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===== Night Boating 2016 =====

**Re: Lk. Whatcom rescue options?\\
Reivers Dustin** \\
10/18/16 #20149

(…) I've put some miles on the lake after dark. I always figured I knew the water - you know, where the logs and rocks are.

But what cured me of it was some encounters with power boats zooming around after dark. I noticed one last Wed after most of us were off the water. That guy was cruising fast in low light. The only way he would know there was a paddler nearby would be the crunch sound. If they even heard that.

In the past I would try to get close to shore or get inside the line of pilings, but the creepy feeling stayed with me. As far as doing Wed Niters for the rest of the year, I'm probably going to pass. Sunset will be 6:15pm tomorrow. I might suggest having lights on your boat, but that could just get you run over quicker from boat driver curiosity. The depth perception is gone unless you light up your surfski so much you yourself can't see. I remember kayaking near Washington Ferries when it was dark. That is so freaky because they look like they are ten feet away and a hundred feet above the water. And going about a zillion miles an hour.

welcome to winter paddling.

**Waterman Larry** \\
10/19/16 #20150

I do not know the local waters of Lake Whatcom, but I would like to: )

My profession is marine surveying with over half of my work doing damage investigations on boats. From many fast rides with power boaters after dark, I conclude that I will not paddle on the navigable waters without navigation lights. It is common for a vessel to run on radar, chart plotter and depth sounder with the watch person only watching for navigation lights. There is no expectation in the boating community that swimmers or paddlers will be on the water after dark without lights. A local lake may have a more aware boating community, but boaters in the sound won't see you unless you light up.

Larry Goodson

**Nicholas Cryder** \\
10/19/16 #20151

It's a great point Larry. When I lived in Seattle, many of us paddled on Lake Union at night which is lit up like a football field in most places, but also full of fast moving crew boats who often had little conception that a ski might also be moving fast. A good friend of mine was run over by a quad in his surfski one morning, and he was using a bright rowing deck light kit. They did quite a bit of damage to his ski, including sheering off the rudder. He was knocked into the water - but he was ok except for being sore. They were generous in paying for his repair work as they felt that they were in the wrong.

A big trend in apparel design this year is fiber optics, and I am going to be trying out this vest this winter for night paddling: [[https://www.amazon.com/Tracer360-Revolutionary-Illuminated-Multicolored-Weatherproof/dp/B00GI98ZFO|Fiber Optic Vest]]

-Cryder

**David Scherrer**

10/19/16 #20152

I have paddled a fair amount at night…..Haven't been run over yet, least as far as I can tell..\\
Having a small light attached to your vest or hat might help to be seen, but using a light to actually see anything I have found, is fairly useless. Key is to go where power boats fear to tread. Using the moon is helpful. If planning on crossing open water with known powerboat activity then yes light up. But otherwise, slipping by in the shadows, using the moon and starlight is a great experience…….and you will be surprised how few other boats are out.\\
D.
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