What Type of Flarares should you carry on your boat, and when are marine flares legally required?
The correct answer depends on where you operate, the size and type of your boat, whether you boat during daylight or at night, and whether your distress signals are pyrotechnic or electronic.
Flares and other visual distress signals can help rescuers locate your boat during an emergency. However, carrying the wrong type, storing them where they cannot be reached, or allowing them to expire may leave you without the protection you expected.
This article provides general boating-safety information. Requirements can change, and passenger-for-hire vessels may have additional rules. Always check current federal and state regulations for the waters where you plan to operate.
What Are Visual Distress Signals?
Visual distress signals, commonly called VDS, are devices used to attract attention when a boat or its passengers need emergency assistance.
Visual distress signals generally fall into three categories:
- Signals approved for daytime use
- Signals approved for nighttime use
- Combination signals approved for both day and night use
They may also be divided into two main types:
- Pyrotechnic signals, including handheld flares, aerial flares, parachute flares, and orange smoke signals
- Non-pyrotechnic signals, including an approved orange distress flag and an approved electronic SOS distress light
Check the label before buying or relying on any distress signal. It should clearly state that it meets the applicable United States Coast Guard requirements and whether it is approved for daytime, nighttime, or combined use.
Where Are Boat Flares Required?
Federal visual-distress-signal requirements generally apply to recreational boats operating on United States coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and directly connected waters up to the point where the waterway becomes less than two nautical miles wide.
Requirements and exceptions depend on the boat, waterway, and time of operation. Review the current United States Coast Guard boating-safety requirements before heading out.
Even when flares are not legally required on a particular inland lake or river, carrying an approved signaling device can still be a smart safety decision. A mechanical failure, collision, fire, medical emergency, or unexpected weather change can occur on any body of water.
Oregon Coast Flare Requirements
In Oregon, boats operating in the ocean or coastal waters west of the line of demarcation at the jetty tips must carry United States Coast Guard-approved visual distress signals.
The required signals must be:
- Approved for the intended day or night use
- In serviceable condition
- Readily accessible during an emergency
- Within their valid expiration date if they are pyrotechnic devices
Before boating on the Oregon Coast, review the official Oregon State Marine Board visual distress signal requirements.
Boaters crossing coastal bars or fishing near Astoria should also understand that flare requirements are only one part of safe preparation. Tides, wind, visibility, bar restrictions, VHF communication, life jackets, navigation equipment, and a reliable boat are all important.
Learn more about fishing this area on my Astoria Oregon fishing guide and Buoy 10 salmon fishing guide pages.
Do You Need Day and Night Distress Signals?
Boaters should understand the difference between daytime and nighttime signals.
Daytime distress signals
Daytime signals are designed to be visible in bright sunlight. Examples include:
- Orange smoke signals
- Approved orange distress flags
- Some red handheld or aerial flares approved for both day and night use
Nighttime distress signals
Night signals are designed to be visible after sunset. Examples include:
- Red handheld flares
- Red aerial meteor flares
- Red parachute flares
- Approved electronic visual distress signal devices that automatically flash the international SOS pattern
Do not assume every red light, strobe, flashlight, or flashing beacon satisfies the legal nighttime carriage requirement. Check the device label for United States Coast Guard approval or certification for use as a nighttime visual distress signal.
Are Small Boats Required to Carry Flares?
Federal rules contain limited exceptions for certain vessels. The following boats generally are not required to carry daytime distress signals but must carry approved nighttime signals when operating between sunset and sunrise in waters where visual distress signals are required:
- Recreational boats less than 16 feet long
- Manually propelled boats
- Open sailboats less than 26 feet long without propulsion machinery
- Boats participating in organized races, regattas, or marine parades
These exceptions do not mean that small-boat operators should ignore emergency signaling. Small boats can be especially difficult for rescuers and other vessels to see.
State requirements may also be different or more restrictive, so confirm the rules for the water where you will be boating.
How Many Flares Should You Carry?
If pyrotechnic devices are used to satisfy federal visual distress signal requirements, boaters generally need enough approved devices to provide three signals for daytime use and three signals for nighttime use.
