wonkywinch
Well-Known Member
I think you're allowed to set them off on your boat if you just rowed across an ocean.
Disposing of out-of-date flares / time expired pyrotechnics TEPs
- Thread starter madabouttheboat
- Start date
Momac
Well-Known Member
Sounds like setting off a flare while standing on a boat is potentially hazardous.
Thankfully I don't possess any flares.
madabouttheboat
Well-Known Member
madabouttheboat
Well-Known Member
Thanks all. I now have a few avenues to explore.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
Previous research seems to indicate no actual legislation to prevent one setting off emergency flares inland, only against setting them off on a boat while not in an emergency situation (Merchant shipping Act). What the Police or CG dont like is another matter, but no more illegal than fireworks - which are sometimes banned. So far inland and not near tinder dry heathland, I doubt anyone would bother one (No parachute flares!!!!). White flares are not covered by any legislation so literally just fireworks.
Round here the nearest chandlers is miles away, and will only take them if buying new ones and driving 3 hours to Poole CG not attractive. The online guidance fairly useless as to disposal points. I used the old ones to demonstrate usage the Navigator - thick gloves worn and buckets of water to hand
Round here the nearest chandlers is miles away, and will only take them if buying new ones and driving 3 hours to Poole CG not attractive. The online guidance fairly useless as to disposal points. I used the old ones to demonstrate usage the Navigator - thick gloves worn and buckets of water to hand
Momac
Well-Known Member
I know someone who did so and someone called the police, and the police did turn up.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
The Police often have no idea of the Law. Their purpose is order - so did the Police say anything or even ask the flare user to desist?
Momac
Well-Known Member
Someone must have directed the police to the location where the flare was fired.
The police were not happy that their time had been wasted and took contact details but no further action was taken.
Sailing steve
Well-Known Member
Unless you expecting a visit from the French maritime police why dispose of date expired flares?
I'm very much of the mind the more the better and alongside a pack of newer ones I keep some onboard that expired in 2008 in consideration it might be just one of those that makes the difference between being rescued or not.
I'm very much of the mind the more the better and alongside a pack of newer ones I keep some onboard that expired in 2008 in consideration it might be just one of those that makes the difference between being rescued or not.
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
Next time I see a burglar I'll tell the Police I saw someone let off a flare, they might turn up.
Alicatt
Well-Known Member
Our local Coastguard collected them and then used them up during a practice demonstration, which included firing lines from a stack rock to the alongside cliff top and then doing breeches buoy transfers from stack to cliff and back again.
They did that most years, my house overlooked the cliff top and stack rock so had a great view of the action.
They did that most years, my house overlooked the cliff top and stack rock so had a great view of the action.
wonkywinch
Well-Known Member
A few years ago, a neighbour brought some expired orange smoke flares to a firework party I was having. They did add to the mood until the next damp morning when 2-3 other neighbours complained about their orange grass and shrubs.
Plum
Well-Known Member
The UK Coastguard no longer provide that service
GEM43
Well-Known Member
The more the better? You're welcome to some of my old stock.
I carry 6 pyrotechnics on board, 2 red flare, 2 white flare, 2 floating smoke. These choices to assist location ID for helicopter or surface rescuers.
I don't see flares as being a primary, or even a secondary means of requesting assistance. Before pyrotechnics comes VHF, EPIRB, Personal EPIRB, AIS, mobile phone.
Pyrotechnics just to assist those who are kindly coming to our aid. I'd rather carry none but I do recognise the difficulty of spotting a white boat with white sails from a helicopter/lifeboat.
boomerangben
Well-Known Member
Phone around your local chandlers/ boat yards. If you can find a flare supplier to the fishing industry/ marine industry they might ( probably) take time ex flares. My local place does and apparently Caley Marina in Inverness do. Just ask around
Baddox
Well-Known Member
Try contacting your council’s household waste tip.
Our local tip took our expired flares last year and even had a safe storage cabinet to put them in.
Our local tip took our expired flares last year and even had a safe storage cabinet to put them in.
rogerthebodger
Well-Known Member
I took some TEP to my local Police station and they call the bomb squad who did not even turn up
Momac
Well-Known Member
I guess it's better to have a facility for explosives rather than risk the product causing a fire in a landfill or in the bunker of a waste to energy plant.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Or in the back of the dustcart, as I recall seeing reported a few years back.
Roberto
Well-Known Member
If you happen to come to Paris go and explore Avenue des Champs Elysees, regularly a place to fire whatever kind of pyrotechnics you may have, maybe choose beforehand a political side you might sympathise with.