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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/boat-electric-distress-light-night

An electronic visual distress light meets which part of the signal requirement?

Night only. It flashes SOS automatically.

  1. Night only ✔
  2. Day only
  3. Both day and night

Why: The Coast Guard guide says an electronic visual distress signal device is acceptable for night use only. It automatically flashes the international SOS distress signal.

Huh, didn't know that: Under the Inland Rules, a white light flashing 50 to 70 times a minute is a distress signal, but it doesn't meet the carriage requirement.

The dad joke
Why did the SOS light ace the test? It knew all its dots and dashes.
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Sources

  1. USCG A Boater's Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2023) https://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/AssetManager/Boaters-Guide-to-Federal-Requirements-for-Receational-Boats-20231108.pdf
  2. 33 CFR 175.130 Visual distress signals accepted (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.130

Test yourself in the game

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