Flares

Captain Coochie

Captain Coochie

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The post in the lounge about an inland flare got me thinking ( thats not a good thing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) Should a boat on an inland water way carry flares ? Forget the jokes i was going to add them myself .
Lets keep it to non tidal water ways ......
 
No reason why not, as many rivers and canals have fairly rural isolated stretches, and very few listeners on vhf. The downside is that few people inland would recognise a flare, or report it, as not the culture of people who live near coast. Upside is that your mobile phone more likely to be in a coverage area.
 
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The post in the lounge about an inland flare got me thinking ( thats not a good thing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) Should a boat on an inland water way carry flares ? Forget the jokes i was going to add them myself .
Lets keep it to non tidal water ways ......

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Anthing that would attract attention to you if you had a problem can't be a bad thing /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Not a lot of point, really. Most inland waterways are swimmable/shoutable and are pretty busy with boaters and walkers. Can you imagine the havoc caused by hire fleet muppets thinking that flares make really nice fireworks!!!
 
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Not a lot of point, really. Most inland waterways are swimmable/shoutable and are pretty busy with boaters and walkers. Can you imagine the havoc caused by hire fleet muppets thinking that flares make really nice fireworks!!!

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I don't think anyone is advocating issueing Flares to hire boats. The question is "do flares have any use on inland waterways". Whilst unlikely I believe there are cirumstances when they could prove of value. There are isolated reaches where one would attract attention of searchers or the public. I know of one instance many years ago when a flare would have drawn the searching Police 'copter to someone who was unable to leave their crew mate. Evince some canal boaters who wear lifejackets while boating on waters 4' deep. Highly unlikely to be needed but would you deny that there are situations when one could save a life, falling overboard unconcious maybe.
 
Never been able to set off a flare whilst unconcious! but can see the point about lifejackets. Problem is, it's the Hire boat muppets that are most likely to need them! However, to be effective, a flare must be seen as such and the observer know how to respond. (calling emergency Services etc). At sea flares are instantly recognisable and other mariners (should) know the response. Even then in anything but inshore waters or a busy shipping lane, the chances of a flare being seen are slim. Do we really need to bog down boating with even more 'elf & safety?
 
I once ( allegedly /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )set off a parachute flare on bonfire night ( i lived in Wembley at the time ) ....

You have never seen anything so bright , nor anyone run as fast as when that little pink sun lit up the surrounding 10 square miles , and floated downwards over the course of the next minute .....

Unbeleiveable .... until you've set one off you can't begin to explain to someone how bright they really are !!
 
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Never been able to set off a flare whilst unconcious! but can see the point about lifejackets. Problem is, it's the Hire boat muppets that are most likely to need them! However, to be effective, a flare must be seen as such and the observer know how to respond. (calling emergency Services etc). At sea flares are instantly recognisable and other mariners (should) know the response. Even then in anything but inshore waters or a busy shipping lane, the chances of a flare being seen are slim. Do we really need to bog down boating with even more 'elf & safety?

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The question posed is quite simple. "Would a flare ever be of use on an inland waterway". The answer has to be 'possibly' but you are obviously far more experienced than me in nautical matters and you say 'NO' so I will bow to your superior knowledge.
 
I thought that the problem was that at sea the flare lights up the sky then drops into the sea still alight, whereas on inland waterways it may drop onto a property still alight.
 
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I thought that the problem was that at sea the flare lights up the sky then drops into the sea still alight, whereas on inland waterways it may drop onto a property still alight.

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That's parachute flares. I must say I find it hard to see that parachute flares would be useful inland - apart from the incendiary problem, they're less likely to be understood/taken seriously, and don't pinpoint where the problem is.

Red handheld, or orange smoke might be useful in some circumstances, eg to pinpoint exactly which vessel has the casualty aboard after alerting on mobile phone, or to signal an immediate problem. Yes, many landlubbers might not understand, but any boaties, rescue services or other professionals (eg lock-keepers) probably would.

Hard to anticipate all problems that might occur... but a few spring to mind:
* engine failure, drifting rapidly towards weir/waterfall. For some reason can't deploy anchor. Want to immediately alert another craft that I desperately need a tow, I'm not just waving at you. Assistance required within 30 seconds, so mobile phone no good. Red handheld flare!
* medical emergency on board. I'm busy giving CPR. Have phoned 999 on mobile. Can hear sirens/see lifeboat, but there are loads of other boats about - I want to be sure they come straight to me. Orange smoke (by day), preferably floating so I can leave it & get back to CPR.

So yes, I think flares would be useful in some circumstances inland. But not paras.
 
as long as you don't come up with a use for a blue smoke; I'd never be able to start my engine /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
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