Laser pointer for instructor use on the river

[Fish]

Just ran across this:
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3151717" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's a waterproof green laser pointer for $140. If you haven't seen these things, they're extremely bright. Can even be used in daytime to point out objects. Can point out stuff over a mile away. Not sure if they'd be seen in river water or not, but I bet they might. Could carry this on a PFD and use it to point out rocks, eddies, waves, etc. while scouting or even while in the boat. Might be a very cool gadget for instructors to use and it could come in handy just about anytime. Thoughts?

I know Joe Purdy has one, so maybe he can comment on whether or not it could point out these things in daytime, in water, etc.

- Fish

[paddledog]

Here are some other choices.....
Some as low as $ 24

http://www.genaldi.com/alscuba.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.genaldi.com/greenscuba.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.genaldi.com/scuba.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jjones03]

the first one is no longer being produced...

the second one looks sweet though...it says its visible well over 10 miles at night?!

[Fish]

I agree, that second one looks very good for the money. Waterproof to $300 feet... I may have to put that on my Christmas list!

- Fish

[Fish]

Oh, the cheaper ones are both red lasers - won't work very well at all for outdoor or daylight use. Very limited range. That second one on Steve's list looks to be the real deal though - a green laser with a great range. Just beware getting a good "bargain" and ending up with red and not green.

- Fish

[David Mac]

Don't know any specifics about these brands of pointers, but green is the way to go for just about any outdoor use. The "dot" is way brighter at a distance, your eye is more sensative to green in the first place, and with the green laser is it often possible to see the beam, though maybe not in daylight.

The ability to see the beam has made green laser pointers the pointer of choice for astronomy clubs.

David

[Joe Purdy]

I agree that this would be pretty helpful, but also... just a whole bunch of COOL!

I love mine. Some of you can attest, as many of you have been graced with my little green dot over the summer, at weddings and on the Ocoee.

Two things to think about here...
1. Some lasers purchased from Chinese companies are said to emit more harmful radiation due to the lack of a filter. Not sure if this is a real concern from reflected light ( like off of non-reflective objects) or if this only counts if the beam hits you directly in the eye.
It is my experience working with Metal Halide lights that a single pane of glass works to reduce harmful UV by a large percentage.
So perhaps a DYI with properly cut glass could fix.

2.
As a rescue signal device.
Say that you can see someone's lights far away at night through the trees, but they cannot see you...
This laser can probably touch them...
I have done some unofficial experiments with mine, and when mounted on a tripod, mine can illuminate a bank of signs on the freeway from over 2 miles!!!


I think they are great.

[ljasonl]

I TA an astronomy lab and have a green laser to point out things in the sky. I'd be surprised if you could see the dot on a non-reflective surface at any kind of distance in broad daylight, even if you already knew right where to look.
In low light or against something reflective though, it's plain as can be.

[bmartin]

Joe - I seem to recall that your laser was mostly used for highlighting parts of the human anatomy on the Ocoee trip. Def. a cool toy around the camp as everyone had to have their turn with that thing.

[Fish]

Joe, we need to take your laser to the river on a sunny day soon and see how it performs. Post a review back here. How about we ride the Scull Cr. trail again soon and test it on the creek there?

- Fish

[Joe Purdy]

Sure, sounds good!
I can tell you that I am able to see it at about 30-40 yards on sun lit days, longer distances in overcast conditions.
We'll take it out soon.
We'll see what the week looks like. Maybe Sunday. I'll try to get Melanie to come this time.

[Jody]

have you invented the creekside power point technology?

[Cowper]

Just be careful who, or what, you point it at. Some folks might think it is attached to a gun and "return fire".

There are a few reports of drivers and even pilots being "blinded" or "distracted", if only momentarily; and this: "In 1998, a New York teenager pointed a laser device at a police officer who thought it was a gun. In 2000 a similar incident in Los Angeles resulted in a police officer shooting at a suspect who he believed had a laser weapon pointed at him."

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_q ... _n10068159" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;