Fortunately, in USA waters, eVDSDs are an acceptable alternative. When ascertaining which choice is the best for you and your boat, you need to evaluate some of the pros and cons of each type. Talking to my buds at ACR Electronics on the winter boat show circuit, they shared some of their concerns when using and storing pyrotechnic flares:
Safety- Pyrotechnic flares burn at over one thousand degrees Celsius, often emitting molten slag and sparks together with smoke and a flame, all of which can come back at the user in high winds. Many mariners relate stories of burns, fires and close calls when trying to deploy them. Opportunity- Flares are one shot devices and your inventory is typically very limited. There is no way to test them to be sure they work. Toxicity- Most red handheld and rocket flares rely on strontium nitrate and similar chemicals that are both toxic and environmentally persistent. The smoke can be full of fine particulate matter that can be inhaled into the lungs, while also irritating your eyes, nose and throat.
Disposal- Once expired (usually after three years) pyro flares become hazardous waste. Coastguards and police forces across Europe and the UK have been overwhelmed by the demand for safe flare disposal, with some mariners resorting to hoarding old flares in sheds or illegally dumping them. Reliability- Pyrotechnic flares can fail. They can become damp, damaged in storage, or simply not ignite when needed. In some rare cases, they might explode when ignited. Even when they function correctly, their window of effectiveness is fleeting, with a red handheld burning for about a minute. A rocket flare launched skyward, blazes for about 30-to-40 seconds and then is gone. Transportation and Storage- Flares contain explosives and are therefore classified as Class 1 dangerous goods, which means shipping and transportation is difficult and expensive. The same rules and regulations apply to time-expired flares. Flare canisters clutter lockers and demand careful storage away from damp conditions and potential heat sources. Cost- Typical rocket flares for a 12-gauge handheld flare gun are expensive, with the street price these days ranging between $35-to-$40 for a packet of four, which translates to roughly $10 a shot. Some safety-conscious mariners will keep twice as many (or more) of these onboard for those“just in case”scenarios and remember, they have to be replaced every three years to stay in compliance with USCG regs. The Modern Distress Signal Alternative…e-Flares
According to the folks at ACR Electronics, eVDSDs can be tested safely, reused and either be recharged or refitted with new batteries after being deployed. Unlike pyrotechnics, e-Flares don’t expire, produce toxic waste, risk setting your boat or life raft ablaze, or potentially injuring the user or other crew. Aside from the differ- ence in operating time, the only other real distinction is that a pyrotechnic flare is always going to be brighter than an electronic flare for its all-too-brief lifetime. However, the latest generation of electronic flares provides a light that can be seen from several miles away, which is more than sufficient when combined with other res- cue systems like an AIS, VHF radio EPIRB or PLB. Some of the latest eVDSDs, like ACR’s ResQFlare Pro, feature a multi-color LED flashing light (red/orange and cyan), along with an added infra-red light to assist in rescue attempts during limited visibility
conditions where an LED S.O.S. strobe might not be seen. In summary, e-Flares serve as a safer, battery-powered and more affordable alternative to pyrotechnic flares, offering longer operation times and rugged reliability.
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