We all must carry fares on board when we head out onto the water and there are several different types to choose from. Here’s an interesting discussion from the Canadian point of view written by Andy Adams and published in Canadian Yachting magazine.
Which is best? Which is legal? And, when should you signal for help?
Pyrotechnic distress flares have been around for decades, while electronic strobe distress flares have only been introduced in the last couple of years – and they aren’t Canadian Coast Guard approved for use in Canada, at least not yet.
But which one is best? And the more important question is: When should you signal for help?
When the authorities do a vessel inspection on the water, they are looking for equipment that is in compliance with the regulations such as life jackets, bailing buckets, sound signaling devices, and so on. It’s all laid out in the Small Vessel Regulations and larger vessels are to be properly and fully equipped; but for visual signals, vessels under six meters are only required to carry a watertight flashlight, not necessarily flares. Yet aren’t those smaller vessels the ones that are most likely to need help in an emergency? Read more.
