What is the recommended night navigation practice for a kayak?

• A. Follow GPS route exclusively
• B. Rely on shoreline landmarks
• C. Use chart, compass, maintain light
• D. Navigate by stars

Answer: (C)

Night navigation should be grounded in traditional, reliable tools you can use even if electronic aids fail. Using a chart to plan and track your course, a compass to take and confirm bearings, and a light to keep yourself visible and maintain night vision gives you a clear, repeatable method for fixing your position and staying on course. This approach lets you plot where you are relative to known features, cross-check your position with bearings, and adjust as needed. Relying on GPS alone can be risky if the device dies or loses signal, shoreline features are hard to discern at night, and stars aren’t a practical navigation fix for a small kayak in typical night conditions.