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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/boat-flares-three-day-three-night

If you use flares to meet the visual distress signal rule, how many are required?

Three for day and three for night at minimum.

  1. Three for day and three for night ✔
  2. One for day and one for night
  3. Six for night only

Why: The Coast Guard guide says pyrotechnic signals need a minimum of three for day use and three for night use. Some red flares are approved for both, so they count toward each.

Huh, didn't know that: Three hand-held red flares approved for day and night use meet the whole requirement by themselves.

The dad joke
Why did the flare get good grades? It was very bright.
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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

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