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Flares

Marine flares are visual distress signals required by law on most vessels operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, or bodies of water directly connected to the ocean. To maintain legal compliance and maximize safety on the water, you can choose between traditional chemical pyrotechnics or modern electronic flare alternatives.

Traditional Pyrotechnic Flares

Chemical flares are highly visible but carry an expiration date of 42 months from their manufacture date. They must be replaced regularly to stay compliant with United States Coast Guard (USCG) rules.

  • Handheld Flares: Excellent for close-range positioning at night or in low visibility.
  • Aerial Flares & Launchers: Shoot high-altitude meteors or parachute signals to alert rescuers from over the horizon.
  • Smoke Signals: Produce dense clouds of orange smoke specifically for daylight-only emergency tracking.

Electronic Flare Alternatives (e-VDSD)

Modern regulations allow recreational boats up to 65 feet to replace all traditional pyrotechnic flares with a single USCG-approved Electronic Visual Distress Signal Device (e-VDSD). To be legally compliant, these electronic flares must flash the international Morse code S-O-S signal and be paired with an included orange daytime distress flag. They never expire, eliminate toxic disposal issues, and run on user-replaceable batteries.

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