Wisconsin law (where I'll retire to soon - but not soon enough) says that all boats less than 39.4 feet long, powered and unpowered, will have a front mounted red/green side lights (facing left/right ... port/starboard) visible 1 mile away dark, and a rear 3.3 foot or higher 360 degree white light visible 2 miles away in the dark.

But then it goes on to say that if this lighting is not practical for unpowered boats less than 23 feet long, then have a at least one white lantern or flashlight that can be displayed in time to avoid a collision.

While I don't plan to kayak at night, my main light would likely be a good headlight, but for fear that I might bump it off and lose it in the drink (it happened to me once in the boundary waters, sigh) ... I think I'd also have another small light attached to my PFD.

I do wonder if a strobe might be interpreted as a need for rescue.