(Based on a recent post by someone on rec.boats.paddle) I can't remember ever hearing about this. I know strobes and such have been discussed before, but at no time has the requirement for an SOS flashing light been mentioned that I can remember. Specifically, the USCG regs for distress signals require that if you are in a manually propelled craft at night, you have to have a visual distress signal. The requirement for an electric light is: > The electric distress light is accepted for night use only and must > automatically flash the international SOS distress signal (... - - - ...). (ref: http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/metlife/distress.htm, but there are other sites as well.) I can't find a similar requirement in the Canadian CG regs; that suggests to me it might be a new US reg that CCG hasn't caught up to (or I just can't find) Comments? Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Michael Daly Said: > I can't remember ever hearing about this. I know strobes and > such have been discussed before, but at no time has the > requirement for an SOS flashing light been mentioned that I > can remember..... > > The requirement for an electric light is: > > > The electric distress light is accepted for night use only and must > > automatically flash the international SOS distress signal > (... - - - ...). > > (ref: http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/metlife/distress.htm, > but there are other sites as well.) Mike I don't think this is real new. It has been in the US Regs for at least 6 years. It's probably been around much longer, but that's when I became aware of the fact that a flashlight does not qualify as a distress signal. Steve Holtzman Southern CA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>>> The electric distress light is accepted for night use only and must >>> automatically flash the international SOS distress signal But this is, as I understand it, not absolutely required as the night requirement can be met with flares. Three flares which is a pretty minimal requirement. But I am surprised that my strobe, which does not do SOS, does not meet the requirement. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Is it only on inland waters where a flashing white strobe is considered an emergency beacon? I know some like to use flashing white lights on their kayaks to make themselves visible to pwer boat traffic....but I always thought flashing white meant "send help"? K *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Keith Wrage said: > Is it only on inland waters where a flashing white strobe is > considered an > emergency beacon? I know some like to use flashing white > lights on their > kayaks to make themselves visible to pwer boat traffic....but > I always > thought flashing white meant "send help"? Keith, I had a conversation with the local Coast Guard Station here in CA last summer. They told me that for the International Rules, a flashing light is NOT a distress signal but that it was still illegal to use one to make yourself visible because it does not follow the prescribed lights for any type of craft. They informally said to save it for emergency use only because it is more visible than a flare. Steve Holtzman Southern, CA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Robert Livingston & Pam Martin <bearboat2_at_attbi.com> wrote: [original poster was Michael Daly, I believe] >>> The electric distress light is accepted for night use only and must >>> automatically flash the international SOS distress signal >> But this is, as I understand it, not absolutely required as the night requirement can be met with flares. Three flares which is a pretty minimal requirement. But I am surprised that my strobe, which does not do SOS, does not meet the requirement. >> I'm not sure if this is the basis for the rule, but it is a practical issue which may affect your use of a strobe for distress at night: a strobe is often more difficult to spot at a distance, and more difficult to keep sight of, from a helicopter, the local Coast Guard says, __than a steady white light__. One reason to use a steady white light is that if there is much of a sea running, at a distance even a steady white light is obscured fairly frequently by the swell/seas. Add in strobing, and there is a greater "window" when your position is not disclosed by a light. Of course, flares only last a short time, and have other disadvantages a strobe or white light does not have. The reason for their approval as a distress signal is that they are flat-out at odds with what other vessels "expect" to see at night. A steady white light, perhaps not, so it is useful only if someone knows to look for you, and roughly where to look. Could be a combination of steady white light and a (much brighter) strobe would be a "best" combination: the strobe to show that some emergency has occurred, and the steady white light to make fixing your position more certain. I believe this use would be USCG approved. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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