Bow/Stern lighting

My main fishery is the Nehalem Fall run.

It's usually a first light bite, but that means you usually need to be on the water before the sun comes up. Anyone mounted bow/stern lights on his yak yet?

Should I raise the bow lights up for higher visibility?

A good head lamp will suffice if you want to be Coast Guard legal. 

Here's an NCKA thread on the subject.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,15498.15.html

I have one of these from Scotty on the back of my T15.



They also offer this one.



And if I'm out in low light conditions, I always have a headlamp on.

-Allen

Is the difference because the boat has no motor, or am I just ignorant?

Is the difference because the boat has no motor, or am I just ignorant?

 
Ah, both? 

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I'd have to dig up my old Chapman's Piloting to give you a definitive answer, but as I recall, lighting requirements are based on type of boat and activity it's involved in.

From the Oregon Boater's Handbook
http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/library/docs/BoatersHandbookWeb.pdf

A boat under oars may: (a) display those lights
prescribed for sailboats or (b) have ready at hand an
electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light
which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent
collision (see figure 6).

Generally state regulations for boats have to also follow coast guard regulations.  In this case they are almost word for word.  Here's the what the CG has to say.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rules/Rule25.htm

A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

I think in both cases a head lamp would suffice for an electric torch.  That said, it doesn't hurt to have more lighting.

Cool. Thanks. I was worried I'd have to drill a hole in my kayak and now I'm glad I don't have to. 

I was worried I'd have to drill a hole in my kayak

You really need to get over that and have some fun pimping out your kayak.

I was worried I'd have to drill a hole in my kayak

You really need to get over that and have some fun pimping out your kayak.

X2

I downrig a lot for salmon in the summer time and when I first go out it's usually really dark. I've used my headlamp and/or the sea light that Pole posted but I wanted to up it a notch so that boaters could see exactly which way I was going. Since trolling doesn't let you maneuver quickly and there's a lot of gear in the water any hint of where you're going is gonna alleviate a lot of headaches. I found a few red & green water proof lights that can fit right on the bow of my yak under a few bungies. It's made not only myself but a lot of other boaters happy. I'll post some pics later.

Z

I have one of these from Scotty on the back of my T15.



They also offer this one.



And if I'm out in low light conditions, I always have a headlamp on.

-Allen

Allen,
Is the pole separate from the light? I was thinking that the Scotty mount and pole could be used to really extend a safety flag. I have an unused mount on the Big Game on the deck where the FF was intended to go.

Jay

Allen,
Is the pole separate from the light? I was thinking that the Scotty mount and pole could be used to really extend a safety flag. I have an unused mount on the Big Game on the deck where the FF was intended to go.

Jay

Sort of.  The light comes off the pole.

-Allen

where's Yarjammer when you need him?? he has another version of that light and extension combo that sits up nice and high.. i think he flies a jolly roger off it too during the day time

me? i went to wally world and got a $12.00 battery operated stern light for a small boat, eye bolted it from two different directions into a 30 inch long piece of PVC pipe i had layin here , attached a tether, and stand it up off the ghetto crate in the tank well... not pretty but i'll be seen..  yessnooo might remember seeing it at hoodsport

yes, definitely make lighting one of your safety purchases. you won't regret it.

don't forget, port wine is red and all that... if you get in a pinch for bow lights, you could always duct tape a red and a green chem light to the nose.. and maybe one down the side too if you'd want.. sure light you up for a while.

If you don't want to cut into your yak just yet, this may be an option for you...

I made a safety pole setup with flag after catching flack from Johnny Law about my headlamp and after some near misses with powerboaters/personal watercraft.  The setup is pretty simple, fairly modular, and easily removed/intsalled on the water if you need to take it down for a surf launch.  I put one of my 6'6" poles in the rod holder for reference; it is hard to see the tip so I put a blue rod wrap at the top.  If anyone is interested I will post up a quick how to w/ materials.

My ear's must have been burning Richard.

LMAO..  sorry my friend, but your rig came immediately to mind since i've never fished next to you and it not been up..now i know why.

Yarjammer,
How does the extension work?