Flares on boat

In the last issue of OOD magazine there is some info about boat safety regulation.
I was surprised to read that 'any boat which travels more than one nautical mile from shore needs to have flares on board'.
However when I checked the regulation I didn't find this in it. Instead it says for a boat up to 6 meters in length: If equipped with motor: Watertight flashlight OR 3 Type A, B, or C flares.
https://boating.ncf.ca/equipment.html#p6
Could anyone clarify this for me?
I have a 16' utility boat, go to GB or LO on quiet days for trolling and of course I go much further than 1 mile. Never was even thinking about flares.
Attachment 43701

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/....html#h-769607

All you need is the water tight flashlight to meet the regs. The story about a mile off shore is false.

Thanks a lot!
Yes it seems to me this way too, but I’m really surprised that OOD placed such misleading info…

That isn't to say that exceeding the requirements is a bad idea. Having those flares on board, just might save someones butt one day.

Not exactly on point but earlier this spring I got dinged while in Florida. I received warnings and had to purchase flares , a throwable floatation device, and fire extinguisher. I was maybe a couple hundred feet from St George Island but was considered off shore.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swampsinger

Not exactly on point but earlier this spring I got dinged while in Florida. I received warnings and had to purchase flares , a throwable floatation device, and fire extinguisher. I was maybe a couple hundred feet from St George Island but was considered off shore.

---

Different country, different regulations.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bushmoose

That isn't to say that exceeding the requirements is a bad idea. Having those flares on board, just might save someones butt one day.

---

Well, I think it should be reasonable… I have a pretty small boat for two people and two dogs in it… And if I go for ‘not bad idea’ to have this and that then there would probably be no room for myself…
When I'm thinking about how these flares could help me in case of something goes wrong compared to keeping them safe and readily etc… I better not have them at all and concentrate on other things…
But that's my view on that…

Right, but that column in OOD was intended for Ontario readers... And it seems to be completely wrong.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MarkD

Well, I think it should be reasonable… I have a pretty small boat for two people and two dogs in it… And if I go for ‘not bad idea’ to have this and that then there would probably be no room for myself…
When I'm thinking about how these flares could help me in case of something goes wrong compared to keeping them safe and readily etc… I better not have them at all and concentrate on other things…
But that's my view on that…

---

Hey, no argument with your above statement. At the end of the day, it comes down to individual choice on personal safety. The regulations are meant to provide a basic requirement that needs to be adhered to. Other than that, it's personal choice.

Here are the Transport Canada regs https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/f...ed/tp_511e.pdf


MINIMUM SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS BY BOAT TYPE AND LENGTHNOTE: See page 19 for notes.BOAT TYPE AND LENGTH PERSONAL LIFESAVINGAPPLIANCES VISUAL SIGNALS VESSEL SAFETY EQUIPMENT NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT•Paddleboats• Watercycles•Standup Paddleboards•Sealed-Hull and Sit-on-TopKayaks1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD foreach person on board*2. One (1) reboarding device(See Note 1)3. One (1) buoyant heaving lineat least 15 m (49’3”) longIf boat is over 6 m4. One (1) watertight flashlight5. [COLOR=#ff0000]Six (6) flares of Type A, B, C orD, only two (2) can be Type D.(See Note 2)6. One (1) bailerOROne manual bilge pump(See Note 3)ORBilge-pumping arrangements7. One (1) sound-signallingdevice or appliance8. Navigation lights(See Note 4)9. One (1) magnetic compass(See Note 5)10.One (1) radar



I do recall at one time the great lakes having different rules than other inland waters, one was for a paper map, another when to wear a life jacket and the third for flares vs other signaling devices.

Better to have and not need then to be wishing you had.

