Flares- expiry date

[tom52]

I need to replace my out of date flares (no trouser jokes please).
What is the best expiry date I should expect to find on their replacements ?
Thanks.

 

[Cantata]

I think that all flares are now made with a specified 4-year life. Used to be 3.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I made enquiries about this in a swindlery on Saturday.

You can buy flares at full price dated December 2008, ie up to 4 years. Or you can buy them at a discount, dated December 2007 subject to stock.

 

[malcp]

I tend to keep out of date flares when I buy new in date ones. Does anyone know how long these out of date flares can be kept before they become unstable? In fact, is there a safety issue with keeping them too long?

 

[wooslehunter]

Don't expect them to fire & don't expect the reds to actually be red - they fade with age. Having siad that there have been lots of posts about this and everyione knows of in-date flares that have failed and out of date flates that have performed OK.

One good tip is make sure that if you do keep them, you store them separately from the new so people won't grab an old one first if you really need them.

 

[Vascojc]

As I have been told, and it makes sense - the most dangerous out-of -date flares will be parachute ones, they are designed to go up to height then expolde and float down and should extinguish before they reach sea level.

If they loose oomph over age they won't go to correct height before they explode - the problem then occurs that they may still be burning when they reach sea level - which if by sods law is on top of your liferaft you have a problem!

Hand held out of dates, if they loose oomph just won't fire for as long.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

I certainly keep out of date flares for several years for at least another five years. I do ensure I have in date flares as well.

I have 'tested' a couple at new years and Nov 5th and they work just fine.

We did take a load down to the coast guard for disposal, they were very happy to take them, and gave us a tour of the station at Swansea.

There must be time when they become unstable. I've seen it suggested that older flares should be stored in a tin box or similar. I doubt they would self ignite, but ..............................

Logic says to stick to a good brand of flare, manufactured in a recognised place !


Regards

 

[Viking]

I fired off a fifteen year old flare last New Years and it performed prefectly

 

[Vascojc]

[ QUOTE ]
I have 'tested' a couple at new years and Nov 5th and they work just fine.



[/ QUOTE ]


With all those flares going off I hope I don't find myself in distress on those days.
Don't people realise the time and effort that goes into looking into false calls!

 

[fishermantwo]

Was on a survival exercise many years ago. One of the other members found a WW2 smoke flare in the area. Naturally he let it off and it worked perfectly. Unfortunately he was in gully on a windless day and soon could not breath, had to rush blindly up the hill. I have to replace flares every 3 years, I keep a couple of sets of the old ones on the boat plus I have a steel cabinet at home with plenty of others. I should test one of the old rocket flares one day, I'm confident they will work fine.

 

[snowleopard]

i found myself approaching chichester entrance just after dark on nov 5th, it was hard enough to make out the bar beacon, let alone any distress flares. if you're in trouble in sight of the coast on that night, say your prayers!
on my survival course we fired had flares up to 30 years old. the failure rate was about 40%.

 

[Ships_Cat]

I don't think there is too much of an issue keeping the out of date ones for quite long periods. They do take up quite alot of room if they are all full offshore sets though.

My own practice is to keep the set most recently replaced by the new ones and dispose of the previous old set - that is, so have the current set on board plus the most recent out of date set.

John

 

[BrendanS]

Twaddle.
Just read some past posts on the subject. Old flares will fire fine, the only drawback is that the red may not possibly be as red as when new. They will serve fine. I keep old sets in a separate container, but keep both old and new.

I'd rather have the opportunity to let off a whole load and gain attention, than to conform to regs

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Yes I accept that letting off flares has to be a considered action.

On a night such as Nov 5th or New years eve there is such a plethora of lights in the sky, the odd flare might be difficult to detect. Especially 5 miles inland.

By the coast would be a different situation.

Regards

Mj

 

[gjeffery]

Can anyone confirm that the French will fine boats that carry outdated flares, in addition to their in date SOLAS obligation?