Is it still worth carrying flares?

[prv]

a VHF radio (not sure something actually exists that maintains battery etc for years in storage)

PLBs manage it

There are SOLAS handheld VHFs for ships, that have long-shelf-life single-use batteries. Some normal VHFs are available with normal rechargeable batteries for day to day use, plus a SOLAS one which is long life and guaranteed to be charged (but usable once only) which you’re meant to swap in if an emergency arises.

Pete

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I was wondering if a modern device might be better for signalling. A red parachute flare puts out only 30,000 candela and only for 30 seconds. My Thrunite V6 spotlight will put out 140,000 candela for 3 minutes and after a brief cool down will do it again and again for hours - not seconds note. There are also laser devices and some are designed for just this job.

The parachute flare puts out a red light in all directions and from 1,000' though. It's really unlikely to be mistaken for someone playing with a very bright torch. Having said that it needs someone who knows what it means, makes a note of it's bearing relative to his/her location and knows to call the emergency services straight away - and that person has to be looking in roughly the right place at the right time. Of all the pyrotechnics it's probably the most dangerous and least needed I reckon. I like the idea of handhelds, esp smoke and dye for location and having them with you at least gives the you chance to make the decision not to use them when you actually might need to rather than in an armchair at home.

 

[capnsensible]

With Sat phone, EPIRB, PLB, HH VHF and electric flares I bet you'd never need to open the flare container !

What if you havent?

 

[Stemar]

What if you havent?

Then you probably won't have in-date flares either. I've met one or two like that.

I can see the point of parachute flares, but not hand-held fireworks. I have an LED flare that's plenty visible enough for "last mile" identification, but burns for 5 hours, instead of less than a minute and won't set fire to whatever's currently keeping me from joining Davy Jones, no matter how incompetent or scared the user. If I need a white flare, a nice big steamer scarer torch will do as good a job for far longer and has other uses as well.

I can also see a point for smoke, though if it's windy enough to matter, I reckon a rescue helicopter pilot would be able to work out the wind direction without it, so flourescine might be better. I'm certainly going to give some thought to how I could use some drain tracer to hang over the side and leak a steady flow of colour over several minutes

 

[Mark-1]

What if you havent?

If you haven't got a more effective method of communication you will have to try to communicate with a less effective method, obvs.

 

[KellysEye]

One thought about in date flares when doing a skydiving demo jump I strapped the big Pains Wessex orange flare to my ankle with a fireproof sock, on one occasion although in date it didn't work when I fired it.

 

[ShinyShoe]

PLBs manage it

There are SOLAS handheld VHFs for ships, that have long-shelf-life single-use batteries. Some normal VHFs are available with normal rechargeable batteries for day to day use, plus a SOLAS one which is long life and guaranteed to be charged (but usable once only) which you’re meant to swap in if an emergency arises.

Pete

Yes I know PLBs do - I just didn't know you could get a VHF that could do it and that could live untouched in a liferaft for years...

 

[capnsensible]

If you haven't got a more effective method of communication you will have to try to communicate with a less effective method, obvs.

Well it is to some of us.

 

[Robert Wilson]

So, my new flare pack (2015) has been in its own waterproof canister, never been open to salty air, or whatever, since been placed in my grab bag. Now I find the flares are out of date.
I wonder how many folk have the same experience and are getting a bit fed-up of shelling out every three years for new stock, only to have them destroyed - when presumably as good as new?

What might have "passed the effective/safe condition", I wonder?

 

[Yealm]

So, my new flare pack (2015) has been in its own waterproof canister, never been open to salty air, or whatever, since been placed in my grab bag. Now I find the flares are out of date.
I wonder how many folk have the same experience and are getting a bit fed-up of shelling out every three years for new stock, only to have them destroyed - when presumably as good as new?

What might have "passed the effective/safe condition", I wonder?

It’s such a pain!
And almost improssible to get rid of unless you buy new ones and exchange (at least in the Plymouth area).

 

[Graham376]

So, my new flare pack (2015) has been in its own waterproof canister, never been open to salty air, or whatever, since been placed in my grab bag. Now I find the flares are out of date.

No different to life raft, EPIRBs, PLBs, etc. all of which require expensive service although not used.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Very true.
My liferaft certificate expired in March this year, after two and a half years ashore in a warm, dry storeroom. ££££OUCH!

 

[ShinyShoe]

No different to life raft, EPIRBs, PLBs, etc. all of which require expensive service although not used.

You can get a PLB with a 7 year life now for <£200 = £28/year

A coastal flare pack costs £85 for 3 year life = £28/year

BUT in 7 years time - you can choose to replace the battery for about £100... you can't repack the explosives in your flares.

 

[Graham376]

You can get a PLB with a 7 year life now for <£200 = £28/year

A coastal flare pack costs £85 for 3 year life = £28/year

BUT in 7 years time - you can choose to replace the battery for about £100... you can't repack the explosives in your flares.

If stock is fairly new flares may have 4 year life and, unless coded boat, in the UK it's your choice whether to keep them another couple of years. We don't have that choice as in-date flares are mandatory here but, I always carry them anyway as well as epirb and plb.

 

[Neil_Y]

Yes, there may be a vessel just out of sight who will come to your aid in a matter of minutes seeing a flare, where they may not receive a radio broadcast.

Once when I had to use a flare a dive rib spotted it and was with us in minutes, it also highlighted who was the boat in trouble, as we were somewhere with a number of boats around at the time.

 

[claymore]

flares still look cool

I was told back in the 1970's that my legs are too short for them....

 

[capnsensible]

Seems like from another thread that VHF radio is really annoying so pyros might be your best bet. You wouldnt want to irritate someone by needing help, would you?

 

[dunedin]

Seems like from another thread that VHF radio is really annoying so pyros might be your best bet. You wouldnt want to irritate someone by needing help, would you?

So is the Solent subject to loads of “Flare checks” each weekend, like Radio Checks?

 

[Blue Sunray]

Seems like from another thread that VHF radio is really annoying so pyros might be your best bet. You wouldnt want to irritate someone by needing help, would you?

I don't think one need worry about that as a fair number of that crowd seem proud to announce that they switch their VHF off because of said irritation.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

So is the Solent subject to loads of “Flare checks” each weekend, like Radio Checks?

+1