All vessels on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and territorial seas must have approved Coast Guard approved visual distress signals onboard. These vessels are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise:
Recreational boats less than16 feet in length.
Boats in organized events such as races, and regattas.
Open sailboats less men 26 feet in length not equipped with propulsion machinery.
Manually propelled boats.
Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals must be Caast Guard Approved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible.
1. They are marked with an expiration date. Expired signals may be carried as extra equipment, but can not be counted toward meeting the visual distress signal requirement, since they may be unreliable.
2. Launchers manufactured before January 1, 1981, intended far use with approved signals, are nat required ta be Coast Guard Approved.
3. If pyrotechnic devices are selected a minimum of three are required. That is, three signals for day use and three signal for night. Some pyrotechnic signals meet both day and night use If you can get a watertight container painted red or orange and mark it "DISTRESS SIGNALS" or "FLARES".
Coast Guard approved pyrotechnic visual distress signals are:
1. Red Flares, hand held or aerial.
2. Orange Smoke, hand held or floating.
3. Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares.
EACH OF THESE DEVICES HAS A DIFFERENT OPERATING (BURNING) TIME. CHECK THE LABEL TO SEE HOW LONG EACH PYROTECHNIC DEVICE WILL ACTUALLY BE ILLUMINATED. THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO SELECT A WARNING DEVICE BETTER SUITED TO THE CONDITIONS WHERE YOUR BOAT WILL OPERATE.
Non-Pyrotechnic Devices
Non-Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals must be in serviceable condition, readily accessible, and certified by the manufacturer as complying with U.S.C.G. requirements. They are:
Orange Distress Flag, day signal only. Must be at least 3 x 3 feet with a black square and ball an an orange background. Must be marked with an indication that it meets Coast Guard requirements in 46 CFR 160.072. Most distinctive when attached and waved on a paddle, boathook, or flown from a mast. It can also be incorporated as part of devices designed to attract attention in an emergency, such as balloons, kites, or floating streamers.
Electric distress light, accepted for night use only. Automatically flashes the international SOS distress signal ... - - - ... Must be marked with an indication that it meets Coast Guard requirements in 46 CFR 161.013. Under Inland Navigation Rules, a high intensity white light flashing at regular intervals from 50-70 times per minute is considered a distress signal. But these devices do NOT count toward meeting the visual distress signal requirement.
The regulations prohibit display of visual distress signals an the water under any circumstances except when assistance is required to prevent immediate or potential danger to persons on board a vessel.
All distress signals have distinct advantages and disadvantages. No single device is ideal under all conditions or suitable for all purposes. Pyrotechnics are recognized as excellent distress signals. However, there is potential for injury and property damage if not properly handled. These devices produce a very hot flame and the residue can cause burns and ignite flammable materials.
Pistol launched and hand, held parachute flares and meteors have many characteristics of a firearm and must be handled with caution. In some states they are considered a firearm and prohibited from use.
Here are some of the devices which you can carry to meet the requirements:
1. Three hand held red flares (day and night).
2. One hand held red flare and two parachute flares (day or night).
3. One hand held orange smoke signal, two floating orange smoke signals (day) and one electric distress light (night only).
Note: Make sure you have the current dates on your distress signals.
