Flare Requirements for UK boats under 13.7M

[Pete O Static]

Hello!

Just reaching out to UK boat owners in an attempt to shed some light on the actual flare ( number and type ) requirement for UK flagged vessels under 13.7M

The RYA website refers to SOLAS V requirements which are clear as mud. From what I can tell, one simply needs a signal chart, I see nothing about a minimum requirement for distress flares.

Is that true? A link to an official directive would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[boatman61]

I don't believe there is a regulation for under that length..
I tend to go for a standard offshore marine store pack and add a few rockets.
This is the basic Coastal Pack from Suffolk Marine, UK for example..
- 2 Hand Smoke Flares
- 2Red Handflares
- 2 Para Red Rockets

[sestina]

No rules for non-MCA coded vessels.

[Dockhead]

I've just acquired one of these:

EDF1 - Ocean Signal

As a substitute for a red hand flare. It seems to be superior in every way to the pyrotechnic one.

I'm compulsive carry so I also keep fresh pyrotechnics, but only the minimum required.

I don't think there's any substitute (so far) for a rocket flare, so I recommend carrying a few of those.