According to the Visual Signaling guidelines I can find, eVDSDs seem to still be only acceptable for night use, and do not qualify as acceptable for daytime use. Can you advise where USCG has updated that? At the current time, are there eVSDs that are SOLAS compliant?

Bob, you are correct, eVDSDs are only approved as a night visual distress signal, that is why in the package for both of the Sirius Signal products, the one color C-1003 and the two color C-1002, we include a Daytime Orange Distress flag that is USCG Approved as a Daytime Distress signal. At this time […]

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I purchased the C1003 device. What is the recommended way to display the unit if I need to send a distress signal? Hold/mount the device in my boat? Or attach a line to the device and float it on the water. Thanks.

Thanks for your question James. This is Steve Caldero from Sirius Signal. It seems like your question would be best answered by us — rather than the Commodore. How you would display the C-1003 depends a lot on your situation. Displaying the light at the highest possible point on your boat increases the distance that […]

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If my boat does not use a motor — meaning no gasoline — do I meet Federal requirements? Do I need to bring a fire extinguisher along?

The short answer is, no engine? No fire extinguisher. But even that is not 100% complete (see #5 below.) U.S. Coast Guard-approved, marine-type fire extinguishers are required on boats where a fire hazard could be expected from the engines or fuel system. Fire extinguishers are required on boats when any of the following conditions exist: […]

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