I knew I remembered some problem with the old red-light advice, and found
this reference: www.aoa.org/clincare/aviation-night.asp The problems wasn't
what I thought it was, but the site contains a large amount of fascinating
information about night vision.

One of the problems it mentions regarding red light is that you might not be
able to see red things on your chart. Are any important things on charts
colored red? Red light is also harder to focus on in dim conditions, esp. as
we grow middle-aged and our "arms shorten."

====

Charles T. Low
www.boatdocking.com

====

"Dave" wrote in message
news
On 10 Nov 2004 11:55:08 -0800, (Parallax) said:

For example, I did not have a small
flashlight for taking a quick peak at the chart so I was blinded for
about 30 secs after every time I looked at it

The trick there is to use, not necessarily a small light, but a red light.
When I was doing night sailing I used to have a red plastic disk I could
insert above the flashlight lens.

Dave

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 06:42:44 -0500, "Charles T. Low"
[withoutUN] wrote:

Red light is also harder to focus on in dim conditions, esp. as
we grow middle-aged and our "arms shorten."

======================================

That is definitely true. I recommend keeping a pair or two of dime
store reading glasses in your nav station along with an illuminated
magnifier.

Electronic charting on a laptop is an even better solution (paper
charts for backup of course).

I understand the US Navy uses dim red light to conserve nite vision, while the
US Army uses dim green and the US Air Force uses dim blue.

take your choice. the only common factor is nite vision and dim

Red light is also harder to focus on in dim conditions, esp. as
we grow middle-aged and our "arms shorten."

======================================

That is definitely true. I recommend keeping a pair or two of dime
store reading glasses in your nav station along with an illuminated
magnifier.

Electronic charting on a laptop is an even better solution (paper
charts for backup of course).

Charles T. Low wrote:
I knew I remembered some problem with the old red-light advice, and found
this reference: www.aoa.org/clincare/aviation-night.asp The problems wasn't
what I thought it was, but the site contains a large amount of fascinating
information about night vision.

One of the problems it mentions regarding red light is that you might not be
able to see red things on your chart. Are any important things on charts
colored red? Red light is also harder to focus on in dim conditions, esp. as
we grow middle-aged and our "arms shorten."

====

Charles T. Low
www.boatdocking.com

There are any number of things in "magenta", which are affected by red
lights.

Yes, thank you, my friend, that's my fault for forgetting that you can't see
me wink when I ask a question that I assume is rhetorical(!).

====

Charles T. Low
www.boatdocking.com

====

"otnmbrd" wrote in message
news
Charles T. Low wrote:...
Are any important things on charts colored red?

There are any number of things in "magenta", which are affected by red
lights.

Charles T. Low wrote:
Yes, thank you, my friend, that's my fault for forgetting that you can't see
me wink when I ask a question that I assume is rhetorical(!).

====

Charles T. Low
www.boatdocking.com

BG



otn