The following vessels are not required
to carry day signals but must carry night signals
when operating from sunset to sunrise:
• Recreational boats less than 16 feet in
length
• Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length,
not equipped with motors
• Manually propelled boats
Electronic devices such as a VHF marine
radio on chanel 16 are helpful in an emergency.
Section 2: Required Safety Equipment 29
VDS
REQUIRED
However, never depend only on
electronic equipment that may go out of
service. Visual distress signals will help you
attract attention and get help when needed.
Types of Visual
Distress Signals
There are two kinds of distress signals:
• Pyrotechnic
• Non-pyrotechnic
140
141
142
143
144
Figure 2-10. Locations
requiring VDS
145
146
147
Great
Lakes
less than
2 miles
Bay
VDS
NOT
REQUIRED
River
Pyrotechnic Device Examples
Red Flare (hand-held/ Parachute Flare
day and night) (day and night)
Orange Smoke Signal Floating Orange Smoke
(hand-held/day only) Signal (day only)
Red Meteor
(day and night)
Non-Pyrotechnic Device Examples
Orange Flag Electric Distress Signals
(day only) (night only)
Figure 2-11. Pyrotechnic
distress signals
Figure 2-12. Non-pyrotechnic
distress signals