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.

For more flare education go to www.boatingsafety.com/FlareEducation

Boaters operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, or any river that opens into one of those is required to carry Visual Distress Signals (VDS) that can be used during the day and night to show that you’re in need of help due to an emergency. Up until recently, the only VDS options were flares, but they have many concerns. First, they have to stay dry to work and won’t work if soaked in water, which is a likely scenario on a boat. Second, they expire 42 months after they are manufactured, so they have to be replaced frequently. Third, they can easily burn people or the boat because they are very hot and drip hot slag. Plus, the light only lasts up to 2 minutes. Lastly, they can’t be thrown in the regular household trash and there are few disposal locations around the country.

Electronic visual distress signals (eVDS) entered the market a few years ago and have revolutionized the VDS market. An E-Flare is another name for these devices that can float, never expire, are safe enough for a child to use without fear of being burned, and the light from an E-Flare lasts at least 2 hours. E-Flares operate on batteries that will need to be replaced every few years, but these batteries can be recycled. An E-Flare that is certified by the U.S. Coast Guard for meeting carriage requirements starts at $60-75 and more sophisticated versions cost more. Make the switch to an E-Flare today! Find more information on our website at https://www.boatingsafety.com/page/FlareEducation.

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