Table of Contents
What conditions are handheld flares approved for?
Red hand-held flares can be used by day, but are most effective at night or in restricted visibility such as fog or haze. Only Coast Guard or SOLAS flares are acceptable for use on recreational boats. When selecting such flares look for the Coast Guard approval number and date of manufacture.
When would you use hand held visual distress signal flares?
When and How to Use Visual distress signals can only be effective when someone is in a position to see them. Therefore, when employing pyrotechnic devices, do so only when you see or hear a boat or airplane or you are reasonably sure that someone on shore is in position to see your signal and take action.
What do different colored flares mean?
Color is one of the main distinctions in types of flares. White flares are for signaling in non-emergency circumstances — say, for finishing a race — and red flares are supposed to indicate an emergency. Red flares owe their distinctive color to the presence of strontium nitrate.
What is a handheld flare?
Flares are an effective device for signalling distress and showing your position. Red handheld – effective as a line-of-sight distress signal by day and night, handheld flares are very bright with a good visibility range. They are very visible from an aircraft and will usually burn for up to 60 seconds.
What flares are required on a boat?
two hand-held red flares or two parachute flares. two parachute flares. If you operate both inshore and offshore you only need to carry an offshore set of flares. All boats operating outside protected waters must carry flares.
Which of the following flare types is best suited for night time use?
Remember the following when using flares: Type A and B flares work best during night-time.
How do hand flares work?
Handheld flares Signal flares burn with a bright red light as you hold them, while smoke flares (also called smoke signals) are designed to be held in the hand, placed on the ground, or dropped overboard into the sea to give off huge plumes of colorful (generally orange or red) smoke.
What are the different types of flares?
There are three basic types of flare, namely the handheld flare, the parachute or rocket flare and the smoke canister. The handheld flare is, as the name suggests, held by the user and burns fast and bright for approximately 60 seconds.
How long are flares valid for?
four years
Look for the date of manufacture, which is stamped on every flare. Flares are good for four years from that date. Properly dispose of flares that are past their expiration date. Distress flares should be stored vertically in a readily accessible, cool, dry, and prominently marked location.
When should you use flares?
Distress signals, flares and emergency beacons
- Use your marine radio/signalling.
- If other boats or aircraft are in the area, let off an orange smoke flare (daylight) or a red hand-held flare (night).
- A v-sheet should be displayed to attract the attention of other boats or overpassing aircraft.
What type of flare is type A?
Type A – Parachute Flare: This is an ‘aerial’ type flare, which means it works by being fired into the air. Type A flares are most visible at night. Once it’s fired, the red flare will reach a height of about 300 m, and will burn for 40 seconds.
What type of flare is most effective for daytime use?
-held Smoke Flare
Type D: Buoyant or Hand-held Smoke Flare This type of flare is most effective for daytime use.