Seajet
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+1 in spirit, but it needs a serious change to get the flare manufacturers to act responsibly, I don't fancy the chances of an individual.
This would be a good cause for the RYA to take up.
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Found a damaged flare - police refuse to deal
- Thread starter skyflyer
- Start date
+1 in spirit, but it needs a serious change to get the flare manufacturers to act responsibly, I don't fancy the chances of an individual.
This would be a good cause for the RYA to take up.
VicS
Well-Known Member
White handflare.
Duncan Wells of Westview sailing. Filming flare demos
2006 Still find it all if you look I think
Reported in detail on these forums
Many weeks in intensive care and a good few months in hospital
IIRC only two batches were recalled, and fairly swiftly. I reckon the cause was must have been identified quickly but of course never made known. No liability admitted either, just an out of court settlement.
prv
Well-Known Member
No, I was thinking of the guy who set it off himself. Apparently I was mistaken about it being a rocket.
It's even more surprising that a hand-flare would launch itself like that since there's no propellant as such, but it does rather give the lie to bbg's post #14 that "this stuff doesn't explode, it just burns". Rapid burning in a confined space is what a (low-order) explosion is.
Pete
Seajet
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I expect you were posting at the same time as VicS; it was an instructor - Duncan Wells I'm now reminded - giving a demo'.
He did everything right, but got that, I can't think of much worse.
He did everything right, but got that, I can't think of much worse.
Seajet
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Back to the question of disposing of old flares, there was the story of a bin lorry which went through a village spewing flames after grabbing and munching a flare someone had put in their rubbish...tempted to put a smiley on but better not.
pvb
Well-Known Member
The crazy thing is that these "out of date" flares, carefully stored in containers on boats, are usually fine for many years afterwards. I've lit bonfires with hand flares which were 10+ years out of date - no problems. The "use by" dates are created for the benefit of the makers, not the users.
As an aside, I have a new boat and I haven't bought any flares for it. I reckon DSC/EPIRB procedures are OK to rely on. Am I mad?
As an aside, I have a new boat and I haven't bought any flares for it. I reckon DSC/EPIRB procedures are OK to rely on. Am I mad?
Seajet
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pvb,
I still make sure I have plenty of in-date flares but I have loads of time expired ones.
When they get really old - say 20 years +, I fire them using a workmate ( Black & Decker not unsuspecting chum ) and a long line ; they work every time.
The only effect with age I've found is that reds go paler.
Having said that I discussed this with the Head of Safety Equipment and an armourer on the airfield I worked at, and
they both went pale at the thought of firing old flares...
One worry cited was that the sides could burst sending phosphorous anywhere; so while I've set off my fairly old flares, I still have a bunch of very old ones and like the OP wonder what to do with them !
I still make sure I have plenty of in-date flares but I have loads of time expired ones.
When they get really old - say 20 years +, I fire them using a workmate ( Black & Decker not unsuspecting chum ) and a long line ; they work every time.
The only effect with age I've found is that reds go paler.
Having said that I discussed this with the Head of Safety Equipment and an armourer on the airfield I worked at, and
they both went pale at the thought of firing old flares...
One worry cited was that the sides could burst sending phosphorous anywhere; so while I've set off my fairly old flares, I still have a bunch of very old ones and like the OP wonder what to do with them !
prv
Well-Known Member
Fine for initially raising the alarm, but the consensus is that something to pinpoint your position for the "last mile" is useful, especially for helicopters who might see lots of white yachts below them and not know which one has the heart-attack case on board.
For me that role is filled by a hand flare, but if you really don't want pyros then I guess you could go for one of those LED "electronic flares".
Pete
mjcoon
Well-Known Member
Sailingsaves
Well-Known Member
If the lady suggested trying to set it off and if it failed THEN placing in bucket, I would forget the first part and just dump it in bucket if she says the ingredients will dissolv anyway
I would not try to set off a damaged flare unless my life depended upon it.
Got any cement around? I'd make a ingot with flare inside and bury it at back of garden if bucket idea didn't work.
I would not try to set off a damaged flare unless my life depended upon it.
Got any cement around? I'd make a ingot with flare inside and bury it at back of garden if bucket idea didn't work.
Seajet
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That should give a future ' Time Team ' something to think about ! 
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
I decided to hand in my very pistol as I could no longer get suitable shells for it
iI went to Maldon police station & explained i wanted to return it & produced firearms cert to prove rightful ownership
The nice police lady said she could take the gun but not the shells
I said "no problem", took the gun back & said "I will nip out in the high street & fire them off. i am sure the fire arms unit will sort it out"
She grabbed the flares & the gun put them well out of reach & said " well perhaps I will take them"
I filled in a form to agree to them being destroyed & that was it-- Apart from the worried looks she kept giving me
So moral is, go in the high street & let a couple of flares off & they will take the rest without any delay
In fact if some one will do it they can have all my old flares for a £ a pop- should make an entertaining day- even better if you have a taxi for effect
iI went to Maldon police station & explained i wanted to return it & produced firearms cert to prove rightful ownership
The nice police lady said she could take the gun but not the shells
I said "no problem", took the gun back & said "I will nip out in the high street & fire them off. i am sure the fire arms unit will sort it out"
She grabbed the flares & the gun put them well out of reach & said " well perhaps I will take them"
I filled in a form to agree to them being destroyed & that was it-- Apart from the worried looks she kept giving me
So moral is, go in the high street & let a couple of flares off & they will take the rest without any delay
In fact if some one will do it they can have all my old flares for a £ a pop- should make an entertaining day- even better if you have a taxi for effect
Sailingsaves
Well-Known Member
That should give a future ' Time Team ' something to think about !
Yes
If he didn't have to drive 250 miles to get to his boat then overboard would be better than landfill.
Seajet
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Talking seriously, I'd be careful about dumping flares overboard; even military jobs like very powerful LEPUS flares dumped in the deep ditch ( I forget the name ) well off St Catherine's Point on the South of the Isle of Wight get rolled ashore onto beaches after storms, and the possibilities of a child stumbling across such a thing don't bear thinking about.
Sailingsaves
Well-Known Member
Good point. Maybe the concrete ingot and then the sea then (to save the soil any more aggro).
In 20 years of sailing I haven't had to get rid of any flares - yes I do have a few past their date, but as I kept them in hermetically sealed containers with dessicant I am not worried. They are all in an ammo box in my shed now waiting for my next boat and only to be used in emergency as I won't be buying new again.
basic
Well-Known Member
Has anyone tried puncturing handhelds with a bradawl and leaving them in water overnight. The chemicals leaches out rendering the flares inert so that the casing can be safely disposed of.
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Seajet
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You go first, preferably a long way away from me !
Reminds me of Steve Irwin " now this is the most dangerous animal in the world, let's see what happens if I poke it up the arse with this stick "...
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basic
Well-Known Member
Maybe I have done it already! Seems a better method than the common practice of dumping in the sea where they may be washed ashore and picked up by children.
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jwilson
Well-Known Member
And when I do I refer the owner to the Duncan Wells incident. It's surprising how many yacht owners have not heard of this. No I have not checked the exact batch, but if a boat is being sold with an expired Pains-Wessex white flare on board I'd rather it was removed before sale. Unless we know they are definitely well in-date we won't list flares on inventories on http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/
mihtjel
Well-Known Member
Over here, recycling centres will accept legal fireworks, up to 5kg NEM total, and dispose of it. They store it either dry or wet, but it is pointed out, that cycling between the two is to be avoided.
