Posted By Gail Kulp,
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Updated: Friday, December 2, 2022
The gift-giving season is upon us and it’s always tough to find a gift for certain people in your family. But, if that family member is a boater, we’ve got 5 great ideas to help you shop.
Automatic Inflatable Life Jacket – These are truly life-saving devices that are low profile and light weight. In fact, many boaters don’t even realize that they are on because they are so comfortable! However, if a boater is knocked overboard or slips and falls off the dock, the cartridge will automatically inflate the life jacket and bring the person to the surface where they can breathe and call for help. Just be aware that the U.S. Coast Guard restricts these for use only be people ages 16 and over and they must be worn to count toward carriage requirements.
E-Flare – A relatively new item on the market is the electronic flare. These devices are certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to replace traditional flares for emergency signaling by boaters. An E-Flare is 10 times brighter than a traditional flare, it doesn’t expire and need to be replaced every few years like a traditional flare, it floats and still works, and it won’t cause burns to people or equipment like a traditional flare. Plus, the light from an E-Flare lasts for hours compared to the 2-3 minutes that a traditional flare burns.
Satellite Communication Device– Getting help in an emergency is critical for boaters. Out on the water, cell phones are unreliable, but a personal locator beacon like ACR’s ResQLink is always able to get a signal if a boater has a good view of the sky. And the Garmin InReach Mini can also send a text message in a non-emergency letting loved ones know that you will be 30 minutes late for dinner.
Nautical Charts – Boating in unknown waters is challenging, but even the local waterways can change as storms or tides move navigational buoys from time to time. A subscription to the Navionics Boating App can serve as “Your Guide on the Water.” Updates are made daily and the app features charts, markers, weather and wind forecasts, tides, currents, sonar for fishing or diving, and turn-by-turn directions from one location to another on the water. Find subscription details here.
Sea Tow Membership – Knowing that local Sea Tow captains are standing by 24/7/365 can give boaters the peace of mind that they will be taken care of. Whether a boater needs advice on the best places to fish, has run out of gas, or is having mechanical problems with the boat, members get priority service so that you can get back to enjoying your day on the water even faster. Get a Sea Tow membership here.
*The Sea Tow Foundation may receive compensation as an affiliate of Amazon’s for purchases made with some of these links.
When it comes to flares, many boaters may not be aware that now there are options. Hand held pyrotechnic flares are what you traditionally find on boats as they have been the only option until recently. Handheld flares expire 42 months after their manufacture date and should be stored in a cool dry place. To light a pyrotechnic hand-held flare, remove the plastic cap and hold it in one hand. Strike the end of the cap against the striker tip of the flare and keep it pointed away from you, the boat, and other equipment. Hand-held flares are both a day and night visual distress signals and burn for roughly 2 minutes. It is recommended to keep a pair of protective gloves in your flare kit to protect your hands from burning slag.
In the past few years, many manufacturers started offering Coast Guard certified electronic flares (or e-flares) as an alternative to the traditional pyrotechnic kind. An e-flare serves as your night time distress signal. Each e-flare will come with an orange distress flag that will be used as your day signal. E-flares are as easy to operate as a flashlight and do not expire. They only require that you check the batteries on a regular basis. When used, the e-flare will flash the S-O-S signal for at least 2 hours, much longer than a traditional flare. Even if you still choose to carry traditional flares, adding an e-flare to your boat's safety kit is a smart idea.
Posted By Kim Perry,
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Updated: Tuesday, November 8, 2022
A flare gun is made out of plastic and is used to discharge aerial flare cartridges. To load, push the barrel away from the hammer, place a flare cartridge into the barrel, and close it. To fire the gun, push the button on the side, pull back the hammer, aim up to the sky, and pull the trigger. An aerial flare is able to be used as both a day and night visual distress signal. Be aware that the firing of an aerial flare is very loud and safety is critical. Always be cautious where you are pointing the flare gun and of any people around you. Once launched, the light from the flare is only visible for 5 seconds, usually on it's trajectory back down towards the water. As with all pyrotechnic flares, aerial flare cartridges expire 42 months from their manufacture date so be sure to check yours on a regular basis.
Posted By Kim Perry,
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Updated: Wednesday, October 5, 2022
WHAT IS AN E-FLARE AND SHOULD I GET ONE?
An E-Flare is a non-pyrotechnic electronic visual distress signal with a very bright light that operates off of batteries. Multiple manufacturers produce Coast Guard certified E-Flares including ACR and Sirius Signal. An E-Flare serves as your nighttime distress signal. Each E-Flare will come with an orange distress flag that will be used as your day signal. E-Flares are easy to operate and only require that you check the batteries on a regular basis. When used, the E-Flare will flash the S-O-S signal for at least 2 hours, much longer than a traditional flare. Even if you still choose to carry traditional flares, adding an E-Flare to your boat's safety kit is a smart idea.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Updated: Monday, October 23, 2023
Sea Tow Foundation Interview with ACR Electronics
Video Blog
Sea Tow Foundation staff sat down with Mikele D’Arcangelo from ACR Electronics to talk about their new ResQFlare product.
The ResQFlare is an emergency distress signal that can replace pyrotechnic flares carried by boaters because it meets both day and night requirements and is approved by the US Coast Guard. The ResQFlare is an electronic flare that operates using two C-size batteries that are easily replaceable and it will display a bright light for up to 20 hours compared to the pyrotechnic flares that only burn for 3 minutes each and have to be replaced every 42 months.
Sea Tow members are able to purchase the ResQFlare and other ACR Electronics products such as Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) or Emergency (EPIRB) at a discount because they are part of the Sea Tow Savings Club.
To learn more about ACR and their products, you can visit them at www.acrartex.com.
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