Electric, LED-light based flares are not new. They became legal to carry in the United States in 2015, when the first electronic flare received US Coast Guard (USCG) approval, but they are increasingly becoming the norm by replacing traditional pyrotechnic flares across recreational, commercial, and even military sectors. The USCG is currently strengthening the trend with a 2025 announcement to retire pyrotechnic MK 124 flares on all its vessels by April 1, 2026. These flares will be replaced by USCG-approved electronic visual distress signaling devices (eVDSDs, because the marine world and especially the military loves acronyms). An additional raft of new, pro-eVDSD guidelines are also a part of the new rules.
Prior to the new USCG rules, approved LED eVDSDs needed to be paired with a day signal like an orange distress flag. There were also extremely few eVDSDs that had achieved USCG approval, which resulted in a very restrictive marketplace. The new 2026 rules allow LED eVDSDs to be standalone distress devices (no orange flag required) and greatly expands the list of approved manufacturers and device models.
The USCG is also issuing a suite of updated visibility requirements. Approved devices must have 360° visibility along either a horizontal or vertical axis. Flash patterns need to be visible for at least ten nautical miles at night and extended battery life rules dictate at least two hours of continuous use capabilities. There is also more guidance with regards to multicolored LED distress patterns that can be used with red or infrared beacons.
Zooming out, the fact that the USCG—an organization known for adopting changes conservatively after extensive, thorough, some would say byzantine, processes—is making the switch from fireworks to light beams is a major shift in the world of flares.
Pyrotechnic vs. LED
eVDSDs seem to be winning the race against traditional pyro flares for several practical reasons. Activation of pyrotechnic flares, even when done properly, produces toxic smoke and a splattering of debris including molten slag that can burn the user or rubber of a life raft. Using an eVDSD is as simple as turning on a flashlight with the click of a button, while by contrast deploying a pyrotechnic flare must be done with extreme care.
The LED devices are also reuseable and last in the field as long as the battery life available in a survival kit. By contrast, pyrotechnic flares are single time use devices and only last on the scale of seconds or minutes. As mentioned earlier, all these USCG-approved electronic devices must demonstrate the capability to operate continuously for at least two hours per battery/charge. The pyros also expire every three or four years, where their LED competitors only require new battery replacement.
The bottom line is there are a lot of practical benefits to the existing generation of USCG-approved eVDSD devices. One thing that currently limits the eVDSD LED beacons is that they are handheld, allowing for easy comparison to pyrotechnic handheld flares. But a flare gun with a capability to deploy a pyrotechnic signal high in the air still does not have a direct LED competitor—yet. Because of this boaters, especially those traveling offshore, may still want to hold on to launchable pyrotechnic devices for a while longer even if they have eVDSDs onboard too.
An Example in the Market – ACR ResQFlare and ResQFlare PRO
Many boaters are familiar with the company ACR and their marine safety/rescue equipment which includes personal locator beacons (you can read a Best4Boats article about those here) and Epirbs. The company is also a key player in the electronic flare market with their ResQFlare line that includes the ResQFlare and ResQFlare PRO.
The ResQFlare is an entry-level model that costs around $80 and can reportedly be seen up to six miles away and maintain a 20-hour “burn time”. What’s more is that it is waterproof, buoyant, and runs on two common C batteries. Unlike the old school pyros, this option has no expiration date and is reuseable. Simply hit the button and the 360° light comes to life. This model will satisfy USCG requirements for most recreational boaters.
The PRO model has an MSRP of $199.95 and feels more like a club in your hand. The PRO is more powerful and heavy duty in every way than the base model. It includes powerful red-orange, and cyan LEDs, and an infrared component. When demonstrated to me at the Miami International Boat Show, the light was so bright that even when covered by a hand I couldn’t look at it directly.
The marine industry and even the USCG is moving away from pyrotechnic flares and toward electric flares. Ultimately, boaters will weigh the pros and cons of LED vs pyro and choose what works best for them. For now, eVDSDs are ascendant, in part thanks to the USCG, and will be for the foreseeable future. Whether you throw away your old pyrotechnic flares or not it makes sense to have electronic flares (eVDSDs) aboard. Many electronic flares now meet the USCG legal requirements for recreational vessels without an additional orange day-shape flag or smoke flares.