Types of Flares & Signaling Devices

By: SurvivalAtSea.com | Liferaft Services

Distress signals are an important tool used by boaters to alert others on the water or on land of an issue requiring outside assistance. They play an incredibly important role in safety, and are required in some form to be on board almost every boat operating on coastal waters. For more information regarding exactly what type of flares each specific type of boat is required to have, please click here. SurvivalAtSea.com carries two main types of signaling devices: pyrotechnic flares, and electronic flares. The differences between them will be described below.

Pyrotechnic 

SurvivalAtSea.com carries a selection of Coast Guard approved pyrotechnic flares that will allow boaters to meet specific requirements issued by the USCG. These are especially effective during the day. For example, orange smoke signals are particularly useful in locating a boat in need of assistance. During the night, pyrotechnic flares are also extremely well suited, given the immense amount of brightness they give off. The downside of these flares is that they are only able to be used once and can be dangerous if not used properly. If you choose to supply your boat with pyrotechnic flares, ensure that they are kept somewhere on the boat easy to access, and that they are replaced according to the expiration date.

Pictured above is a pyrotechnic flare kit sold on our website. It can be viewed here.

Electronic

SurvivalAtSea.com carries a selection of Coast Guard approved electronic flares that will allow boaters to meet specific requirements issued by the USCG. Electronic flares are most useful during the night, during which it is particularly easy to see a distress signal issued from an electronic signal light. The upside of these flares is that the light is able to work for an indefinite amount of time, given that it is generally not at risk of burning out, like the pyrotechnic flares. Electronic flares are commonly paired with flags and other types of signals that do not operate using fire. These are adequate options in the right conditions, but the downside to this is that it is sometimes more difficult to see these relatively stagnant objects compared to, for example, a handheld smoke signal. It is important for boats relying on electronic flare systems to ensure they work properly before heading out to sea or onto open waters.

The ResQLink is ACR’s version of an electronic flare. It can be viewed here.