Traditional vs. Electronic Flares: What Does Your Boat Need?
An emergency on the water may necessitate swift assistance, and that means boaters must be seen to be found by rescuers. That’s why the United States Coast Guard requires vessels over 16 feet to carry visual distress signaling devices (VDSDs) for daytime and nighttime use. These include a variety of items, including flags, smoke signals, and flares, specifically pyrotechnic aerial and handheld flares that were approved for use by the U.S. government in 1859. More recently, electronic flares were added to the mix.
In 2015, electronic visual distress signaling devices (eVDSDs) were introduced and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. These devices are reusable alternatives to some pyrotechnic flares. Battery-powered eVDSDs use multiple LED lights to simulate the function of traditional flares without an open flame.
As of June 2026, the Coast Guard uses electronic flares on both their small boats and cutters, which is a show of confidence in the lights’ abilities.
How Do eVDSDs Work?
Electronic flares differ by manufacturer, but most are designed to flash a white or alternating color (red/cyan) light with Morse code SOS. They’re waterproof, they float, and they are self-righting in the water. Paired with a distress flag, most of these lights meet USCG requirements for recreational vessels up to 65 feet operating on the Great Lakes, within 12 miles of the coast in U.S. waters, or on bodies of water with passages to the sea at least 2 miles wide.
When you use an e-flare, it’s important to keep the device level. Tilting the beacon reduces the light output so it’s inadvisable to wave the light side-to-side or have it strung high in the rigging on a long line that gives the angle more range. That said, the light should be mounted above the boater’s sight line to avoid destroying their night vision.
Pros and Cons of Electronic Flares
E-flares have numerous advantages over traditional pyrotechnic flares and a few drawbacks.
Pros
Electronic flares carry no expiration date. Standard flares are rated for a 42-month service life beyond which they’re no longer legal and must be disposed of and replaced. E-flares are a one-time purchase and require user-replaceable batteries that cost $3 to $15.
They don’t feature an open flame. Pyrotechnic flares burn at temperatures up to 3,000 degrees Celsius, which can injure passengers or set fire to the vessel. Electronic flares operate on light, not fire, and can go into the water with the boater in case of an abandon-ship scenario.
Electronic flares work regardless of conditions. Wind and weather such as heavy rain can affect pyrotechnic flares, but not eVDSDs.
They are easy to operate and test. Even children and non-boaters can use a signal light with little or no training. And unlike traditional flares, you can check the functionality of an e-flare without creating an incident.
The Department of Transportation classifies traditional flares as explosives, so you cannot carry them through an airport or ship them. E-flares can be carried and shipped because they contain no hazardous material.
Electronic flares cause no chemical environmental impact. When activated, pyrotechnic flares release toxic smoke and heavy metals into the air and water. E-flares do not.
You don’t need to engage in any special disposal procedure for eVDSDs. Pyrotechnic flares, once expired, must be disposed of properly at select locations. E-flares don’t expire, though you do need to change their batteries.
E-flares can stay alight in excess of 10 hours, allowing more time for the vessel or boater to be located. Pyrotechnic flares often have a burn time of one to five minutes, which means a rescuer must already be in the area to see the distress signal.
Flashing lights are visible over greater distances, so an SOS light is more likely to be noticed over a continuous single-color flare.
Cons
As useful and convenient as electronic flares are, they do have drawbacks, including the following:
- Only rated for nighttime. You need to carry smoke and other visual distress signals, along with an e-flare, for use during the day.
- Not rated internationally. Not all countries allow e-flares. When you sail into non-U.S. waters, your eVDSDs may not qualify as compliant safety kit.
- Background light confusion. When shining an e-flare in coastal or inland waters where traffic and streetlights are in proximity, the light may be difficult to discern.
- Initial cost. Electronic flares have an initial cost several times that of a pyrotechnic flare kit.
- Acceptance. Boaters tend to stick with traditional solutions, so adoption may be slow.
Who Manufactures Electronic Flares?
Several manufacturers produce and offer e-flares.
ACR
ACR’s ResQFlare ($80-$90) provides 360-degree visibility for up to 6 miles and operates for 20 hours on two user-replaceable C-cell alkaline batteries.
Sirius Signal
Rugged and powered by three C-cell batteries, the SOS C-1003 ($70) emits a 360-degree SOS flash for up to 60 hours.
Ocean Signal
RescueME EDF1 ($150-$200) is a compact light that fits into life rafts or grab bags. It provides 360-degree light coverage for six hours and up to 7 miles.
Excellent but not for Use in Every Scenario
While the U.S. Coast Guard has approved electronic flares for recreational use, international acceptance remains patchy. Furthermore, e-flares are accepted for nighttime use only and are just one tool in a safety kit that should include personal locator beacons (PLBs), emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs), digital selective calling VHF radios (VHF-DSC), sound devices such as bells and horns, and daytime signaling like smoke devices and flags.
Electronic Flares Are Easy to Live With
On my boat, one item on the January checklist was the annual flares inspection where I would note the expiration dates and condition of the flares in the kit. It wasn’t a difficult job, but once flares expired, I had to find a fire department that would take them for disposal.
E-flares potentially eliminate this problem. Just be sure to put the battery replacement date on the device and test it periodically.
Zuzana Prochazka