Just remember to check the expiry date before buying and to replace if you decide to go that way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marker

Here are the Transport Canada regs https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/f...ed/tp_511e.pdf


MINIMUM SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS BY BOAT TYPE AND LENGTHNOTE: See page 19 for notes.BOAT TYPE AND LENGTH PERSONAL LIFESAVINGAPPLIANCES VISUAL SIGNALS VESSEL SAFETY EQUIPMENT NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT•Paddleboats• Watercycles•Standup Paddleboards•Sealed-Hull and Sit-on-TopKayaks1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD foreach person on board*2. One (1) reboarding device(See Note 1)3. One (1) buoyant heaving lineat least 15 m (49’3”) longIf boat is over 6 m4. One (1) watertight flashlight5. [COLOR=#ff0000]Six (6) flares of Type A, B, C orD, only two (2) can be Type D.(See Note 2)6. One (1) bailerOROne manual bilge pump(See Note 3)ORBilge-pumping arrangements7. One (1) sound-signallingdevice or appliance8. Navigation lights(See Note 4)9. One (1) magnetic compass(See Note 5)10.One (1) radar



I do recall at one time the great lakes having different rules than other inland waters, one was for a paper map, another when to wear a life jacket and the third for flares vs other signaling devices.

---

That copy & paste narrative is confusing at best.
Following your provided link (pgs. 15-19) gives a more accurate explanation.

I have had flares in my boats since I got my 19ft, I always thought 19ft was over the 6M, until years later and I actually did the conversion. Oh well I didn't need flares but always nice to have but they only last 4 years from date of manufacture. I then bought a 20ft 4" boat so now I do need them so I already had the gun anyway. I had never heard the 1 mile rule until a couple years ago when I was checked on the Detroit river by the Windsor Police, then again this year on the St Clair River by the OPP, both said I didn't need them since I was in the river, but checked the dates anyway just to let me know when they were due, I have to buy new ones this before next season as my 4 years will be up. Yes always check manufactures date as you want to get your full term. I did buy them once when the date was couple years old, but paid half the price.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sabmgb

I had never heard the 1 mile rule until a couple years ago when I was checked on the Detroit river by the Windsor Police, then again this year on the St Clair River by the OPP, both said I didn't need them since I was in the river,

---

I had never heard of the one mile rule either and did some looking into this. Quote from the Safe Boating Guide,
"Flares are not required for a boat that:
• is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than
one (1) nautical mile (1.852 km) from shore; "

A boater might be ok while on a river or lake that is narrower than 2 nautical miles, since it's obvious it would be impossible to be more than a mile from any shore at any given point. Take a run out to Lake St. Clair however and everything changes. Fishing off the shore from Bronte (or wherever) and that puts a boater into the realm of requiring flares in the boat size falls into the category.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sabmgb

I had never heard the 1 mile rule until a couple years ago when I was checked on the Detroit river by the Windsor Police, then again this year on the St Clair River by the OPP, both said I didn't need them since I was in the river, but checked the dates anyway just to let me know when they were due, I have to buy new ones this before next season as my 4 years will be up. Yes always check manufactures date as you want to get your full term. I did buy them once when the date was couple years old, but paid half the price.

---

I'm still confused with this rule...
In the last two-three years I was checked few times by OPP and MNR on the water quite far from the shore... They never asked about flares...
Anyway, I sent email to OOD Mag for clarification... Will see what the say...

Marine flare kits can be found at Canadian Tire. They're not that expensive,around $90 for good ones. It's better to have them and not need them than the other way around like someone already posted. A word of caution,though. Never fire one off if you're not in trouble. It's the same offense as pulling a false fire alarm. I accidently fired one trying to figure out how it works. There was a Marine Patrol boat within eyesight. No ticket,but,I got talked at.

Thanks for suggestions!
I'm thinking about it…
The problem is that I have just a 16' aluminum utility boat, no floor. I cannot store it permanently in the boat as there is no suitable room for it and they should be kept out of heat (the boat stays on the ground in direct sunlight when not in use).
When I go on the water, we usually go for a day - from sunrise to sunset and have to pack a lot of stuff: my wife, two dogs, rods, net, two anchors, food, sliping stuff etc etc… So I’m trying to avoid any unnecessary items…. Especially if it is dangerous in any means…
But yes, I may go for it. Thanks everybody for suggestions!