It's the Law: Required Equipment

Visual Distress Signals (VDSs)     33 CFR 175.110-140

Boats used on Waters of Concurrent Jurisdiction must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard–approved (day and night) VDSs.

• All vessels, regardless of length or type, are required to carry night signals when operating between sunset and sunrise. Most vessels must carry day signals also; exceptions to the requirement for day signals are:
  • Recreational vessels that are less than 16 feet in length
  • Non-motorized open sailboats that are less than 26 feet in length
  • Manually propelled vessels

If pyrotechnic VDSs are used, a minimum of three must be carried in the vessel.

The following combinations of signals are examples of VDSs that could be carried on board to satisfy U.S. Coast Guard requirements:

• Three handheld red flares (day and night)
• Three orange smoke signals (day only) and one electric light (night only)

Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals

Orange Smoke Day Signal

Red Meteor Day and Night Signal

Red Flare Day and Night Signal

Non-Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals

Electric Light Night Signal

Orange Flag Day Signal

Arm Signal Although this signal does not meet VDS equipment requirements, wave your arms to summon help if you do not have other distress signals on board.