Lights for lobster season
 

What kind of lights do you guys add for your kayak for safety, and for night fishing for lobster. I called oex yesterday and he said it's $85 and $10 to install, but uses AA, and have to replace the lights once a year, so I'm not sure what these lights are that oex was referring to. Any suggestions? I want something more permanent, and would like to wire it to my main battery. I'm also thinking of upgrading to a 20 amp hour battery to handle the extra loads. Let me know if you guys have any suggestions.

lights
 

The Coast Guard says that if you are in a self powered kayak all you need is a device to warn nearby approaching boaters..a flashlite, headlamp, etc.
I feel it's important to have your yak lit up so that a beer guzzling power-boating hoop netter on a dark night can see you as he roars back in to the harbor.
An all around white light is important to be seen...using a green/red light says to other boaters that you are also under power and is not advised!
The Visicarbon Pro made by Yakattack and sold by Hobie is a good bright high visibility white light that is on a 48" mast that will put the light above your head.
Scotty makes a mast type light also, although while the Visicarbon fits in a standard pole holder, the Scotty light only attaches to a Scotty mount.
Some DOT reflective tape attached to the bow or sides of the yak can also make you more visible.
A good head lamp is important also...please make sure it fits snugly...every lobster season I watch as someone leans over the side to look into the water and their headlamp slides off their head and slowly sinks into obvlion...a red light on the headlamp can also help keep your night vision.
Anything OEX advises as a hooping light should work, as those guys have spent many nights out on the water "Hoopin' It Up"!
I hope that helps...good luck this season and stay safe.
Jim / Saba Slayer
http://www.hobieco.com/linked_images...eam_Avitar.gif

Here we go...lobster talk already!!! I'm so ready right now. I use OEX's light with a hand held Home depot ever-ready to point at any boat coming my way. Jim

I see what you did there... :luxhello: PS- Great read.

I use the visipole. It works good. It will kill your night vision so I don't always leave it on 100% of the time, but Its great for what it is.

Generally we at OEX MB recommend the YakAttack VisiPole or VisiCarbon which run from 50.00-90.00. These lights have multiple mount options or can be slid into a rod holder. They use 3 AA batteries and have 100 hours of burn time on batteries. Bulb Life is something like 10,000 hours. Oh yeah and they are all made in the USA by one of the best companies in this industry.

JK Electronics in Westminster has LED road "flares" for $5 each, 4 for $15. Don't know about being waterproof (doubt it), but they are very low profile and kick out a lot of red light. Going to try one out for operating light.

But I also have one of the Visicarbons. I have kids counting on me coming home.

VisiCarbon Pro, Head Lamp, small spotlight from Home Depot and a couple small LED flashlights as back up. :lobster:

I checked at Dana Landing on Saturday and the Report Cards are not available yet in the DFG computer. DFG is probably still calculating how much more to charge for them this year since all the fees go up every year.

Thanks for the info everyone. Sounds like I'll be at least getting a visicarbon for safety. I have a good head lamp that i use all the time (compliments of supply USMC). Anyone got lights mounted as a permanent application wired to your 12 volt battery?

What kayak do you have? I've seen some pretty slick stuff hooked up to a PA.

I have a Malibu x factor i bought this year from oex

I want to say I've seen some strip led lights mounted inside the hull for the "glowing kayak" effect somewhere online. Shouldn't be too hard and if the idea is 100% for safety/visibility at night I think it'd work pretty well.

I was checking those out. I was thinking that the 12 ft strip would be pretty awesome along each side. They're about $100 each.

Check out the supernova light kits. Some different options and don't quote me, but fairly sure OEX will install.

Swing by Orvac on orangethorpe in Fullerton. They should be able to help you put together a LED setup

I've got 2 LEDs permanently wired (to a switch) on my X-Factor, they are pretty bright for just single LEDs.


https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3836/...bb591125_n.jpg https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/...a0ee102b_n.jpg
https://flic.kr/p/opxQ2V

having been a yaker and now a private boat owner... throw out what the rules and regs say.... and get seen. Its very hard to see at night, and specially at 20mph. Please take precaution and put as much light on your yak as you can. I know it screws with your "night eyes or night vision" but being safe should take priority.

cant wait for bug season

Pricey but worth every penny.

http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/ca...mcafn.mp4.html

Not bad Ardre, how much were they?

Depending on what u want, between $100-$250.

Caddillyak, how do those hold up in the salt water? They look cool as hell!