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