[ve-l] Visual Distress Signals

[Dave Donkers]

Kevin  --

The question was do Illinois regs require PWCs to
carry flares - To quote Illinois Combined Statues
625 ILCS 45 Boat Registration and Safety Act,

"Sec. 4-12.  Visual distress signals.  It is unlawful
to operate any watercraft on the waters of Lake Michigan
without having onboard visual distress signals as
required and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, so placed
as to be readily accessible and in such condition as to
be ready for immediate and effective use."

The relevant part of that is "as _required_ and approved
by the U.S. Coast Guard".

If they are not on Lake Michigan, they are not required
and it goes on the right side of the form under
"Inland VDS".

Otherwise, it goes back to the length of the boat, and
VDSs are not required under 16 feet.  If a PWC is
16' or over, then they are required.

As I said before, PWCs on Loch Mich without VDSs are
just looking for trouble, but it is their choice.

Dave Donkers
DuPage  (Western suburbs of Chicago)
VSC Chair

KevinR wrote:
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: ve-l-bounces at usps.org   On Behalf Of Dave Donkers 
>>
>> On Lake Michigan, they must have "visual distress
>> signals as required and approved by the U,S. Coast
>> Guard" - COLREGS has waving arms listed as a VDS.
> 
> Waving arms, firing a gun every minute, showing an open flame, continuous
> sounding of a fog horn, activation of an EPIRB or sending the radio
> telegraph alarm signal are all recognized signals for distress, but they are
> all most definitely NOT Visual Distress Signals.
> 
> When a VE is checking for VDS during a VSC, only the signals listed in the
> VE manual are acceptable.
> 
> Kevin Redden
>