Some flares are approved for both day and night use. For example, three approved combination day-and-night red flares may satisfy both requirements.
Other legal combinations may include separate daytime smoke signals and nighttime aerial or electronic signals. Read the label carefully because different devices have different approvals, visibility ranges, operating times, and limitations.
The legal minimum is not always the best safety setup. Offshore and coastal boaters often carry more than the minimum because an emergency may require several attempts to attract attention.
Handheld Flares
Handheld red flares are among the most recognizable marine distress signals. Depending on their approval, they may qualify for both day and night use.
Advantages of handheld flares include:
- They are widely recognized as distress signals
- They can be used to help rescuers locate your exact position
- They are relatively compact and easy to store
However, handheld flares burn extremely hot. Follow the instructions printed on the flare, hold it downwind and away from the boat, and keep burning material away from fuel, canvas, passengers, and other flammable objects.
Aerial and Parachute Flares
Aerial flares rise above the boat and may be visible from a greater distance than handheld signals. Parachute flares can remain visible longer as they slowly descend.
These signals can be valuable when rescuers or other boats are farther away, but they must be handled carefully. Aerial launchers and pyrotechnic devices can cause serious injury or fire when used incorrectly.
Never fire an aerial flare unless there is an immediate or potential danger requiring assistance. Never aim one toward another boat, aircraft, building, shoreline, person, or flammable material.
Orange Smoke Signals
Orange smoke is a daytime distress signal. Smoke can be especially useful for showing rescuers your wind direction and exact location during daylight hours.
Smoke signals do not satisfy nighttime requirements. Boaters relying on orange smoke for daytime use must also carry a separate approved nighttime signal when nighttime signals are required.
Electronic SOS Distress Lights
An approved electronic visual distress signal device can be used as a nighttime signal when it meets the current United States Coast Guard requirements.
Approved electronic distress lights automatically flash the international SOS pattern:
Three short flashes, three long flashes, and three short flashes.
Electronic distress lights offer several advantages:
- They do not produce an open flame
- They may operate much longer than a pyrotechnic flare
- They can be reused when maintained properly
- They eliminate some of the storage and disposal concerns associated with pyrotechnics
An electronic nighttime distress light does not normally replace the required daytime signal. Boaters choosing a non-pyrotechnic setup commonly carry an approved electronic SOS distress light for night use and an approved orange distress flag for day use.
Inspect the light regularly, check its batteries, and make sure its certification label remains readable.
What I Carry on My Fishing Guide Boat
As a fishing guide, I operate on large rivers, bays, estuaries, and coastal waters where weather and visibility can change quickly.
I carry multiple approved visual distress signals, including handheld and aerial or parachute flares. I believe in carrying more than one way to signal for help because no single distress device is ideal for every emergency.
In addition to flares and visual distress signals, my guide boat carries important communication, navigation, and safety equipment, including:
- A VHF marine radio
- GPS and chart-plotting equipment
- Radar
- Fish-finding electronics
- Life jackets and required flotation equipment
- Fire extinguishers
- Sound-producing devices
- Navigation lights
- A stocked first-aid kit
- Other required emergency equipment
You can learn more about my equipment on my Columbia River fishing guide boat page.
When fishing the Columbia River, Tillamook Bay, Astoria, or the Oregon Coast, I regularly check the weather, tides, river conditions, bar conditions, and marine forecasts before leaving the dock.
Using VHF Channel 16 During an Emergency
A VHF marine radio is one of the most important emergency communication tools on a boat. Cellphone service can be weak or unavailable on coastal water, river sections, and offshore areas.
VHF Channel 16 is used for distress alerting and calling. During a life-threatening emergency, turn on the radio, select Channel 16, press the transmit button, and clearly say:
“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.”
Provide rescuers with:
- Your boat name or registration number
- Your position or location
- The nature of the emergency
- The number of people aboard
- A description of your boat
- The type of help needed
Release the transmit button and listen for a response. Stay near the radio whenever possible.
