SOS Distress Light

aero3113

Just ordered one from defender on sale for $63.99 . Will be nice not having to worry about expired pyro flairs. Just have to remember to replace the batteries every few years. I’ll keep an old set of pyro on board also.

https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?name=sirius-signal-sos-distress-light-with-distress-flag-whistle&path=-1|135|2290132|2290134&id=6536672

aero3113

I can’t get the link to work for some reason, here’s a couple of screenshots.

Spyderweb

I got a Weems and Plath one for Xmas.  Will also keep some backup flares onboard but sure like the idea of a safer “flare” with no expiration date.

TonyG13

Also got a Weems & Plath a few years ago (at the time they had the only USCG approved version). I just put in a fresh set of batteries for the season and also kept my expired (2018) flares as a back-up.

Willhound

Man I wish they'd get off their a$$ and adopt these in Canada. They've been "studying" it for 3 years now.  So a note to any of you that visit Canadian waters, not yet legal here.

YYZRC

My boat came with 7 packs of flares. All expired. 

Willhound

I ordered some 3 weeks ago and just got word yesterday they are on back order. May have to take a chance with my expired (in April) set the first few times out.

aero3113

Received it today. Very happy with the size, was expecting it to be bigger.

reneechris14

Don't look at it you will see spots for days!!

aero3113

reneechris14 said:

Don't look at it you will see spots for days!!

I made sure it was pointed away when I turned it on 😅

mattie

Looks good, gonna put it on the list.

I literally have a big ziplock bag in the basement of expired flares.

aero3113

mattie said:

Looks good, gonna put it on the list.

I literally have a big ziplock bag in the basement of expired flares.

Yea, I have an old ammo box full.

Dream_Inn

aero3113 said:

mattie said:

Looks good, gonna put it on the list.

I literally have a big ziplock bag in the basement of expired flares.

Yea, I have an old ammo box full.

I've lit a few off at home in my driveway.  First off, not like someone is going to come running to help , I'm on acres of very wooded land not visible to my neighbors.  I really did it to get a feel what it would be like if I had to light one off.  I'm glad I now have the SOS light as well (although I do keep spare flares too).  I couldn't imagine holding that thing lit on a boat.

raybo3

@Dream_Inn you dont hold it in your boat. Tape it to a boat hook and hold it outside your boat............... Just say'n

LaRea

Agree - I once lit a pyro flare in my driveway, and that's what convinced me to add the LED to my safety kit.

As I've said before:  while the LED is safer to use and store, I don't think it's as reliable in terms of getting somebody to notice.  In a world full of blinking lights, the S-O-S blink pattern might not raise attention, but a pyro flare is unmistakable.    

YYZRC

I’ve been reviewing the Canadian regulations as I went up a size class (now over 30’) and apparently I need a life buoy now. Is this consistent with USA?

aero3113

I think we’re required to carry a throwable. I keep a throwable cushion under the captains seat.

Aqua_Aura

Just ordered one of these as I'm getting a voluntary inspection on Saturday from the USCG Auxiliary. I was notified today of this and I remembered seeing this post before so I looked it up to see what light it was. 

Even these old simple post are very helpful. 

Aqua_Aura

I just watched a YouTube video for this light and thought......I figured it would have been more of a strobe.......then I realized it was actually flashing Morse code SOS 🤦

Dude_Himself

One bit of input from a SAR volunteer: floating orange smoke flares are incredible. They leave a trail that leads to you, burn 3x longer, and the smoke is visible to IR/FLIR from a great distance, even through fog. I have one of these + PLB + LED flare. I've thought about an EPIRB too, but we're almost always within site of land in water not deep enough to sink below the surface. 

Liberty44140

We invested in a PLB years ago and I’m glad we have it. Was around $250 and it’s great peace of mind. Was a requirement from the admiral for a long trip. 

mattie

Any follow up experience on these electronic distress flares?? 
Everybody happy with them?

US/CAN requirement: RTCM Standard 13200.0

aero3113

So far happy with it. Luckily haven’t had to use it for any emergencies. Next time I get on the boat, I’ll try to remember to test it.

TonyG13

Have had one for a few years now. Never used in an actual emergency, but fresh batteries and test at beginning and mid-season. Sucker is super bright. Beats worrying about expired flares and how to dispose of them properly.

LaRea

My thoughts from a couple years ago haven't changed.  Although the LED is a partner to pyro flares, it does not replace them.  The smart money says carry both.  

The LED is great if you already have professionals inbound to your emergency.  Hang it up high and get back to saving your boat/crew.  But if you're trying to grab the attention of the nearest unaware Joe Boater, a pyro flare is the best tool for the job.  It's unmistakable, even in urban light clutter. 

aero3113

I still keep my expired pyro’s onboard. I have a gun and think the shells will last much longer since they’re like a shotgun shell.

MH342

I think it depends where you boat and a safety assessment of your needs.  I purchased it as a CYA first to avoid a violation for expired flares (just keep in mind the electronic flare only meets nighttime requirements - it’s not intended for daytime use so you have to keep the visual distress flag to meet daytime requirements). 

Our lake boating is near-shore and usually with friends alongside and it is rare not to have some passerby in the area. Safety is always paramount but in our lake the biggest killer is drowning from lack of throwables or medical emergencies and not sinkings.  After doing a similar pyro flare driveway test and being very surprised by the dangers involved, I decided that life jackets, throwables, a throw line, good first aid kit and a working radio would be my top priority in the types of emergencies we would likely face.  Offshore would be an entirely different scenario and would be worth the expense/hassle to have pyro visuals onboard. But it would be great to hear other’s experience or suggestions on other “safer” visuals than handheld flares … are flare guns or smoke safer or easier to dispose?  Are there scenarios and risks I am not considering?

aero3113

When you order the Sirius it comes with the distress flag. I don’t think the flag will help much, that’s why I still keep my expired shells onboard if needed. But same as you @MH342 I’m mostly inshore. I feel that a gun is way safer to use than handheld flairs.

YYZRC

I have only ever used a flare gun, not handheld. I shot off some expired flares on Canada Day to get a feel for how to use the flare gun if ever needed. Interesting experience. 

Dream_Inn

Well, if you’ve never lighted the flares, you should try one.  I have them as back up but I would not want to light it on a boat!  As a matter of fact, I’ve been in distress and said heII no am I lighting one of those!  Could’ve been cause I already had a fire aboard as well.  But one of those could burn your boat down if it wasn’t!

LaRea

Sadly, I have used a flare gun and handheld flares in a life-or-death emergency.  It was at night, and I was trying to vector first responders to my location.  In some situations, they are the best tools for the job. 

At the time, I was anchored in the middle of 1000 drunk boaters at a fireworks show.  There's no way an LED could be useful in that situation.  

The drunk a-holes around me started yelling "woohooooo" like I was celebrating Independence Day.  They were ready to start firing their own flares until I pelted them with a cloud of obscenities so vile that is probably still floating somewhere over the middle Potomac.      I will never forget that moment as a demonstration of how dumb boaters can be.  

Yes, my signaling kit includes an LED.  But also gun flares, handheld flares, smokes, dye markers, and signal mirrors.  Bring it all, and hope you never need it.