Re: [Paddlewise] Strobe Lights

Andy wrote, "..... So we seem to have a difference in opinion as to the use of strobe lights in inland and Great Lakes waters. It has long been a truism in the Great Lakes area that strobes are considered to be a distress signal. Does anyone know the source of this idea?"

There's a difference of opinion within the Coast Guard, as well, Andy.  I've been doing some "simple" research for an article I was asked to write on night paddling for our local club, and can say that it depends on who you ask, to some degree, but the people who make the rules indicate that a simple strobe light --- ACR's Firefly series or equivalent --- is not qualified as a "night distress signal".  As to "inland waterway rules" --- under the CFR, "all vessels used on coastal waterways, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected directly to them, up to a point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with USCG Approved visual distress signals."

As sea kayakers and as operators of "manually propelled boat", we are not required to carry day signals; but, if we paddle any of the waters as defined above, we "... must carry night signals when operating form sunset to sunrise."  Specifically, "night distress signals can be pyrotechnic or non-pyrotechnic. Pyrotechnic devices include the standard hand-held and meteor type flares sold in boat stores; a minimum of three are required.  The only non-pyrotechnic device which is authorized for use at night is the "electric distress signal", a floating light that automatically flashes "SOS".  Strobes are specifically not authorized as night distress signals by the Coast Guard, although the Coast Guard's web site says that "... under Inland Navigation Rules, a high intensity white light flashing at regular intervals from 50-70 times a minute is considered a distress signal."

The Coast Guard does not like strobes.  That's pretty clear.  As a past combat SAR pilot, I can understand their problem with them, because they can't go chasing all the strobes they could see in an urban harbor area.  They have addressed the problem by defining them to not be distress signals.  It's unfortunate --- I've relied on good strobes for years, and used them to find downed aviators at sea --- but that's the interpretation and that's what CFR says is the law in the US.

Hope this helps.  

Jack Martin  


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