Duane--You are right, I earlier cited some inappropriate regulations that were for commercial vessels. [But in the interest of keeping this more readable and on topic, I deleted all those lovely images of various commercial boats you posted. Please forgive me.]
Let me redo this in a more logical order. First, let's look at the applicability of
33 CFR Part 175, Subpart C - Visual Distress Signals§ 175.101 Applicability.
This subpart applies to boats on the coastal waters of the United States and on the high seas beyond the territorial seas for boats owned in the United States.
Next we need to look at definitions of
visual distress signal and
coastal waters.
§ 175.105 Definitions.
(a) Visual distress signal means a device that is approved by the Commandant under 46 CFR Part 160 or certified by the manufacturer under 46 CFR Parts 160 and 161.
(b) Coastal waters means:
(1) The U.S. waters of the Great Lakes (Lake Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior);
(2) The territorial seas of the United States; and
(3) Those waters directly connected to the Great Lakes and territorial seas (i.e., bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc.) where any entrance exceeds 2 nautical miles between opposite shorelines to the first point where the largest distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles, as shown on the current edition of the appropriate National Ocean Service chart used for navigation. Shorelines of islands or points of land present within a waterway are considered when determining the distance between opposite shorelines.
Cf.:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/33/175.105Next we look at what is required for what boats. Note that most recreational boats are going to be covered by the definition of "a boat 16 feet or more in length" that is used in this section:
§ 175.110 Visual distress signals required
(a) No person may use a boat 16 feet or more in length, or any boat operating as an uninspected passenger vessel subject to the requirements of 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter C, unless visual distress signals selected from the list in § 175.130 or the alternatives in § 175.135, in the number required, are onboard. Devices suitable for day use and devices suitable for night use, or devices suitable for both day and night use, must be carried.
(b) Between sunset and sunrise, no person may use a boat less than 16 feet in length unless visual distress signals suitable for night use, selected from the list in § 175.130 or § 175.135, in the number required, are on board.
And I finally we find the list we are to select from:
§ 175.130 Visual distress signals accepted.
(a) Any of the following signals, when carried in the number required, can be used to meet the requirements of § 175.110:
(1) An electric distress light meeting the standards of 46 CFR 161.013. One is required to meet the night only requirement.
(2) An orange flag meeting the standards of 46 CFR 160.072. One is required to meet the day only requirement.
(3) Pyrotechnics meeting the standards noted in Table 175.130.
Cf.:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/33/175.130Reproducing TABLE 175.130 as an HTML table in-line here is difficult. Please look at in the
CFR. But here is a plain text version of the information in table:
Table 175.130—Pyrotechnic Signal Devices
[Type: Day or Night Use: Number Required]
Hand Held Red Flare Distress Signals: Day and Night: 3-required (Must have manufacture date of 1 Oct. 1980 or later.)
Floating Orange Smoke Distress Signals; Day Only: 3-required
Parachute Red Flare Distress Signals: Day and Night: 3-required (These signals require use in combination with a suitable launching device approved under 46 CFR 160.028.)
Hand-Held Rocket-Propelled Parachute Red Flare Distress Signals: Day and Night: 3-required
Hand-Held Orange Smoke Distress Signals: Day Only: 3-required
Floating Orange Smoke Distress Signals: Day Only: 3-required (These devices may be either meteor or parachute assisted type. Some of these signals may require use in combination with a suitable launching device approved under 46 CFR 160.028._
Distress Signal for Boats, Red Aerial Pyrotechnic Flare: Day and Night: 3-required
