All vessels used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected directly to them, up to a point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United States operating on the high seas must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. The following vessels are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise:

• Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length.
• Boats participating in organized events such as races, regattas, or marine parades.
• Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length not equipped with propulsion machinery.
• Manually propelled boats.

Pyrotechnic Devices

Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals must be Coast Guard Approved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible. They are marked with a date showing the service life, which must not have expired. Launchers manufactured before January 1, 1981, intended for use with approved signals, are not required to be Coast Guard Approved. If pyrotechnic devices are selected a minimum of three are required. That is, three signals for day use and three signals for night. Some pyrotechnic signals meet both day and night use requirements. Pyrotechnic devices should be stored in a cool, dry location. A watertight container painted red or orange and prominently marked "DISTRESS SIGNALS" is recommended.

U.S.C.G. Approved Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals and associated devices include:

• Pyrotechnic red flares, hand-held or aerial.
• Pyrotechnic orange smoke, hand-held or floating.
• Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares.

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 include:

• Orange distress flag.
• Electric distress light.

The distress flag is a day signal only. It must be at least 3 x 3 feet with a black square and ball on an orange background. It is most distinctive when attached and waved on a paddle, boathook, or flown from a mast.

The electric distress light is accepted for night use only and must automatically flash the international SOS distress signal (... --- --- --- ...)

Under Inland Navigation Rules, a high intensity white light flashing at regular intervals from 50-70 times per minute is considered a distress signal.

Regulations prohibit display of visual distress signals on 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 universally 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.

The following illustrates the variety and combination of devices which can be carried in order to meet the requirements:

• Three hand-held red flares (day and night).
• One hand-held red flare and two parachute flares (day and night).
• One hand-held orange smoke signal, two floating orange smoke signals (day) and one electric distress light (night only).

Pyrotechnic Device Examples 

Red Flare	Parachute Flare
(hand-held/day and night)	(day and night)
Orange Smoke Signal	Floating Orange Smoke Signal
(hand-held/day only)	(day and night)
Red Meteor
(day and night)

Non-Pyrotechnic Device Examples 

Orange Flag	Arm Signals
(day only)
Electric Distress Signals
(night only)

All boaters should be able to signal for help. For the CME, boaters must have current dated U.S.C.G. Approved day and night signals for all boats operating on coastal and open bodies of water. The Auxiliary also requires some method of emergency signals for inland water. This may be a signal flag for day and a flashlight for night.