Flares

C

Coupe

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As part of registration process, a marine safety officer paid us a visit last week and I was proud to show off my safety knowledge etc until he asked about our flares. Had a discussion about rockets, parachutes, smoke etc until he points out that - they are all out of date /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Just goes to show how quickly time passes.
 
Time flies, flares have been out of date in England (at least the south anyway) for some time now, along with platform shoes. Seemed like only yestaerday that I was wearing them:)
 
Oh I did'nt know that. I must get me flares and platforms into a second hand shop and buy meself a nice pair of high waist baggies and loafers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Flares get dated but Verey Pistols don't. Sure you need a Firearms Certificate for one however the licence is issued free as it is boat safety equipment. Some inland Police Forces don't know this and you have to tell them.
A Verey Pistol is easier to use than a Flare, more reliable and the ammo lasts for years and years.
 
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I put mine in a safe place when I bought the boat. Eight years ago. How long do they last. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

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Unless I'm getting them mixed up with some other safety device - about five years.
 
I'll get rid of them.
For regulations I need... Solus liferafts (2), lights for all PFD,s, Radar reflector, Horseshoe with smoke & light, Horseshoe with line, Floating line, MOB beacons, numerous safety signs, safety manuals etc. About 6k worth.
Well worth it as equates to similar price as entertainment system so I'm not complaining.
oh and er - flares. I will let Solus supplier take care of the old ones.
 
Byron, you are right that the pistol doesnt get dated, but the flare cartridges do. Furthermore (having fired a great number of these, I would much rather have a long lasting parachute flare, than a transitory very flare.
 
Re: Verey Pistols

I had one of these on my old boat - endless hassle getting Part 1 Firearms Cert.

Finally worked out why when the firearms Sgt and his mucker mentioned "We may need to come down one weekend and, er, inspect the non ready-use storage arrangements.."

"Ok, so long as you don't mind doing it at sea - weekend round trip alright?" says I

"What beer do you drink, out of interest?"

When the thing arrived the calibre was marked as .25mm rather than 25mm on the certificate - almost as though anything over .45 was classed as artillery. I didn't have the heart to send it back.
 
Re: Verey Pistols

I decided to try out my old hand held flares on Fireworks night (not the parachute things), and I followed the instructions, pulled the string on top, and hey presto, the whole mechanism came away, leaving me with a useless tube. Did figure it out in the end, I had to hold the top part in place when I pulled the string, to stop it coming off, but at this point I had already knackered one of them. It did occur to me that if this had been for real, with an edge of panic/speed I may have cocked them both up. Lesson seems to be to buy better quality flares, although these were pretty mainstream.

Anyone else actually tried this? Did I just have useless flares?

Martyn
 
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