NYCkayaker Lights...

[bonnie13 at earthlink.net]

Well, things started making more sense when Dan, I think it was, said that his take was that what was being said was that the strobe could be used to avert an imminent collision - and Ralph's wrapup was beautiful. 

There's one more important point that I haven't seen covered for all the discussion - and I suspect it's probably because everybody who's chimed in so far is an experienced paddler & this is as ingrained as power face faces back for them. I'm going to say it for anyone who might be reading 

It doesn't matter how well-lighted we are - we're very small, and it's a very big, busy, and light-filled harbor. 

The amount of lights that a kayak can carry with practicality just isn't a lot.

I think it's a good idea to light yourself well, but I also think it's an equally good idea to assume that you are invisible anyways. Don't count on your lights to get you noticed - there's always the chance they won't.