Are flares required on your boat if you are fishing in the creeks & bays? The SC regs state coastal waters but what is the definition of coastal waters? I been check several times by DNR but they have never asked to see flares when I have been in the creeks and bays.
He must Increase,but I must decrease. John 3:30
In SC, coastal waters are within 3 nm from shore. Federal waters are from 3 nm to 200nm.
In Texas, coastal waters are within 9 nm. One other state is different also, FL maybe? Too lazy to look right now.
Edit: According to SCDNR, state waters are within 3 nm of shore. I assumed coastal meant the same as state.
Visual Distress Signals (VDSs)
Visual Distress Signals (VDSs) allow vessel operators to signal for help in the event of an emergency.
Vessels on federally controlled waters must be equipped with visual distress signals that are U.S. Coast Guard—approved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible.
All vessels, regardless of length or type, are required to carry night signals when operating between sunset and sunrise. Most vessels must carry day signals also; exceptions to the requirement for day signals are:
Recreational vessels that are less than 16 feet in length
Non-motorized open sailboats that are less than 26 feet in length
Manually propelled vessels
If pyrotechnic VDSs are used, a minimum of three must be carried in the vessel.
VDSs are classified as day signals (visible in bright sunlight), night signals (visible at night), or both day and night signals. VDSs are either pyrotechnic (smoke and flames) or non-pyrotechnic (non-combustible).
U.S. Coast Guard-Approved Visual Distress Signals
Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals
Orange Smoke
Day Signal
Red Meteor
Day and Night Signal
Red Flare
Day and Night Signal
Non-Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals
Electric Light
Night Signal
Orange Flag
Day Signal
Arm Signal
Although this signal does not meet VDS equipment requirements, wave your arms to summon help if you do not have other distress signals on board.
Federally Controlled Waters
Vessels must observe federal requirements on these waters:
Coastal waters
The Great Lakes
Territorial seas
Waters which are two miles wide or wider and are directly connected to one of the above
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
Sea School Charleston
mikes dead on. heres a chart and link that may help further
what reason would there be not to carry visual distress signals? “Better safe than sorry”
coast gaurd told us all boats over 16(I thought it was 18) feet have to have a flare kit…“period”…once when we were checked…(which we had)…and that you cannot keep expired flares (say yours expired in may so you bought a new one that month) as a back up( we had 6 shells that would have expired that month besides the new ones we had bought)… and that you could be fined for it. I told them I knew we had to have them but wasnt sure “where”…and he said wherever the boat goes…it has to go…
.
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT
and that you cannot keep expired flares
Ive asked the question on numerous boards, and all I get is “they said”; never a statute, never a rule, or any reference of any description. For something that is supposed to be so cut and dried (and supposedly subject to citation), I’d think a reference would be readily obtainable … 
Take an Old Man Fishing Today!
Here’s a simple answer that has been here and on THT before.
Keep and maintain the required flares per the regs.
If you must keep expired flares, keep them segregated from the legal flares. Completely segregated, as in another storage area.
If you get checked, show them the legal ones.
Seems pretty simple to me.
Otherwise, just get rid of the old ones.
This is not rocket science.
Penny,
I have seen it in some fishing magazines where they said, “why not keep your old ones as backups?” I’ve been doing that; next time on the boat, I’ll take them off. We need to see a written rule on that issue - - wish the USCG would do it,
NaClH20
see you at next SRFC, I’m finally thru eith that night class!
Also, I would not keep old ones for backups. If you want backups, purchase more that are current.
Old flares are dangerous.
Here is a link to the USCG. It says you may carry expired signals as extra equipment, but they can not be counted toward meeting the visual distress signal requirement.
Scroll down approximately 1/3 of the page, under “Pyrotechnic Devices”.
Is there a “proper” way to dispose of outdated flares?
GW 205
F200 Yam
sshaarda,
That is a very good question. I “googled” it and found some places in the U.S. have different ways of doing it. Many differing answers depending upon locale.
I was curious. I just called the local US Power Squadron. The gentleman there did not know.
So I called the USCG base in Charleston just 5 minutes ago. The gentleman answering the phone told me this…
Take your old flares and soak them in a bucket of saltwater for a week or so ensuring they are totally covered. After that, dispose of them in your regular trash.
Not sure if the landfill people or the incinerator site would approve of this.
if they were only expired by a few months I would certainly have no problem keeping them as back ups and dont see why you shouldnt be able to…as long as they arent really old or damaged…kept seperately…we purchace three replacemnt kits each year( they arent that exspensive and I cant throw a empty gun high enough to hit a search plane or boat 
)…laugh if you want…but better safe than sorry…and may have a few slightly expired also…by accident…
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT
quote:
Originally posted by sprigmikes dead on. heres a chart and link that may help further
http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_vds.htm
So this means that you have to have them if you are in Bull’s Bay, Port Royal Sound, St. Helena Sound, and if you venture to the Charleston Jetties (Cummings Pt. to Sullivans Isl. is not quite 2 miles). Right?
Eat mor trout.
Just pin some buttons on your life vests and you will never run out of flair.
14’ Pamlico 140 Angler w/ rudder
Switching to lead-free tackle.
“I don’t really like talkin’ about my flare”
22’ Wellcraft
One Motor Wonder!
quote:
So this means that you have to have them if you are in Bull's Bay, Port Royal Sound, St. Helena Sound, and if you venture to the Charleston Jetties (Cummings Pt. to Sullivans Isl. is not quite 2 miles). Right? .
bulls bay i know for sure, its over 2 miles wide,…now the other 2 you mentioned, i’ve never been there or measured on a chart…
Chatahoochee can answer this question. He is the expert on flares and their multi-use.
Here is a link to the USCG. It says you may carry expired signals as extra equipment…
I knew that, just trolling to see what ‘they’ would say. USCG, DNR, or any other alphabet agency can’t just site you on a whim, they have to charge you with violation of a specific statute or code … 
Take an Old Man Fishing Today!