Flare Facts

How to safely store, use and dispose of flares.

If you boat in U.S. coastal or ocean waters, territorial seas, the Great Lakes, or in connected waterways up to two miles wide, you must carry USCG-approved signaling devices and three unexpired flares. There are a few exemptions: Boats under 16 feet, manually propelled boats, those in regattas or parades, and open sailboats under 26 feet without motors.

Inland boating requires handheld red flares and/or aerial flares, and orange smoke flares for offshore excursions. Boaters traveling in Canadian or international waters should also carry SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) approved handheld smoke and aerial flares that meet minimum international requirements.

Flares are marked with a certification and an expiration date that ends 42 months after being manufactured. Having expired flares for backup is a good idea, but keep them separate from unexpired ones. Being caught without “good” flares onboard may result in a fine of up to $1,100.

Pyrotechnic flare types

Handheld cardboard tube flares have been around for 50 years. They are designed to produce flames or smoke with a burn time, and the distance they’re seen varies. Orange smoke flares are for daylight use, while red and white flares are primarily used at night. A typical pack of four flares costs about $45.

Another handheld type uses a steel tube housing with a cord that’s pulled upward for red smoke, or downward for orange smoke. Igniting a red or orange flare without an emergency is illegal.

Flare guns (launchers) and aerial flares emit a red or white smoke trail, or they can launch a parachute with red smoke. Unfortunately, in some states flare guns are considered illegal firearms and must be stored unloaded. A flare launcher with four cartridges costs about $68.

Using pyrotechnic flares

Pyrotechnic flares are dangerous even for the experienced boaters, so know how to use them before an emergency happens.

1. Hold red flares 45-degrees outward, past the leeward side of the boat, so the slag does not drip on your hand, on combustible materials, or the boat. Then ignite the flare. Flares burn at excessively high temperatures that instantly boil water — water cannot extinguish it.

2. Shoot aerial flares after identifying possible rescue vessels. Aim leeward and prepare to use other flares.

3. Flare guns can be heavy. An Orion 12-gauge flare gun weighs 7 pounds, and it may take two hands to keep it steady. Aerial flares are launched by an explosive charge, which is considered ammunition. Sometimes a “hang fire” occurs, and the flare doesn’t go off, so wait 30 seconds before ejecting the cartridge.

Expired flare disposal

What do you do with expired flares? There’s no easy answer. Currently, no single U.S. agency provides flare disposal. Local fire or police departments that have burn units, bomb squads or deal with ammunition or fireworks disposal may take expired flares.

Sometimes the Coast Guard Auxiliary (CGAUX. ORG), or U.S. Power Squadrons (USPS.ORG) will hold flare safety workshops; contact them to use your expired flares.

Electronic flares

The need to produce safer, effective flares led to the development of self-contained electronic flares. In 2016, Sirius Signal introduced the first USCG-approved electronic flare. Today, there are at least four companies that produce electronic flares: Sirius Signal, ACR, Ocean Signal and ODEO (Omni Directional Electrical Optical). The products differ in shape, size and weight, and cost between $80-$300. Expect a durable, waterproof and buoyant casing, SOS signaling, and bright LED lights with long-distance visibility (six to 10 nautical miles is common) over a long period (20-60 hours in a single use). Using a battery source, these flares are less hazardous and easier to handle while increasing the chance of rescue and survival.

The successful use of electronic flares morphed into personalized versions: EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) and PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) that may be attached to life jackets.

Pros to electronic flares include being easy to use and replace; they float and don’t need to be stored in a waterproof container; and some are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Cons include the initial expense; they need fresh batteries and should be stored indoors; and they must be FCC-compliant first, and also have a visual signal flag and/or whistle for daytime use. ★

HELEN AITKEN

HEATHER STEINBERGER