Visual Distress Signals & Flares

Printable checklist: Launch day

Visual distress signals (VDS)—pyrotechnic flares and smoke, an orange distress flag, or an electric distress light—are how you show other boats and aircraft that you need help when voice radio alone is not enough. Federal carriage rules apply on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, the territorial seas, and connected waters where the entrance is more than two nautical miles wide (USCG Boaters Guide; 33 CFR 175.101 / 175.105). Inland-only lakes and rivers that never meet that coastal definition are outside the federal VDS carriage rule, though signaling gear is still recommended (Boaters Guide notice).

This page summarizes the U.S. Coast Guard Boaters Guide (Visual Distress Signals, 33 CFR 175.101–175.140), the eCFR / Cornell LII text of Subpart C, and Discover Boating marine-flares, distress-signals, safety-checklist and USCG-requirements pages only. Those sources do not publish brand picks, specific burn durations beyond “check the label,” or disposal-facility directories by county—so we do not invent those here. The short VDS section in required safety equipment by length stays the quick reference—this guide deepens that topic. Pair it with VHF marine radio basics, EPIRB, PLB and distress beacons, AIS basics for recreational boaters, boat fire extinguishers and fire safety, the printable Launch Day checklist, and State Rules for state overlays.

Where the federal rule applies

33 CFR 175.101: Subpart C applies to boats on the coastal waters of the United States and on the high seas beyond the territorial seas for boats owned in the United States.

33 CFR 175.105 defines coastal waters as:

  • The U.S. waters of the Great Lakes
  • The territorial seas of the United States
  • Waters directly connected to the Great Lakes and territorial seas (bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc.) where any entrance exceeds 2 nautical miles between opposite shorelines, up to the first point where the largest distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles (current NOS chart; islands/points count)

The Boaters Guide states the same idea in plain language: coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those connected waters up to where the waterway is less than two nautical miles wide.

Carriage by length (day vs night)

From 33 CFR 175.110 and the Boaters Guide:

  • 16 feet or more (and uninspected passenger vessels subject to 46 CFR Subchapter C): carry devices suitable for day and for night, or devices suitable for both—selected from § 175.130 (or existing-equipment alternatives in § 175.135), in the number required.
  • Less than 16 feet: between sunset and sunrise, carry night-suitable signals in the number required. Day-only carriage is not required by § 175.110(b) for these boats.

Exceptions (night signals still required after dark)

33 CFR 175.115 / Boaters Guide: the following need not meet the full § 175.110 day-and-night rule, but must carry night-suitable signals between sunset and sunrise:

  • A person competing in an organized marine parade, regatta, race or similar event
  • A person using a manually propelled boat
  • A person using a sailboat of completely open construction, not equipped with propulsion machinery, under 26 feet

Discover Boating’s marine-flares page lists similar exceptions (under-16 recreational, open sailboats under 26 without engines, human-powered craft). The controlling carriage text we use for counts and day/night splits is the CFR / Boaters Guide.

Discover Boating (safety checklist): PWCs generally cannot be operated between sunset and sunrise, so they do not need nighttime devices under that operating limit—confirm your state rules.

Pyrotechnic vs non-pyrotechnic

Pyrotechnic (smoke and flame)

Boaters Guide / Discover Boating: pyrotechnic VDS must be U.S. Coast Guard–approved, not expired, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible.

If you meet the requirement with pyrotechnics alone:

  • A minimum of three signals for day and three for night (Boaters Guide; Discover Boating).
  • Some devices are combination day/night (for example hand-held red flares)—three combination flares can satisfy both day and night (Boaters Guide; Discover Boating; Table 175.130).

Approved pyrotechnic types the Boaters Guide lists:

  • Pyrotechnic red flares, hand-held or aerial (day/night)
  • Pyrotechnic orange smoke, hand-held or floating (day)
  • Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares (when the signal type requires one—see § 175.113 / Table 175.130 notes)

Burn / operating times are not published as a single table on the pages we fetched. The Boaters Guide says each device has a different operating/burning time—check the label and choose gear suited to where you boat. We do not invent minutes of burn time or brand rankings.

Table 175.130 (33 CFR) — pyrotechnic devices and numbers (approval numbers under 46 CFR):

Approval Device Meets Number required
160.021 Hand-held red flare Day and night 3
160.022 Floating orange smoke Day only 3
160.024 Parachute red flare Day and night 3 (needs approved launcher)
160.036 Hand-held rocket-propelled parachute red flare Day and night 3
160.037 Hand-held orange smoke Day only 3
160.057 Floating orange smoke Day only 3
160.066 Red aerial pyrotechnic flare (meteor or parachute) Day and night 3 (launcher may be required)

Hand-held red flares under 160.021 must have a manufacture date of 1 Oct. 1980 or later (table note).

