marine flares

I carry a Orion Kayak/Paddle Sport Aerial Signal Kit, which I purchased from BassPro, when I go lobster hoop netting during night time.
"The Orion® Kayak/Paddle Sport Aerial Signal Kit is lightweight and compact for quick access in emergencies and easy storage. The kit is U.S. Coast Guard Approved as a day or nighttime aerial signal. The kit includes 2 Skyblazer II self-contained red meteor aerial signals, whistle, and signal mirror. Size: 4" x 8" x 1.5"."

Paul

Do you carry this in your pfd? Seems kinda large...

I carry a Orion Kayak/Paddle Sport Aerial Signal Kit, which I purchased from BassPro, when I go lobster hoop netting during night time.
"The Orion® Kayak/Paddle Sport Aerial Signal Kit is lightweight and compact for quick access in emergencies and easy storage. The kit is U.S. Coast Guard Approved as a day or nighttime aerial signal. The kit includes 2 Skyblazer II self-contained red meteor aerial signals, whistle, and signal mirror. Size: 4" x 8" x 1.5"."

Paul

Do you carry this in your pfd? Seems kinda large...

I carry in a side pocket of our Hobie Oasis kayak.

Great recommendation, sound advice, thorough explanation.  Big thanks to Tedski and NCKA community. 

I carry a Orion Kayak/Paddle Sport Aerial Signal Kit, which I purchased from BassPro, when I go lobster hoop netting during night time.
"The Orion® Kayak/Paddle Sport Aerial Signal Kit is lightweight and compact for quick access in emergencies and easy storage. The kit is U.S. Coast Guard Approved as a day or nighttime aerial signal. The kit includes 2 Skyblazer II self-contained red meteor aerial signals, whistle, and signal mirror. Size: 4" x 8" x 1.5"."

Paul

A+, sir.  That is a great kit.

Thanks for the great info Ted. But you mentioned we have to carry 3? Does it mean we have to carry one additional flare for this kit to meet regulation?

ernest

I carry a Orion Kayak/Paddle Sport Aerial Signal Kit, which I purchased from BassPro, when I go lobster hoop netting during night time.
"The Orion® Kayak/Paddle Sport Aerial Signal Kit is lightweight and compact for quick access in emergencies and easy storage. The kit is U.S. Coast Guard Approved as a day or nighttime aerial signal. The kit includes 2 Skyblazer II self-contained red meteor aerial signals, whistle, and signal mirror. Size: 4" x 8" x 1.5"."

Paul

Thanks for asking, Paul.  I realized I didn't make one thing clear:  other than flares, there are two other visual distress signals outlined in 33 CFR § 175.130(a) that can be used to meet the 3 required.

To meet the night only requirement (reminder that boats under 16' in length only need to meet night requirements), you can have a strobe light.  This strobe light must meet requirements in 46 CFR § 161.013.  Those requirements are that it flash S-O-S in morse and has certain intensity, longevity and floating characteristics.  Any USCG approved strobe is fine for this.  Personally, I rely on my PLB.  It has a visual and infrared strobe built in and starts signaling when activated and lasts 10 days (I use the ACR PLB-400).

To meet the day only requirement (boats 16' and greater in length), you would need to carry an orange flag that has a black ball and black square on it, in accordance with 33 CFR § 175.130(b).  A normal kayak visibility kit's orange flag does not meet these requirements.  Furthermore, you wouldn't fly your black ball/black square distress flag for visibility as it indicates a current emergency.  You'd have this flag (and a means to fly it) stowed on the kayak until there was an emergency.

In summary, my boat is 12' long.  To meet the requirements for night use, I carry a meteor flare launcher, a handheld smoke flare (does both red flare and orange smoke), and my PLB which provides a strobe.  Additionally, I have a visibility kit that has a strobe atop its mast (Visicarbon Pro), however, I don't plan on relying on the presence of a boat in an emergency.  If I'm truly in distress, I'm probably unable to get into my boat and turn the light on, so I want everything on my PFD.

Just like practicing self-rescues, you should practice what you would do when you're looking at that 1 hour timeline of hypothermic unconsciousness and how you are going to alert the SAR crews that you need help.  For that, I have my PLB and it's in a position where I can activate it with minimal motor control.  Once SAR assets are on scene, if I'm still conscious, I want to help them find me as rapidly as possible.  For that, we have our pyro.  I can launch a meteor flare and then pop smoke or a flare to let them see exactly where I am.  If I'm unconscious, my PLB strobe is both white light and infrared, so between homing signal, visual lookouts and FLIR, they should be able to find my body easily enough and render aide.  Next time you're out practicing self rescues, go through the motions of how you would get set up to perform the above and get the muscle memory started.
A+, sir.  That is a great kit.

Thanks for the great info Ted. But you mentioned we have to carry 3? Does it mean we have to carry one additional flare for this kit to meet regulation?

ernest