PADDLERsmart! USA Knowledge Base
Module 02 - Boating Equipment
VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNAL REQUIREMENTS
Paddlers on federal waterways must carry night signals, such as flares, when operating between sunset and sunrise. This requirement ensures that you’ll be able to signal for help in an emergency.
Be sure to check with your state for any requirements for visual distress signals as these laws may vary.
Wondering which waterways are considered ‘federal waterways’? Federal waterways include U.S. coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas and those waters connected directly to the Great Lakes or territorial seas, up to a point where the waters are less than two miles wide.