Review the official United States Coast Guard radio information for boaters before operating on large or coastal waters.
Check Your Flare Expiration Dates
Pyrotechnic marine flares expire. The United States Coast Guard boating guide states that approved pyrotechnic distress signals expire 42 months after their manufacture date.
Check each flare individually because flares purchased together may have different manufacture or expiration dates.
To count toward the required visual distress signal minimum, pyrotechnic flares must be:
- Within their valid expiration period
- In serviceable condition
- United States Coast Guard-approved
- Readily accessible
Expired flares may sometimes be carried as additional backup equipment, but they do not count toward the required minimum. Never rely only on expired flares.
How Should Boat Flares Be Stored?
Store flares in a cool, dry, readily accessible location. A watertight container marked clearly with words such as “Flares” or “Distress Signals” can help protect them and make them easier to locate.
Do not bury flares underneath fishing equipment, coolers, clothing, tackle boxes, or other gear. During a real emergency, you may have only seconds to reach them.
Every responsible adult aboard should know where the distress signals are stored and understand that they are for emergency use only.
How Do You Dispose of Expired Marine Flares?
Do not throw pyrotechnic flares into regular household garbage, place them in a fire, or discharge them simply to get rid of them.
Disposal rules vary by state and county because pyrotechnic flares may be treated as hazardous material. Contact your local household hazardous waste program, fire department, marine patrol, or state boating agency for current disposal instructions.
Do not set off expired flares on the water as practice unless you are participating in an officially authorized training event. Displaying a distress signal when no emergency exists can cause an unnecessary rescue response.
Inspect Your Safety Equipment Before Every Season
Before your main fishing or boating season begins, inspect more than just your flares.
Your pre-season and pre-departure safety check should include:
- Flare approval labels and expiration dates
- Electronic distress light batteries
- Life jackets and throwable flotation devices
- VHF radio operation
- GPS and navigation equipment
- Fire extinguishers
- Horn, whistle, or other sound-producing device
- Navigation lights
- Bilge pumps
- Engine and fuel systems
- First-aid supplies
- Anchor and anchor line
Safety equipment is only helpful when it works and can be reached quickly.
Final Thoughts on Boat Flares
The best flare setup depends on the boat, the water, the distance from help, and whether you operate during daylight, darkness, or both.
At a minimum, make sure your distress signals are approved for the conditions in which you operate, current, serviceable, and readily accessible. Coastal and offshore boaters should consider carrying several different signaling options rather than relying on one device.
Flares are important, but they should be part of a larger boating-safety system that includes life jackets, reliable communication, navigation equipment, weather awareness, emergency planning, and good judgment.
For more information about professionally guided fishing trips on a large, covered, and properly equipped boat, visit my Columbia River fishing guide page.
Call or text Marvin at 503-314-5087 or send a fishing trip inquiry online.
Boat Flare Frequently Asked Questions
Are flares required on every boat?
No. Flare requirements depend on the waterway, boat size and type, and whether the boat is operated during the day or at night. Always check current federal and state requirements for your boating area.
How many flares should a recreational boat carry?
When pyrotechnic signals are used to satisfy federal requirements, boaters generally need three approved daytime signals and three approved nighttime signals. Three combination day-and-night flares may satisfy both requirements.
Do expired flares count as required safety equipment?
No. Expired pyrotechnic flares may be carried as extra backup equipment, but they do not count toward the required minimum.
Can an electronic SOS light replace flares?
An approved electronic visual distress signal device can satisfy the nighttime requirement. A separate approved daytime signal, such as an orange distress flag, is generally needed to provide a complete non-pyrotechnic day-and-night setup.
What VHF channel should boaters use during an emergency?
Use VHF Channel 16 for distress alerting. In a life-threatening emergency, clearly say “Mayday” three times and provide your boat information, position, emergency, and number of people aboard.
Can I throw expired marine flares in the garbage?
Do not place pyrotechnic flares in ordinary garbage without first checking local regulations. Contact your local household hazardous waste program or state boating agency for proper disposal instructions.
