in it that I take for granted; ergo, I forget to mention them separately. Perfect that you did. And yup indeed, grosser tonnage is absolutely something of which to be aware day AND night!! Thanks for bringing these things up, and thanks for taking time to share them! Wishing you and your safe and happy paddling! Samantha Reply Isaac Miller on July 25, 2012 at 3:11 pm I’m with you in every regard. Lights should be used by more people on the water. However, I will disagree on the Red/Green Navigation lights. A single white light indicates, as per the Coast Guard, a boat at anchor or otherwise not under motorized movement. Other boats under power are supposed to give way and steer clear of vessels displaying a single white light. The use of additional navigation lights, especially especially at night, would indicate that you are likely a powerboat and moving around the water on the motor. Reply Butler Cox on July 26, 2012 at 1:17 am Thanks! And thanks for something you wrote a few months back: “Journeys take time; they are not something one can force….” Before cancer/chemo I had no idea (like your “episode” in a way) I’d ever be digging bouncing through froth in a skinny, tippy, craft with two pointy ends and no honking diesel. Things just evolved that way in their own time. Before C I would have *strongly* advocated for not paddling at night, having cursed a few times after evasive action to miss paddlers in places where they shouldn’t be (law of gross tonnage, without proper visual aids, etc. Nifty analog/mnemonic! Yes, must get the correct side. Could be a big “Oh my” if they’re reversed. But another thing: Hanging colored lights in the right places doesn’t make one invincible. Too many “boaters” haven’t a clue about Right of Way…if they even keep a decent watch (night or day). Yep…if there are boats galore, hug the shore. Perhaps another thing about night paddling is that without proper training or experience, well lit places can be more disorienting than moon/starlight only. But if one does choose to paddle harbors or built-up shorelines at night, try to not fixate either on one point (especially the bow of your boat). Develop the ability to constantly scan back and forth in a wide arc. In fact, one might even use the scanning as a reinforcement for torso rotation. Not only will scanning employ your excellent tip re using the sides of one’s retina by looking “off point”, but it also may help one pick out the change in relative bearing of lights, possibly indicating another moving vessel. In that “light” (sorry) in daytime practicing the skill of using the changing relation of landmarks to determine bearing and track would definitely help at night. As you also said: listen intently. And speaking of ears, carrying a really good horn is not a bad idea. (Canned but not the wimpy ones.) Even an Admiral Hornblower would help (mouth powered, but sounds like the QEII) But as much night boating as I’ve done, and as much as I like gunkholing busy harbors, in the tippy, skinny, pointy thing, I’ll stick to places the rest of the world is somewhere else. That’s the magic of night paddling….being where nobody else is. One final thought: Not only develop your vision and hearing, but also your kinesthetic sense. At night you don’t have the visual clue to add to the awareness of losing balance. You never know when a lightening fast brace is called for Learned that lesson one night when an irate Beaver pounced my rear deck! Hope both your Journey’s evolve safely Reply Butler Cox on July 31, 2012 at 6:17 am Isaac Miller makes a case for red/green indicating movement which is a point skippers debate often. There are cases for both sides. Like to add another point (then we’re launching for a near full moon paddle–on a lake where powercraft are prohibited fortunately, unlighted moose, however, are another story): Distances are deceiving at night, especially lights which can be further than they seem. Here’s a useful discussion of night paddling by a gentleman who does a lot of it, including places where there is no “bailout” shoreline except sheer cliffs. “http://kayak-skills.kayaklakemead.com/night-kayaking.html” Reply Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
Butler Cox on July 24, 2012 at 6:33 pm Fine post! Staying alert to sights & sounds is definitely necessary. DOT trucker’s reflective tape makes the best paddle/hull stickers IMO. Sticks longer and reflects further. You can get it at most truck stops and some RV stores. A cat’s-eye (blinking red) bicycle light fore & aft helps, as long as they’re the bright ones with full batteries, and in addition to USCG/state regs and your suggestions. The mutant glow worm is a cute idea and probably a good one near (not in) shipping lanes, but I’d be concerned it would attract unwanted interest on some waters. Based on SAR waterwork, I’d suggest staying off the water on holidays unless its out there in the fardeep-puckerbrush. Be picky with white lights: brilliance, spread, and location. They can spoil your night vision if improperly used. But have a good strobe parked on the rear of the PFD where you can easily activate it. In some locales a VHF could be useful (though it spoils the ambiance). Likewise the right flare/pyro kit. (Be sure they’re current and you know how to safely deploy them.) Green/Red nav lights could be useful in some locales. It could help to practice in familiar surroundings before venturing out into harbors (even outside channels). Things are very different at night. Never forget the law of grosser tonnage! (Even a jon boat is grosser!) Practice rescues at night. They’re different! Thanks for your post. Night paddling is another realm entirely. Reply
