At some point, most boaters will face a situation where they need assistance — whether from running aground, engine failure, fire, a leak, or an injury to a crew member. Boaters use visual distress signals to attract attention in an emergency, either in the daytime or at night. Using a handheld or fixed-mount VHF radio is another very effective way to communicate your situation to potential rescuers, but if your batteries are dead, visual distress signals may be your best hope.
The Regulations
Coastal Waters and the Great Lakes
All vessels used on coastal waters or the Great Lakes, or on any body of water with a passageway to the sea at least two miles wide, are required to carry Coast Guard Approved visual distress signals, unless exempt. These can be either pyrotechnic devices (flares) or non-pyrotechnic devices (e.g., orange distress flags or electric SOS distress lights). If using pyrotechnics, you’ll need at least three daytime signals and three night-use signals (total of six) or three combination day/night signals, with a manufacture date within 42 months of the current date. If using non-pyrotechnic signals, you need one approved daytime signal (e.g., orange distress flag) and one approved nighttime signal (e.g., electric SOS distress light).
Exceptions to this requirement are limited to daytime (sunrise to sunset) use of the following boats:
- Recreational boats less than 16’ in length
- Boats participating in organized events like races, regattas, or marine parades
- Open sailboats not equipped with propulsion machinery and less than 26 feet in length
- Manually propelled boats (e.g., rowboats, canoes, kayaks)
Day Signals vs. Night Signals
Boaters may select any group or combination as long as it meets the specific requirements for their boat:
| Number on device | Description | Accepted use for | Number required to be carried |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160.021 | Handheld red flare distress signals (500 candela) | Day and night | 3 |
| 160.022 | Floating orange smoke distress signals | Day only | 3 |
| 160.028 | Pistol-launched parachute red flare distress signals | Day and night | 3 |
| 160.036 | Handheld Rocket-propelled Parachute Red (20,000 candela) | Day and night | 3 |
| 160.037 | Handheld orange smoke distress signals (50 seconds) | Day only | 3 |
| 160.057 | Floating orange smoke distress signals (15 minutes) | Day only | 3 |
| 160.066 | Distress signal for boats, red aerial pyrotechnic flare (10,000 candela) | Day and night | 3 |
| 160.072 | Distress signal for boats, orange flag | Day only | 1 |
| 161.013 | Electric distress light for boats | Night only | 1 |
Alert Signals vs. Locate Signals
Pyrotechnic Devices
Must be Coast Guard Approved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible. If they meet the day/night requirement, you need three flares minimum. In a real emergency, you’ll be glad if you chose to carry more. They are stamped with a manufacture date; the expiration is 42 months (3 1/2 years) from that date. You can keep expired flares as supplemental equipment — they usually still function — but they cannot count toward the Coast Guard’s minimum carriage requirement in a Vessel Safety Check inspection. We recommend storing flares in a dedicated waterproof container such as the Orion Flare Canister.
Alert Signals
Alert signals draw attention to your emergency. Meteor flares are propelled by black powder and launched from a pistol-shaped handheld holder. They reach an altitude of 375’ to 500’ and burn for 7–8 seconds. Rocket-propelled SOLAS parachute flares rise to 1,000’ and burn for 40 seconds. Fire aerial flares after you have sighted or heard a potential rescue vessel. To attract their attention, the U.S. Coast Guard recommends firing two aerial flares in quick succession so rescuers can confirm the sighting and direction of the signal.
Locate Signals
Locate signals are usually handheld flares and burn for one to two minutes. Orange SOLAS smoke flares are for daytime use only and are the best way for offshore boaters to show their location to rescuers searching from a Coast Guard helicopter. They float on the water’s surface and emit a dense orange cloud for three to four minutes. Handheld signal flares are intended as homing signals to pinpoint your position. The surface-to-surface sighting range on water is approximately three to five miles depending on boat elevation. If a rescuer is five miles away running at 20 knots, it will take 15 minutes to reach you — which means you should have at least 12 minutes of total burn time onboard to maintain a continuous homing signal until help arrives.
Signal Kits Include Both Alert and Locate Flares
We carry a selection of Signal Kits geared for different types of boating — inland, coastal, or offshore — packaged in waterproof storage cases and more economical than buying items individually.
Orion’s electronic SOS beacon is a Coast Guard approved alternative to pyrotechnic flares.
Non-pyrotechnic Devices
An orange distress flag is a 3’ × 3’ square with a black square and ball on an orange background. It is for daytime use only and is not limited by a short burning time, though it is less visible than a flare in most daytime conditions. An electric distress signal is approved for night use only and must carry the marking: “Night Visual Distress Signal for Boats Complies with U.S. Coast Guard Requirements in 46 CFR 161.013. For Emergency Use Only.” To meet both day and night requirements with non-pyrotechnic devices, an electric SOS distress light is typically packaged with an orange distress flag — the combination covers both required signals.
