Flares for the new years eve

Dyflin

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I have gathered a load of flares for two parties I am going to on New Years Eve, one in a mates back garden (big enough suburban house) and the other on board in a marina. Just wondering if there are any special precautions I should take as I've never fired parachute flares before (well I did once, but am sworn to secrecy as it wasn't a safe location to do so).

Do they all come in the one colour or can I get some multiple colours? I can't remember, do they go off with a bang?
 
Please tell me you are joking. Its illegial to set off flares unless you are in distress. You must be mad setting off a para flare in a marina. The number of people that will see it and report it to the coastguard, and they you will be wasting the time of SAR crews looking for someone who is having a bit of fun, and could be taken away from someone drowning!!!

DONT DO IT!!!! If you want to get rid of flares then either take them to your local coastguard station to get them disposed or phone up the manafacturer, (pains wessex or Ikaros) and ask them where to dispose of them, as they will have places.
 
Take care on two counts - first it is not legal to let flares off as you indicate. I might add it is somewhat foolhardy to let them off in a marina let alone anywhere near the sea where they may be interpreted as an emergency. And if they are old and don't burn properly you may put boats at risk from fire.

Second, they burn very hot - use thick gloves.

Final thought - is this a wind up? It certainly got me going...
 
m8 that sounds like a blast which marina is it Im well up for some flare action apart from the fact that you might blow your hand off using old flares. in which case its all gravy you and you pals pissed by the waters edge with explosives sounds like riot. spending new yrs eve in a and e
adios
 
There are special instructions for firing flares in "Dublin"
Write your name in block capitals on a piece of card and attach it to yourself with string or tape. this will enable you to recover your name after following further instruction.
Remove cap from a 1l bottle of Bushmills Whiskey and if filled with whiskey drink contents.After five minutes look at label and see if you recognise the name written on it.If you do then drink a least three pints o Guiness..this will improve eyesight .Continue drinking alternately Bushmills and Guinness until you no longer /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gifrecognise name on card.When this happens lie down..When next awake it will hopefully be 2008 so why bother with flares.
Like you I am only joking don't bother lying down
Is the Irish for Cheers "Slang" ?
Happy New One
 
If you nail one to a post it will wizz round like a Catherine Wheel.Top tip is dont let off orange Smoke generators indoors .Plays havoc with the wallpaper /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I am an staunch advocate of there being a time and place for experiencing firing off a flare. New Year/Birthday Bash/Mates Wedding/Guy Fawkes/while pissed etc etc is NOT the time.

I have fired off two flares in my life and it is not as easy as one might think. Not only that, but if you have to fire one off in anger, there is about a 50% chance you will be firing it at night and therefore, will not be able to read the instructions.

Like the liferaft experience that is available, I think there is a place for the RYA or the RNLI to run courses where boatie peeps can fire off just out of date flares, after having had to read the instructions in the dark.

By the way, I hope you remember to put gloves into your liferaft - despite it only being a split second of heat, it is hot and quite an anxious experince as you pull the pin.
 
I've still got my flares from the 70's, if I can still get into them can I come over and join you and your flares for your new years eve party?
 
You should fire flares - you need to practice it - then you'll be more confident in your technique if and when the time comes. Not legal? R.N.L.I. fire 'em off in marinas and harbours with no harm done.

Me? I carry no explosives aboard. On a recent safety check I said I fear them and don't trust them, I carry a very powerful lamp instead. The safety checker said 'Fair enough!'
 
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I've still got my flares from the 70's, if I can still get into them can I come over and join you and your flares for your new years eve party?

[/ QUOTE ]

I bet they are only 28" though and you take more like 40" now.
 
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I've still got my flares from the 70's, if I can still get into them can I come over and join you and your flares for your new years eve party?

[/ QUOTE ]

I bet they are only 28" though and you take more like 40" now.

[/ QUOTE ]


Your not wrong
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
You clearly have a short memory, and/or a small brain.
Recent incident, that could have killed forumite & family.

Marine flares are designed to burn longer than they fly, so they are still burning when they land. Your suggestion - is not funny, it is GROSSLY IRRESPONSIBLE and I suspect you know that. Unfortunately, there are many newbies reading this thread that may not understand that. I suggest that you apologise to the forumite who posted the thread above.
 
Parachute flares are usually still burning when they hit the water. It should add extra interest to your show when the odd garden shed or even a house goes up in flames!
Have a Happy New Year once the insurance claims are sorted out.
 
Pity the big tin can (post above this) did not end up on a beach near you Dyflln -just imagine how much fun it would be firing that lot off inside it with your mates /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Come on guys, this isnt just a tongue in cheek thread, its a gobstopper - Dyflin's last sentence says it all!

His signature complains about how he has been comprehensively killing forum threads (I would disagree, I think I am much better at that than Paul is!), so here is one with a difference - start a thread instead, and be guaranteed it will take off with a bang!
Excellent one Paul!
And lots of good safety advice here re pyrotechnics which we can all learn from.

Some years ago we were anchored in Admiralty Bay, Bequia for Old Years Night (as we say in the Windies) - there must have been well over 100 yachts anchored in the bay, and at 1900 all the Scandahooligans started blowing their horns, and letting off various flares (as it was midnight back home for them).

An hour later the Brits joined in, altho being fewer (then) in numbers they were less vocal or pyromaniacal.

And at local midnight everybody just went ballistic - it looked like Armageddon and WW3 starting up at the same time - very impressive I must admit!

I just hope that nobody in the Bay was genuinely in distress that night.....
 
I met Dyflin once he was manning the Irish MCA stand at the Dublin boatshow. I know he isnt joking here and I feel its especially wrong as he is a safety proffesional. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Ah tis true, tis true and afterwards we sang some...

IRISH%20COVER.jpg
 
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