LED Flares - Expensive?

[PilotWolf]

The dog walker argument is silly. If a dog walker can see you, and happens to know what to do, you would have been able to call for help by VHF and probably mobile phone.

Flares are for last mile guidance and as a boat identifier in busy waters.

I will continue to buy floating smokes as they would be a perfect identifier in a busy, daytime solent. And I’m going to buy some LED “flares”

Also, I take my flares out fairly regularly to show people how to use them. I still have to read the instructions because they are not intuitive and different makes are different.

If you need flares for real you are having a seriously bad day. Will you have a torch to hand to read how to do it? Do you need glasses to read the instructions? Can your crew do it if you are incapacitated? Just too difficult to use in a panic.

BTW I have witnessed a fatality with a rocket flare. Criminal mis use of it but that doesn’t mean the guy is any less dead.

I would expect my crew to know hoew to use a flare without having to read the instructions printed on it. It is certainly something I make sure they know ASAP after they get aboard.

Link to fatality please?

W.

 

[Molteni]

Just a thought, but what about green lasers?

Obviously NEVER EVER point one at a helicopter, but great for highlighting a sail/hull to a rescuer. ???

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

A dog walker may not be able to see your boat, but able to see a flare. That's the whole point!
Radio batteries can be flat and coaxes can get damaged aloft.
Mobile phones are not even part of the discussion for distress.

All our crew have a hands-on flare practice handling the pull string etc. No problem if skipper dead or Corporal Jones in cockpit. We find them intuitive enough.

More people have been deliberately killed by torches than by distress flares.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

I would expect my crew to know hoew to use a flare without having to read the instructions printed on it. It is certainly something I make sure they know ASAP after they get aboard.

Link to fatality please?

W.

I think it was at a football match.

 

[penberth3]

Just a thought, but what about green lasers?

Obviously NEVER EVER point one at a helicopter, but great for highlighting a sail/hull to a rescuer. ???

Wouldn't an ordinary torch light up a much bigger area - making a more obvious target than one small bright spot?

 

[doug748]

What?

I think I see, Joan of Arc was deliberately killed by a torch.

I get it now. How, what does it mean?

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

What?

I think I see, Joan of Arc was deliberately killed by a torch.

I get it now. How, what does it mean?

Without googling it I'm assuming that Maglites etc have been used thousands, or even millions, of times to hit people on the head, with a percentage of fatalities. I was being a bit flippant I admit..

 

[Elessar]

I would expect my crew to know hoew to use a flare without having to read the instructions printed on it. It is certainly something I make sure they know ASAP after they get aboard.
W.

Well good for you, you and your crew are better than me. I’m a yachtmaster and an instructor and I can’t hand on heart say I’d know how to Instinctively operate a flare in an emergency and I definitely can’t vouch for my crew. Hats off to your instructional skills.

Link to fatality please?
W.

No.

 

[Elessar]

A dog walker may not be able to see your boat, but able to see a flare. That's the whole point!
Radio batteries can be flat and coaxes can get damaged aloft.
Mobile phones are not even part of the discussion for distress.

All our crew have a hands-on flare practice handling the pull string etc. No problem if skipper dead or Corporal Jones in cockpit. We find them intuitive enough.

More people have been deliberately killed by torches than by distress flares.

So your batteries flat, your coax is broken and you’re too stubborn to try your mobile.
With that sort of bad luck your dog walker would be walking his guide dog.
Seriously, don’t be silly.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

Funnily enough, I have successfully used a proper (pyro) flare this autumn, visually attracting attention, resulting in a tow which saved my boat from going on the rocks. (No response to the VHF). The flare was out of date as well, I hang on to OOD flares because they still work.
If I listened to the pyrophobes on here, I wouldn't have my yacht.

 

[PilotWolf]

Well good for you, you and your crew are better than me. I’m a yachtmaster and an instructor and I can’t hand on heart say I’d know how to Instinctively operate a flare in an emergency and I definitely can’t vouch for my crew. Hats off to your instructional skills.

No.

That is not something I would admit to, especially as an instructor.

PW

 

[Graham376]

Well good for you, you and your crew are better than me. I’m a yachtmaster and an instructor and I can’t hand on heart say I’d know how to Instinctively operate a flare in an emergency and I definitely can’t vouch for my crew. Hats off to your instructional skills.

Which statement is true, the above or #41 Also, I take my flares out fairly regularly to show people how to use them. I still have to read the instructions because they are not intuitive and different makes are different.

 

[Elessar]

Which statement is true, the above or #41 Also, I take my flares out fairly regularly to show people how to use them. I still have to read the instructions because they are not intuitive and different makes are different.

Both of them. I don’t understand why you think they are a contradiction.

 

[Elessar]

That is not something I wouldn't admit to, especially as an instructor.

PW

Clearly we are very different then.

Out of interest everyone, who here has fired a flare in anger and what was it like?

 

[PilotWolf]

Clearly we are very different then.

Out of interest everyone, who here has fired a flare in anger and what was it like?

You as an instructor don't tell/teach your crew how to use a flare? That is a huge failing in my opinion.

I have fired a flare in training, hence why I said to do it and see what it's like.


PW

 

[Elessar]

You as an instructor don't tell/teach your crew how to use a flare? That is a huge failing in my opinion.

I have fired a flare in training, hence why I said to do it and see what it's like.


PW

I show them theoretically yes. But can’t demonstrate it.

I’ve only fired a flare once and not in anger. I’m still interested to know if anyone here has done so.

The one I fired is different to the ones I have on board.
My point is, if the situation is so terrifying that I need to fire a flare, how will I deal with it as firing it is not in my muscle memory. I hope to never find out.

My boat is now out of code and I’m not sure if I’m going to renew it. If I do I will have to buy new flares as mine are now out of date. If I don’t recode I will definitely not buy new flares. I don’t see they add any value. There will be some in the raft of course.

 

[Elessar]

You as an instructor don't tell/teach your crew how to use a flare? That is a huge failing in my opinion.

I have fired a flare in training, hence why I said to do it and see what it's like.


PW

So just out of interest, assuming I know nothing at all, describe how to fire a rocket flare to me.

 

[Iliade]

Clearly we are very different then.

Out of interest everyone, who here has fired a flare in anger and what was it like?

Variously, white, red and very, very bright and hot.
Also orange, smokey and made everything orange.

All were intuitive. but then I had read the instructions previously.

 

[Elessar]

Variously, white, red and very, very bright and hot.
Also orange, smokey and made everything orange.

All were intuitive. but then I had read the instructions previously.

Very funny.
I meant what was the experience of having to fire them in a stressful situation like.
White followed by red I presume means you were run down?
What happened?

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

Post #50 is one example.