Electronic Non-pyrotechnic Device Pros
- No expiration date
- Safe for any crew member to operate with a simple on/off switch
- Visible up to 10+ nautical miles
- Powered by replaceable “C” cell alkaline batteries available worldwide
- Environmentally safe with no hazardous material disposal requirements
- Buoyant — remains active even if dropped overboard
- One-time purchase; less expensive over time than replacing pyrotechnics every 42 months
Electronic Non-pyrotechnic Device Cons
- The electric distress light is approved for night use only; a separate orange flag is required for daytime compliance
- Flares may be significantly more visible than an electronic light in many daytime conditions
- Higher initial purchase price
- Batteries can corrode or fail if not maintained; check and replace batteries annually
Should You Upgrade to SOLAS Signals?
Some categories of offshore boating activity carry more rigorous requirements — commercial vessels and participants in offshore sailing races. A good source for offshore outfitting information is the World Sailing (WS) Offshore Special Regulations, which sailboat racers use to equip their boats. The WS requires many more flares than USCG minimums, all of which must meet SOLAS requirements.
We advise offshore fishing vessels, cruisers, and any vessel that operates in open water to use the WS guidelines for distress signals. WS requirements by race category are:
| Race Category: | Red Parachute | Red Handheld | Orange Smoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Trans-oceanic | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 1 Long distance / well offshore | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 2 Shorelines / large unprotected bays / lakes | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 Relatively protected / close to shorelines | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 4 Monohull / Close to shore / relatively warm or protected waters | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 4 Multihull / Close to shore / relatively warm or protected waters | 2 | 4 | 2 |
SOLAS flares are a step up from conventional Coast Guard Approved pyrotechnic signals. They meet stricter standards set by the international Safety Of Life At Sea convention. SOLAS parachute flares ascend to 1,000’ and burn at a dazzling 30,000 candela for 40 seconds.
Handheld SOLAS flares are waterproof and very bright, burning for one minute at 15,000 candela (compared to 700 candela for regular Coast Guard Approved flares). They also do not spray molten material like standard flares, making them safer to use in close quarters, especially onboard a life raft.
In some instances, SOLAS flares must be carried instead of conventional Coast Guard-approved flares. Sailboats participating in races organized under the International Sailing Federation must carry them, and commercial fishing boats venturing more than 50 miles offshore must carry a minimum inventory including three parachute flares, six handheld red flares, and three smoke flares. Vessels operating from 3–50 miles offshore are not required to carry SOLAS-grade flares, but we consider it a sound investment for any offshore passage.
Number of Signals We Recommend
Carry double the minimum number of meteor or handheld flares required. They are inexpensive, and you will be grateful for the redundancy if you ever need to attract attention in an emergency.
Selecting Visual Distress Signals FAQs
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What are visual distress signals, and why are they required?
Visual distress signals are safety devices that help rescuers locate a vessel in trouble. They include pyrotechnic flares, orange smoke signals, electronic SOS lights, and orange distress flags. The USCG requires them on most vessels operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and bodies of water connected to the sea, because they remain effective when radio communication has failed. -
What are the main types of visual distress signals?
Signals fall into two categories: pyrotechnic (handheld red flares, aerial parachute flares, orange smoke signals) and non-pyrotechnic (orange distress flag for daytime, electric SOS distress light for nighttime). Pyrotechnic signals can be approved for day only, night only, or day and night use depending on the type. See the table above for the specific USCG device numbers and their accepted use. -
When are visual distress signals required by law?
The USCG requires them for most vessels 16 feet or longer operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, or bodies of water connected to the sea by a passage at least two miles wide. Certain small vessels are exempt during daylight hours only — see the exemption list above. There are no exemptions for nighttime operation. -
What are the advantages of electronic non-pyrotechnic distress signals?
Electronic signals have no expiration date, require no hazardous disposal, are safe for any crew member to operate, and are visible at distances of 10+ nautical miles. Unlike pyrotechnics that expire every 42 months and require replacement, an electronic light is a one-time purchase. The primary limitation is that the electric distress light is approved for night use only; a separate orange distress flag is required for daytime compliance. -
How long are pyrotechnic flares valid?
Pyrotechnic flares carry a manufacture date and are valid for 42 months (3 1/2 years) from that date. After expiration, they can no longer be counted toward the USCG minimum carriage requirement, though they are usually still functional and can be kept as supplemental equipment. Replace expired flares before they are needed — not after. -
Are there specific distress signals designed for nighttime use?
Yes. Red handheld flares (160.021) and aerial parachute flares are approved for day and night use. Electric SOS distress lights (161.013) are approved for night use only but are specifically designed for low-light conditions and are visible at ranges exceeding 10 nautical miles. Orange smoke and orange distress flags are daytime-only signals and are not visible or useful at night. -
How do I properly store visual distress signals on my boat?
Store pyrotechnic signals in a dedicated waterproof container, readily accessible in an emergency but away from heat sources and direct sunlight. A dedicated flare canister keeps them together, dry, and easy to grab in a rush. Check the manufacture dates annually and replace any signals within 6–12 months of expiration so you are never caught with a lapsed kit. -
What should I do with expired flares?
Do not throw pyrotechnic flares in household trash. Contact your local fire department, USCG station, or hazardous waste disposal facility. Many marinas and USCG Auxiliary flotillas hold periodic flare disposal events. Some manufacturers also offer mail-back disposal programs.
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