Flares vs Epirb vs DSC

SwedishLass

SwedishLass

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The various posts have got me thinking, which is a dangerous occupation at best.

Given the cost, limited lifespan & difficulty of disposing of flares. Modern electronics being available etc. What does the team think of the merits or otherwise of relying on dsc &/or epirb.
I currently have dsc, flares out of date at the end of last season, cruising East coast & North sea.
 
If I was going to be mixing it with with shipping, rather than my usual coast cruising I'd be tempted by one of those yottie AIS devices. I could then call a ship up by name if nec.
 
Having been involved in a rescue on a dark night, a red hand flare fired by the liferaft's occupants beats any electronics on the final approach by the rescuers.

As an aside, if you ever have to manoeuvre round a liferaft, watch out for the drogue line as it'll be just below the surface.
 
If there is a boat within a few miles of you, he is more likely to see your flares and know exactly where you are than he his by your DSC or Epirb signal, especially at night. For the cost of a coastal pack at the equivalent of £15 to £20 a year, it would seem daft not to.

There is no difficulty in disposing of flares, your local Police Station will take them.
 
They all serve a slightly different purpose surely? If out of sight of land you would try DSC first as not much point in a flare. Similarly if offshore and out of VHF range EPIRB would be the only sensible option.
Flares are useful in all sorts of situations, inshore distress, altering rescue when they are close by etc
I don't see them as substitutable, rather complimentatry tools.

Jonny
 
When you're taking on water faster than you can bail, the batteries are swapped and you don't have the time to wait for the EPIRB signal to be picked up via a passing satellite, you'll wish dearly that you hadn't put such a low price on your own life!
 
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When you're taking on water faster than you can bail, the batteries are swapped and you don't have the time to wait for the EPIRB signal to be picked up via a passing satellite, you'll wish dearly that you hadn't put such a low price on your own life!
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Far from it!
That's why I changed to DSC to increase the chances of being found quickly. I carry flares, which will contain an in date coastal set next season, but I will not be in a hurry to dispose of flares only just out of date on the principle that more is good. The oldest set will then be handed in for safety reasons (my perception). I am musing on the added advantages of an epirb and looking at total cost of ownership given my cruising area. (Within VHF range of Thames and Ostende)
 
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There is no difficulty in disposing of flares, your local Police Station will take them.

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Sorry, it might be true where you are but I have been trying to get rid of some old flares for nearly three years . . . police won't have them, RNLI won't have them, chandlers won't have them. The CG did say he would take them if we can ever meet up, but he is part time and so far we have not managed to make a date . . .

On a more serious note I don't think is a question of flares or DSC radio, you should have both . . . but you only need an EPIRB IMO if you are going well offshore - say, Biscay or crossing the N. Sea. For crossing the N. Sea I would prefer an EPIRB and a liferaft if going out of VHF range.

I would suggest having a handf held VHF as a backup in any event, and another good emergency spare is a spare VHF aerial in case you lose the rig.

Don't worry if your flares are going out of date - they will be good for another few years. Insted of replacing them all at once why not buy a couple of new ones every year?

- W
 
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There is no difficulty in disposing of flares, your local Police Station will take them.

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Sorry, it might be true where you are but I have been trying to get rid of some old flares for nearly three years . . . police won't have them...

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The police can't refuse them, next time ask to speak to someone who knows what they are talking about - they even have a specific form for taking them.
 
You are setting up a false dichotomy - flares, EPIRB and DSC are for different means of communciation to different people/bodies/vessels. At present we have in date and out of date flares and DSC VHF, but I will get an EPIRB when we leave for serious sailing next year. As for AIS - hm, now which vessels don't have it and of course they are the ones with the best lookouts, radar monitoring etc aren't they.

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but you only need an EPIRB IMO if you are going well offshore - say, Biscay or crossing the N. Sea. For crossing the N. Sea I would prefer an EPIRB and a liferaft if going out of VHF range.

If the guys on the Ouzo had had an epirb they might be about to day to tell their story, they were not well offshore.
 
i carry all three and im on a very tight buget you cant put a price on your life. if i was only doing coastal passages i would not bother with the epirb.
 
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