disposal of flares - time for honesty

what have you done with your out of date flares?

  • they're in the shed.

    Votes: 46 26.6%

  • they're on the boat

    Votes: 38 22.0%

  • lost at sea

    Votes: 5 2.9%

  • taken to MRCC

    Votes: 29 16.8%

  • left on last boat when sold

    Votes: 8 4.6%

  • bonfire night

    Votes: 15 8.7%

  • other

    Votes: 32 18.5%
  • Total voters
    173
Giblets said:
I didn't think that eBay dealt with explosives or firearm. I would be tempted to send 'em a note.
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Often seen flares for sale on Fleabay, but usually - if not always - 'collect only'. Not sure I'd want to collect 1970's flares though. I suppose the seller is listing them as 'Antiques or Collectables' in this case!
 
I bought some new ones last week from Marine Superstore in Port Solent, and they took my old ones off me. Job done. Shiny not so new unused flares in, shiny new unused flares out, along with money out of my bank account of course.

http://www.marinesuperstore.com/pains-wessex-flare-packs-collection-in-store-only

That was the only reason I went to them, but their prices were the same as everywhere else.

I did however end up buying a PLB too...:rolleyes:
 
snooks said:
I bought some new ones last week from Marine Superstore in Port Solent, and they took my old ones off me. Job done. Shiny not so new unused flares in, shiny new unused flares out, along with money out of my bank account of course.

http://www.marinesuperstore.com/pains-wessex-flare-packs-collection-in-store-only

That was the only reason I went to them, but their prices were the same as everywhere else.

I did however end up buying a PLB too...:rolleyes:
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Thet should deliver my new McMurdo Fastfind 220 tomorrow, £40 cheaper than our marina chandlery too
 
always have latest out of date set on the boat and trade in the previous set against the new ones if that makes sense.

started the cycle to get rid of some really old ones that came with the boat and my older ones are now newer
 
I could have ticked most of the boxes. No problem with hand held flares and smokes, but have now built up an embarassing and worryingly large collection of parachute flares.

I bought my last lot of flares from Fox's because they were offering to take equivalent old ones in return, but then they said their store was currently full, and I would have to bring them in another time. Tried a couple of times since, and got the same answer. Now boat's moved and I rarely pass that way.
 
I've done most things, years ago would let them off on bonfire night, even a parachute once...... Just bought a new set from Suffolk Sailing nr Ipswich who took my 'oldest' flares in exchange. Cheapest locally as they can supply without the container if you already have one. I did keep the newer ones though(and found a couple of parachutes in my shed a couple of days ago - 20yrs out of date!)
 
Angele said:
I voted other.

Force 4 chandlery stores will take them off you when you buy a new batch from them. So, all my flares are in date and the old ones have been responsibly disposed. (I assume Force 4 get rid of them properly). All with minimal effort.
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No they wont, or at least our branch of force 4 wont do so as at today
 
bbg said:
Somewhere I used to keep my boat - in France - there was a plastic box and you just dumped your old flares in that. Right above the recycling barrel for old oil and right next to the box for old batteries (AA, AAA, C-cells etc).

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The flares got removed every now and then.
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In Leucate, just behind the chandlers, there is a disposal area for flares, batteries and oil. The disposal container for flares is a couple of cubic meters big and was pretty full when I dumped my old flares in it. There must have been enough explosives there to keep ISIS going for several months.

Otherwise in France you can trade old flares in when you buy new ones. For an extra price.

There were enough lead/acid leisure batteries there to make it worth while to melt them down to get the lead to make a keel or two!!
 
I took mine to the coastguard in Brixham, just before they closed. Turned into an evening out in Brixham which was pretty pleasant.

You can dispose of your old ones where you buy your new ones. I think they are obliged to do this. Force4 do when I asked. One reason not to buy off eBay, at least.

I was always under the impression that out of date flares failed to go off rather than went off spuriously. Disposing of them is easy enough, it just takes a bit of effort. Probably less effort than you put into shopping around finding the best deal for them in the first place!
 
KAL said:
Which link did you use to find these Jerry?
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Hi KAL, I followed Appledore's link to some 1970's flares on ebay, then did an ebay search for 'offshore flare pack'.
A person was selling one for £99.50 and I bought it. Another offshore flare pack is on now, long expiry time, £150, collect only Bideford in Devon though. (My man was happy to post..)
It's worth keeping a eye on ebay for flares, is what I learned yesterday..cheers Jerry
 
I have loads to get rid of and am seriously struggling to find anywhere (missed the local amnesty). In desperation I'm thinking of taping them together, with an old alarm clock, leaving them at the local park and calling the bomb squad :-)
 
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