The best portable 360° kayak light money should buy.
Kayalu does not sell or recommend navigation lights that we would not entrust with family and friends for night paddling. Our night navigation products include the Kayalite, Radpole Multipurpose gear pole and the R25 Electric Torch.
We've published our recommendations if you are outfitting your own kayak or canoe with a light for visibility and compliance with U. S. Coast Guard, inland waterways and international regulatory standards for operating a "vessel under oars" at night.
The secret of the Kayalite is our patent-pending mast technology that overcomes the limitations of the rigid pole, suction-cup, magnets and other portable mounting solutions. It's built to work, and last a lifetime.
A tension cable passing through the center of the Kayalite mast holds the light firmly upright on its base while preventing it from accidentally detaching.
Plan on using the Kayalite in many ways with little risk of loss because of its steel breech clip, 1/4" thick nylon-coated tension cable and hand-crimped stainless steel hogring.
Attach the clip and pull it taut to your stand-up board or sit-on-top deck, canoe seat, laterally affixed to a mast — in a jam it can even be clipped to an existing bungee, tie-down, sheet or halyard.
The Kayalite can be mounted upside-down, pulled tight to a zipper under a bimini top, or clipped to a boom or mast to illuminate your deck.
Pro paddlers and anglers appreciate the Kayalite's EVA foam rubber base which protects glass, gel coat and teak. And the Kayalite is the only premium quality portable stern light that gives you the security of a
clasping attachment system without requiring a bulky rigid permanent mounting.
A seaworthy beacon, fully integrated...
The Kayalite includes a Tektite Mark III industrial marker light, bolted to the Kayalite's base using a marine-grade, stainless steel machine screw and matching nylon-insert stainless locknut (300 grade stainless, truly corrosion proof).
The Tektite Mark III light, waterproof and submersible to 1000 feet (300 m), features a bright white LED providing visibility required of "vessels under oar" (e.g. kayak, canoe) per international, U.S. Coast Guard Rules 22 - 25 and inland waterways regulations, 200 hours of service on a single set of batteries, and an LED life rated at 10,000 hours of service.
The Tektite Mark III's three AA batteries (included) are easily replaced without having to unbolt the light from the Kayalite mast.
To visit the websites of international, U.S. Coast Guard and the USA state agencies regulating boating and paddling at sea and on inland waterways, click here.
Taller? Shorter? Not so fast!
The Kayalite is 18" tall (45 cm). During development, we evaluated performance of commercial and prototype stern lights on the afterdeck of a kayak — a watercraft with particularly harsh demands.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Stand-up Paddling at Night
Does a surfer on a stand-up paddle board need a 7-foot pole with a 360° light?
Of course not, for the same reason a sit-on-top (SOT) paddler is not required to mount a 4-foot 360° light.
We'd recommend that a stand-up paddler — whether standing on a SUP, SOT or SIK, mount a 360° light on the aft deck (within reach) and carry a waterproof flashlight or a clip-on light attached to the PFD for forward visibility as needed. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Short stern lights, most particularly those mounted within inches of a kayak's deck, may not be visible to others on the watersheet because of the arc of the horizon and the impact of ripples or waves. At surprisingly short distances, even a small disturbance on the watersheet can completely obscure the visibility of a kayak outfitted with a light that only extends 1-2 feet above the waterline.
The Kayalite's 18" height easily provides visibility while completely shielding your kayak's bow, paddle and forward surfaces from illumination, thereby protecting your night vision while properly respecting that of arriving boaters and paddlers.
Mounted within reach, the Kayalite can be easily turned off — another critically important factor when enjoying a moonlit evening in the company of other paddlers and boaters.
|