Sticky Fingers
Well-known member
Looks remarkably sensible. Anything similar available in the UK/ EU?
Horrific flare accident
- Thread starter Norman_E
- Start date
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
I'll bet you a hundred quid that at least ninety percent of people who know that "SOS" is a distress message (technically it isn't, but we'll let that pass) wouldn't recognize ...---....
Woodlouse
New member
You'd have to be careful with them cause if ninety nine inadvertently went up at the same time it might trigger world war three.
Len Ingalls
New member
The pistol style launcher ,IMHO,is safer than a handheld meteor as it provides some space & material between your hand & the launching projectile. One should really wear a glove with a hand held launch,but in a "panic" situation,will you be wearing one?
I have launched both-there is an appreciable kick from both-not severe,but you want a good dry grip on the hand launched,or it could blow back thru your grip. The pistol allows for a more natural,intuitive launch that is farther from your face,hands & arm,etc. Plus the shell is in the pistol,protected from the weather,easy to launch from any stance,no requirement to lean over the rail & so on. The pistol will not fire until the hammer is cocked & trigger is then pulled,so it is safe to have it loaded & in your pocket or wherever,until ready to launch.
As far as using them as a "gun",a hand held meteor flare is just as potentially lethal if some nut/criminal is intent on it.
Here is a link to Canada Boating Safety Regs the we live under-enjoy! Cheers/ Len
http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/marinesafety/TP-511e.pdf
Woodlouse
New member
Safe is a relative term with a loaded gun. If the hammer and firing pin are one component then a sharp enough knock on the hammer could set it off since uncocked the firing pin will be resting on the primer. I don't think I would leave one loaded unless I was fairly certain of needing it imminently.
kaptainkrunchie
Member
Please explain why "technically" SOS is not a distress signal. The RYA seem to think it is.
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
The distress signal is ...---... without the inter-letter spaces which would make it "SOS". Similarly the "end of message" signal is .-.-. and not "RN" (or any other possible letters).
Daydream believer
Well-known member
I thought that it was & came about after the loss of the Titanic
Daydream believer
Well-known member
SOS does not have to be morse. It could be marked as letters on the ground
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
"HELP" would work just as well, though it might need more pebbles.
A flashing light sending a distress message should use ...---... but whether it does that or ... --- ... I still don't think many passers-by would recognize it.
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
...---... was made the standard international distress message in 1906, having been introduced in Germany the previous year. Marconi had used CQD (the letters, with spaces: CQ = general call, D = distress) since 1904, and it was still in use by British ships in 1912. The Titanic sent both signals.
ex-Gladys
Well-known member
My understanding is that it was first used by the Titanic. I believe a change from CQD to SOS had been agreed , and that Jack Binns (IIRC) was the first to use...
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
See above. ...---... had been around for seven years, and the international standard for six, when the Titanic sank. Jack Binns was the first person to use CQD, from the RMS Republic; Jack Phillips was the Titanic's radio operator and used both.
TheCharteringClasses
New member
Where should I be looking for a description of distress signals if not Annex IV of the col regs?
kaptainkrunchie
Member
Sorry, really don't get this. To me SOS is dit, dit, dit, dah,dah, dah, dit,dit, dit. Yes or no?
lpdsn
New member
JumbleDuck is making a distinction between the distress signal and SOS, which has implied gaps between the three letters.
I doubt it would make much difference in practice
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
JumbleDuck is making a distinction between the distress signal and SOS, which has implied gaps between the three letters.
I doubt it would make much difference in practice
Of course not - it's a minor technical point. As an academic it is my sworn and solemn duty to quibble.
SOS is a convenient way of remembering ...---... and not the only possible one.
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Sticky Fingers
Well-known member
You're gonna have to explain those...
Daydream believer
Well-known member
You're gonna have to explain those...
Simple
He is going to hoist a dead cat up the mast
Personally i would prefer to use a dead dog
But either one would have people screaming at you & notifying everyone
but to each his own
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
You're gonna have to explain those...
Try writing IAMS (a brand of pet food), Eugi (a village in Spain), IJIE (the International Journal of Industrial Entomology) or IWB (Interactive white board) in Morse code, omitting the inter-letter spaces.