Disposal of flares to become even more difficult.

[Sybarite]

After having unsuccessfully tried 9 different locations (coastguard, firemen, lifeboats etc) I made the convenient discovery that flares do not float.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Greek football fans rather like them I've found.

 

[thinwater]

Not joining the debate, but have been watching a few things about the US Coast Guard on YouTube and understand why they might want to do that.

Drunks and fire... Bad.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

What is a TEP?

Time Expired Pyrotechnic.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

After having unsuccessfully tried 9 different locations (coastguard, firemen, lifeboats etc) I made the convenient discovery that flares do not float.

Except buoyant orange smoke. How did you dispose of them, assuming you owned one of the standard packs?

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I'm am an economic migrant in Plymouth, Englandshire. There are several local chandleries that will take old for new. I refuse to buy pyrotechnics online as you cannot guarantee the date of manufacture.

What is a TEP?

Most chandleries I have tried in Scotland, will take old for new. However, I have a pile of legacy TEPs which they will not take. Ocean Safety will for a fee, but they didn’t always take

My experience is that online purchase can be relied upon to provide long life. I have bought from Seamark Nun or Suffolk Marine Safety at a price that beats Scottish chandlers hands down.

I’ll see what happens this year, as my current offshore pack expires around December. The cost from a local chandlers may be lower when I take into account disposal costs.

At the end of the day, I have about 40 items from over the years stored at home. It won’t break the bank to have them disposed off safely at a tad under £100.

 

[penberth3]

Used to be the case that SAR Helos would ask the casualty to set off an orange smoke during a daytime pickup to give them an indication of surface wind direction and speed? Also helps them to single out their target in a busy place like the Solent (white 10m Yacht...!) Never had to be rescued, so its just 'something I read' and stored in the archive of useless 'useful' information that fills my mind nowadays!

Location yes. but I don't believe pilots need orange smoke for wind and direction. It may be helpful, but not essential.

















location yes, but

 

[Sandy]

After having unsuccessfully tried 9 different locations (coastguard, firemen, lifeboats etc) I made the convenient discovery that flares do not float.

We are usually in Brittany for Bastille Day and always see lots of French boats 'practicing' with their pyrotechnics as the fireworks start. I think it is a brilliant idea.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Dutch formula one fans like their orange smokies. A potential export market?

 

[Stemar]

they wanted to get pyros away from untrained boaters for years--many serious accidents

This is the problem with pyrotechnics. Fine if the user is trained and used to using them - faulty ones apart, obviously, but a lot of boats out there are like me - one competent (I hope) sailor and one who is an intelligent autopilot and good company. If a situation that needs a flare arises, I reckon I'm likely to be pretty busy, and it'll be down to my terrified crew to deal with them. At least with the LED flare, I can give it to her and tell her to turn the bottom and wave it around, while I get on with whatever I can to make rescue unnecessary or keep us alive until the cavalry arrives.

 

[Birdseye]

I know, I know, but isn't the 5th of Nov a good excuse to don a large, leather welding glove and then practice letting off a flare?

For some of them - yes. But what about smokes and what about parachute flares if you live, as I do, near the sea.

Anyway, since I dont live near the Solent, it looks as if I have no option.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Greek football fans rather like them I've found.

I wonder what the Dutch F1 fans use in support of Verstappen ?

 

[Baddox]

One mile offshore from here is a yellow marker buoy for Ordnance Disposal Zone which offers potential.

I’ve not needed to use it though as the team at the local council tip and recycling centre were happy to accept them and even had a special cabinet to store them in.

 

[Neil_Y]

Used a Red smoke once in an emergency with a semi conscious kayaker in Plymouth sound. Within seconds of letting it off we had a Rib from the dive centre with us, who took casualty ashore. The LED just looks like a very bright red light, the smoke shows you're not just playing with your new ultra bright torch. So I will always carry a red smoke as absolute minimum on yachts, dinghies and kayaks. I also use an EPIRB and radio these days.

 

[Stemar]

The LED just looks like a very bright red light

Mine will flash SOS. I expect that many people know little more Morse code than that, but they will recognise it.

 

[KevinV]

Out of interest, I saw a dye marker being used (probably on Saving Lives at Sea) - does anyone carry them? It seemed hugely effective from the air

 

[Wansworth]

Spanish yachts are required by law to carry hand held and parachute flares

 

[boomerangben]

Mine will flash SOS. I expect that many people know little more Morse code than that, but they will recognise it.

Just how visible are led flares by day?

 

[rotrax]

Just how visible are led flares by day?

Look up the US Coastguard approved Sirrius SOS flare and check out the spec.

Not the complete answer, but used with VHF radio and an epirb covers most bases.

My old Speedway riding mate Dennis is going to Florida soon. I shall get him to buy one for our boat.

 

[boomerangben]

Look up the US Coastguard approved Sirrius SOS flare and check out the spec.

Not the complete answer, but used with VHF radio and an epirb covers most bases.

My old Speedway riding mate Dennis is going to Florida soon. I shall get him to buy one for our boat.

Look interesting. I notice that they are USCG approved for day ops so they must be bright but I couldn’t find anywhere on there website which shows how bright they are in terms of lumens. Will be interesting to see how they compare with others. I remain sceptical but open minded and would love to see an updated user test, by day as well as at night. After all most of us sail by day and it’s hard to beat smoke for visibility.