distress flag

[fsjcowboy]

Is it approved nautical etiquette to hoist a distress signal flag if you're on a power boat an inland lake and just ran out of gas or engine stopped running or something of this nature that is really not a life-threatening emergency?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: distress flag

No VHF?

 

[salty87]

Re: distress flag

most inland boaters don't know what any of the flags mean. most are too small for VHF too.

best bet is to subscribe to a tow service. relying on others isn't a good plan.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: distress flag

Best bet is to just put your engine cover up and wave at a passing boat - most folks will stop and drag you in

Inland boaters don't have flags or vhf and most inland lakes have no towing service

 

[JoLin]

Re: distress flag

To answer your question, it's okay to fly the flag. That signal isn't limited to the same conditions as a Channel 16 Mayday call. Waving, flares, smoke, horn signals are all acceptable for 'non life threatening' situations when you need to attract attention and get some help.

What you do should have is a more aggressive way to get help. Phone number of all local marinas/fuel docks, tow insurance, VHF, etc.

My .02

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: distress flag

The correct answer is, it's that law when a vessel is in a common water way and disabled. It warns other boats that you are unable to manuever and my become a hazard to navigation. Waving a distress flag indicates that you require immediate assitance. All boats except row boats are required by law to carry one.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: distress flag

The correct answer is, it's that law when a vessel is in a common water way and disabled. It warns other boats that you are unable to manuever and my become a hazard to navigation. Waving a distress flag indicates that you require immediate assitance. All boats except row boats are required by law to carry one.

There are no requirements for a distress flag for small boats on non federal lakes - at least not on a national level. Some states might require them, but they are not required here. In MN they are only required on Lake superior

VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALS
Lake Superior is the only place in Minnesota where federal law requires the proper number and type of visual distress signals (VDS) to be carried
on board boats:
 Craft less than 16 feet, boats participating in
organized events, non-motorized open sail-
boats less than 26 feet and manually pro-
pelled boats are NOT required to carry VDS
during the daytime, but must carry night VDS when operating between sunset and sunrise.  All VDS must be U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
approved or certified as meeting USCG re- quirements, in serviceable condition and
readily accessible. Pyrotechnic devices may not be beyond their expiration date. Non-
pyrotechnic VDS include the orange distress flag (day signal only) and the electric distress light (night signal only) that automatically
flashes the international SOS signal. The dis- tress flag must be at least 3 X 3 feet with a
black square and ball on an orange background.
 For more complete information on VDS and
other federal requirements see the booklet
“Federal Requirements & Safety Tips” avail- able at no charge from the U.S. Coast Guard at www.uscgboating.org online.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: distress flag

The correct answer is, it's that law when a vessel is in a common water way and disabled. It warns other boats that you are unable to manuever and my become a hazard to navigation. Waving a distress flag indicates that you require immediate assitance. All boats except row boats are required by law to carry one.

No - that requirement is for coastal waterways, the great lakes, and some other waterways connected to those, or to the open sea on US owned vessels. http://www.uscgboating.org/fedreqs/default.html

Check your states requirements to be sure. Even better, call your state marine board and see what they say. Like JoLin said, it makes sense to have the phone numbers of local marinas handy. Just make sure you can get cell reception at the lake. VHF is OK on an inland lake if there is someone near by who can hear you. Around here, the sheriffs department monitors VHF on the lakes when they happen to be there.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: distress flag

I guess I was wrong about the USCG, next time they impose federal law on me because I don't have a life jacket on while boating on my favorite lake I'll tell them to go away, I'm not subject to federal law on this lake.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: distress flag

I guess I was wrong about the USCG, next time they impose federal law on me because I don't have a life jacket on while boating on my favorite lake I'll tell them to go away, I'm not subject to federal law on this lake.

PFD use would be covered under your state regs

 

[pevaguy]

Re: distress flag

Probably the most effective distress flag would be a stacked blonde waving her bikini top. I know I would stop and offer assistance.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: distress flag

Probably the most effective distress flag would be a stacked blonde waving her bikini top. I know I would stop and offer assistance.

yep This works the best for assistance!

 

[roscoe]

Re: distress flag

Inland waters, chances are no one will know what the distress flag means.

In USCG patrolled waters, your chances are better.

But yes, distress is what the flag is for, so use it if needed.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: distress flag

I would not shoot off an aerial flare unless there was a life-threatening emergency. It triggers all kinds of USCG response beyond that needed for a breakdown.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: distress flag

I guess I was wrong about the USCG, next time they impose federal law on me because I don't have a life jacket on while boating on my favorite lake I'll tell them to go away, I'm not subject to federal law on this lake.

See above... federal regulations are far from 'law' for many areas. State laws are all the matter in many areas, and most non-coastal states couldn't care less about flags of any sort.

PFD's, every state has regulations regarding them...

 

[rallyart]

Re: distress flag

On an inland lake you will probably get the most response from an orange lifejacket waved on a paddle. It's kind of obvious that you are trying to get attention and no one really has to have read the regulations.

 

[5150abf]

Re: distress flag

I am in Indiana and fish inland lakes and no one here has ever worried about a Coast Gaurd regulation nor do they know any of the signals or flags, inland it is all DNR and state regs.

I had a short on my boat once and it was causing my nav lights to blink and I got probably 6 people stop and ask if I needed help so I guess that works really well but ya, just wave something and be very obvious about it and someone should stop but no one is gonna know what a distress flag is or means.