§ 175.113: if a signal requires a launcher, carry a launcher approved under 46 CFR 160.028. § 175.135: launchers manufactured before 1 January 1981 without approval numbers remain acceptable with listed meteor/parachute signals while serviceable.

Non-pyrotechnic

Boaters Guide / § 175.130:

  • Orange distress flag (day only): at least 3 × 3 feet with a black square and ball on an orange background; marked as meeting 46 CFR 160.072. Most visible waved on a paddle/boat hook or flown from a mast. One meets the day-only requirement.
  • Electric distress light meeting 46 CFR 161.013: one meets the night-only requirement. Boaters Guide also describes an Electronic Visual Distress Signal Device (eVDSD) that automatically flashes the international SOS pattern and must be marked to 46 CFR 161.013 or RTCM Std. 13200.0 (USCG accepted for nighttime distress per 33 CFR 175.130 by CG-ENG Policy Letter 03-18).

Inland Navigation Rules high-intensity white light flashing 50–70 times per minute is a recognized distress signal on inland waters, but the Boaters Guide states those devices do not meet the Subpart C VDS carriage requirement.

Example combinations that meet day and night (Boaters Guide / § 175.130(b)):

  • Three hand-held red flares approved for day/night
  • One hand-held red flare and two parachute flares for day/night
  • One hand-held orange smoke and two floating orange smoke (day) plus one electric distress light (night)
  • Two hand-held red flares (160.021) and one parachute red flare (160.024 or 160.036)
  • Three hand-held orange smoke (160.037) with one electric distress light (161.013)

Expiration, marking, stowage and serviceability

From 33 CFR and the Boaters Guide:

  • § 175.120 Stowage: required signals must be readily accessible.
  • § 175.125 Serviceability: each required signal must be serviceable; if a date is marked, the service life must not have expired.
  • § 175.128 Marking: each required signal must be legibly marked with the approval number or certification statement (46 CFR parts 160 and 161).
  • Boaters Guide: check expiration (42 months after the date of manufacture). Expired signals may be carried as extra gear but cannot count toward the carriage requirement.
  • Store pyrotechnics in a cool, dry place when possible. A watertight container painted red or orange and marked “DISTRESS SIGNALS” or “FLARES” is recommended (Boaters Guide). Discover Boating: keep them reachable in an emergency, away from young children, and dry—water ruins flame-based signals.

Disposal: Discover Boating says replace expired flares; the Boaters Guide warns that disposal can be a problem depending on jurisdiction. Neither source publishes a national drop-off map—ask your state boating agency, local fire/law-enforcement household-hazardous-waste program or marina what they accept. We do not invent disposal steps.

When (and when not) to use them

§ 175.140 / Boaters Guide: do not display a visual distress signal on waters where Subpart C applies except when assistance is needed because of immediate or potential danger to persons on board.

Discover Boating (marine flares): use flares for accidents, medical emergencies or fires—and only when there is a realistic chance someone will see them. Do not fire “one-time” signals with no vessel or aircraft in sight; the Coast Guard advises shooting two overhead flares quickly after seeing rescue efforts to confirm the sighting and direction. Read the enclosed directions; keep clear of people and flammable materials; hold a hand-held flare at arm’s length aimed away from you.

Boaters Guide warning: pyrotechnics produce a very hot flame—burns and fire risk are real. Pistol-launched and parachute flares/meteors have many characteristics of a firearm; some states and Canada may treat them as firearms and restrict them—check your state boating agency.

Voice radio remains the primary “call for help” tool on most trips—VHF Channel 16 / MAYDAY. If fire is involved, extinguisher carriage and PASS steps are in boat fire extinguishers and fire safety. Put flare dates and accessibility on the same pre-launch pass as the Launch Day checklist and spring commissioning.

Annex IV distress signals (broader list)

Discover Boating’s distress-signals page reprints Annex IV / Rule 37 signals (gun or explosive at about one-minute intervals, continuous fog-signal sounding, red-star rockets, SOS, spoken “Mayday,” November Charlie flags, square flag and ball, flames on the vessel, rocket parachute or hand red flare, orange smoke, slowly raising/lowering outstretched arms, radiotelegraph/radiotelephone alarms, EPIRB, approved radiocommunication signals, and—on inland waters—the 50–70 flashes/minute high-intensity white light). Carriage of approved VDS under 33 CFR Part 175 Subpart C is separate from that longer “what counts as a distress signal” list—meet Subpart C with devices from § 175.130 even if you also carry other signaling options.

Honest gaps

  • No brand picks or “best flare kit” rankings appear on the allowed pages.
  • No universal burn-time table—check each device’s label (Boaters Guide).
  • No national expired-flare disposal directory on the fetched pages.
  • State and Canadian firearm-style restrictions on launchers are flagged by the Boaters Guide but not tabulated here—confirm locally via State Rules and your state boating office.

Book a free Vessel Safety Check with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Budget replacement flares and an electric distress light in the True Cost tool if you are still outfitting.

Sources

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