Cheapest place to buy flares?

[CaptainBob]

I've found a pack of four (2 orange smoke, 2 red handheld) flares for £36.99 online... seems bloomin expensive for four fireworks to me! And I was hoping to get a couple of white light ones also... so they'll be extra no doubt.

Is that about the best price available? Or am I missing a source?

 

[AIDY]

yup that's about the price unless you want a trip across the channel and get a set of french flare's for approx half uk retail price (the instructions are written in english !) pains wessex seemed to be slightly dearer than the ,<sp> ikorus <sp> that ocean safety supply last time i looked. watch the expiry dates.... different manufactures vary ask first if you are buying online.

 

[Jonny_H]

Maybe cheaper to get them from a chandlers - as postage will be very expensive if you buy on line due to the fact they are 'hazardous goods'

Jonny

 

[ongolo]

The cheapest are the chinese flares. Some turned back towards us and a policeman lost his hand when one exploded in his hand. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Firing them might be a bit more legal than russian roulette, the result about the same, but cheap they are.

Ongolo

 

[EdWingfield]

For that reason I don't do flares.

I had a RNLI inspection the other day and said I have a powerful lamp instead.

They said 'fair play'.

Lamps don't explode in your hands, or go out of date so quick.

 

[AIDY]

so what do you suggest as the powerful lamp alternative ?

 

[tedsmith]

I saw on a web site somewhere once that lasers were being touted for use as emergency lighting at sea - green I think.
I'd like flares too though - bulbs break, batteries go down. Get dropped.

 

[narooma]

Did the RNLI say what the recomended candle power of an acceptable lamp alternative is?

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Did the RNLI say what the recomended candle power of an acceptable lamp alternative is

[/ QUOTE ] Or where you get a parachute one or one that emits orange smoke for daytime use. (not sure Ive even seen a red one)

 

[EdWingfield]

No, they didn't give any comment but 'fair enough' or similar.

Mine is one of those hugely powerful rechargable Halfords jobs. It carries a warning not to shine into the eyes close to.

Agreed. Limited use in daylight. But daylight usually has good viz.

 

[charles_reed]

I always thought

pyrotechnics were for after-dark in-extremis emergencies.

I'd agree that and effective searchlight is probably of more use than a handheld white but there's no obvious replacement for a parachute.

A handheld vhf transceiver, with DSC and GPS would probably fit the bill, but is the TCO less than 5 paras?

In fact I only bother about the paras in the liferaft being current, transport of replacements is such an expensive challenge that it's not worth bothering with.

 

[Leighb]

A white light is not a recognised distress signal, if you wave it about someone is more likely to think "There's some fool waving a torch about" than "There is a vessel in distress"

I agree if you have a definite target you could flash SOS in morse, and it might be a good substitute for a white flare if a collision situation is likely, but a red parachute flare is surely the only effective distress signal if you are offshore with no other vessel in sight.

 

[Trundlebug]

Primark, probably.

 

[EdWingfield]

I would advise against you 'waving your lamp about'.

The use I would advise if a ship was in close proximity would be to call up the vessel on radio and ask if he seen you. If you in doubt he's seen you then tell him you will sweep the lamp across his bridge. If there is anyone on the bridge, you will be noticed. Much better than any pyros.

You also eliminate the chance of the pyro misfiring.

 

[alexrunic]

you can't replace flares with a lamp. the flares especially the parachute varitey can be seen from many miles away. also a flare is Recognisable by any member of the public that its a distress signal. how many sailers never mind the public now the morse code for sos. plus a torch could be mistaken as a light on board a ship or on the land i think it would be complete madness to carry only a torch.

 

[bobgosling]

I remember reading some time ago about a chap who had devised a white parachute flare which also emitted 6 loud bangs. Never heard anything more about it though. Apparently the loud bangs were thought more likely to attract attention than the light ?

 

[EdWingfield]

Alex, I admire your 'sanity' in carrying flares. (despite the numerous reports since Titanic of them not being responded to)

 

[ongolo]

[ QUOTE ]
A white light is not a recognised distress signal, if you wave it about someone is more likely to think "There's some fool waving a torch about" than "There is a vessel in distress"

Recognised distress signals are: Fire on deck (we have to carry a metal bucket to make a fire in), loud noise, bell, canon, gong, waving of arms or waving with an oar, unusual behavior to attract attention, a torch at night weaving about, VHF call, flares HH and Para and smoke, the NC flags. I think there are 15 recognized signals.

Ongolo

 

[Leighb]

Thank you I stand corrected /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I still think a flare is far more likely to attract attention though.

 

[sailorman]

i always get mine from the "Liferaft" service man bung something in the "Tea kitty" grab a handfull with one year to go