Samantha Christen on July 25, 2012 at 3:37 am You offer some extremely valid additions/suggestions! I fully agree that night paddling during holidays isn’t – IMO – one of the better ideas a body could have; way too much going on both in and on the water during those times, sometimes even in the fardeep-puckerbrush! I also second your suggestion of practicing rescues at night; this is something that folks may not think of doing. The more you practice all your paddling skills in all situations, the more natural they become and the more prepared you are to expect the unexpected. One thing I would add to your suggestion of green/red nav lights: if you choose to use these, make sure they are on the correct sides of your boat: green goes starboard; red for port. If an analogy would help here, think in terms of size: red/port/left are small (4 letters or less); green/starboard/right are big (5 letters or more.) And yup, deck lights can totally mess you up if used incorrectly. It took several different lights and some persistent finagling for me to get squared away with mine. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t give up: there IS something out there that will work for you! Flares are great to mention, too. I have a fairly hefty “Oh my!” kit that has flares and such in it that I take for granted; ergo, I forget to mention them separately. Perfect that you did. And yup indeed, grosser tonnage is absolutely something of which to be aware day AND night!! Thanks for bringing these things up, and thanks for taking time to share them! Wishing you and your safe and happy paddling! Samantha Reply
Isaac Miller on July 25, 2012 at 3:11 pm I’m with you in every regard. Lights should be used by more people on the water. However, I will disagree on the Red/Green Navigation lights. A single white light indicates, as per the Coast Guard, a boat at anchor or otherwise not under motorized movement. Other boats under power are supposed to give way and steer clear of vessels displaying a single white light. The use of additional navigation lights, especially especially at night, would indicate that you are likely a powerboat and moving around the water on the motor. Reply
Butler Cox on July 26, 2012 at 1:17 am Thanks! And thanks for something you wrote a few months back: “Journeys take time; they are not something one can force….” Before cancer/chemo I had no idea (like your “episode” in a way) I’d ever be digging bouncing through froth in a skinny, tippy, craft with two pointy ends and no honking diesel. Things just evolved that way in their own time. Before C I would have *strongly* advocated for not paddling at night, having cursed a few times after evasive action to miss paddlers in places where they shouldn’t be (law of gross tonnage, without proper visual aids, etc. Nifty analog/mnemonic! Yes, must get the correct side. Could be a big “Oh my” if they’re reversed. But another thing: Hanging colored lights in the right places doesn’t make one invincible. Too many “boaters” haven’t a clue about Right of Way…if they even keep a decent watch (night or day). Yep…if there are boats galore, hug the shore. Perhaps another thing about night paddling is that without proper training or experience, well lit places can be more disorienting than moon/starlight only. But if one does choose to paddle harbors or built-up shorelines at night, try to not fixate either on one point (especially the bow of your boat). Develop the ability to constantly scan back and forth in a wide arc. In fact, one might even use the scanning as a reinforcement for torso rotation. Not only will scanning employ your excellent tip re using the sides of one’s retina by looking “off point”, but it also may help one pick out the change in relative bearing of lights, possibly indicating another moving vessel. In that “light” (sorry) in daytime practicing the skill of using the changing relation of landmarks to determine bearing and track would definitely help at night. As you also said: listen intently. And speaking of ears, carrying a really good horn is not a bad idea. (Canned but not the wimpy ones.) Even an Admiral Hornblower would help (mouth powered, but sounds like the QEII) But as much night boating as I’ve done, and as much as I like gunkholing busy harbors, in the tippy, skinny, pointy thing, I’ll stick to places the rest of the world is somewhere else. That’s the magic of night paddling….being where nobody else is. One final thought: Not only develop your vision and hearing, but also your kinesthetic sense. At night you don’t have the visual clue to add to the awareness of losing balance. You never know when a lightening fast brace is called for Learned that lesson one night when an irate Beaver pounced my rear deck! Hope both your Journey’s evolve safely Reply
Butler Cox on July 31, 2012 at 6:17 am Isaac Miller makes a case for red/green indicating movement which is a point skippers debate often. There are cases for both sides. Like to add another point (then we’re launching for a near full moon paddle–on a lake where powercraft are prohibited fortunately, unlighted moose, however, are another story): Distances are deceiving at night, especially lights which can be further than they seem. Here’s a useful discussion of night paddling by a gentleman who does a lot of it, including places where there is no “bailout” shoreline except sheer cliffs. “http://kayak-skills.kayaklakemead.com/night-kayaking.html” Reply
