Ohlin Karcher
N/A
These little kits used to be more popular, I'm getting some to carry for my lifejacket belt pouch, which make is best?
( mainly thinking of using with cold fingers)
( mainly thinking of using with cold fingers)
Mini-flares?
- Thread starter Ohlin Karcher
- Start date
[70521]
Well-Known Member
I have a pack on the boat, I'll dig them out and let you know what they are. Only ever seen the one make and they do work with cold hands.
awol
Well-Known Member
If you do get a pack and ever have to fire one, do hold it above head height when triggering. The bang of the cartridge is ear splitting if let off at chest height. They are useful as submarine scarers if let off under water - that is if you want to scare submarines!
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
A useful tip, thanks!
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
Thank you, the chandlers seem to have the Pains-Wessex ones.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Not sure I would want to go around with explosives in my belt. Caution making the tea! And could be interesting if you forget you have them with you and take the dinghy to the pub.
Higher on my list of priorities are
(a) a light and an AIS MOB beacon in the lifejackets - for sailing with 2 or more on board
(b) PLB in pocket and VHF hooked on lifejacket when solo.
Expect will not renew ships flares when expire, other than perhaps a white ship scarer.
Higher on my list of priorities are
(a) a light and an AIS MOB beacon in the lifejackets - for sailing with 2 or more on board
(b) PLB in pocket and VHF hooked on lifejacket when solo.
Expect will not renew ships flares when expire, other than perhaps a white ship scarer.
[70521]
Well-Known Member
I can't get my dingy in the pub!
Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
Equally good at scaring off aircraft in certain circumstances above ground. However quite limited for distress use especially in windy contions.
Seajet
...
Miniflares seem to be pretty safe to carry, they are standard in the ejection seat PSP Personal Survival Pack of British fast jets, probably a lot of other countries too.
I have had a few packs over the decades, never any snags and they do work, I've fired a few - well inland on Nov 5th.
Seem ideal to me, a big red star in the sky from a small handy pack easy to stow or carry - if in distress you'd probably need something longer lasting and closer by like a hand flare or smoke float as well for people to home in on, the Miniflare is an attention getter.
doug748
Well-Known Member
Yes, I have always carried them. Handy in the tender and on the boat, waterproof and reliable.
https://www.lifejackets.co.uk/produ...-signal-9-shot-flare-gun-free-delivery-save-5
Fifty quid for 9 shots is pretty good. I also have one these now:
https://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-odeo-led-distress-flare.html
VicS
Well-Known Member
My experience of them is that when old ( ie well past their expiry date ) the cartridges fire. Ok but the flares fail to ignite.
Keep old ones for scaring submarines but be sure to have some that are in date in case needed as distress flares.
A scared submarine could be dangerous ....
nortada
Well-Known Member
Please see my White Flares #18.
Mini-flares use a .22 cartridge and can be classed as a firearm - provided you don’t hit them, very effective for deterring wild animals
VicS
Well-Known Member
Please see my White Flares #18.
Mini-flares use a .22 cartridge and can be classed as a firearm - provided you don’t hit them, very effective for deterring wild animals
Unable to remember the details but way way back the design of the firing gadget and the way they fitted it did bring them within the definition of a firearm. The design was changed.
History , proabaly changed again since
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
Please see my White Flares #18.
Mini-flares use a .22 cartridge and can be classed as a firearm - provided you don’t hit them, very effective for deterring wild animals
It's a blank cartridge, blanks are freely available in up to 12 bore to deter burglars, crows or whatever by making a noise. Anyone can buy them, mail order, with no ID needed.
Flares are not firearms in any meaningful sense of the word, and anyone can buy or use them without ID.
Why the scaremongering?
blackbeard
Well-Known Member
They seem to have vanished from the chandler's shelves some time ago, now have reappeared … quite expensive by comparison with a "normal" flare. … I imagine they would be ideal for use in a sailing dinghy, especially since they would fit in a pocket …. does anyone (apart from me) view them as the ideal for use in dinghies, in preference to "normal" red hand-held pin-points?
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
Yes, plus kayaks etc.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
I used to carry them in my sailing coat. Nowadays I carry a PLB and at night a decent LED headtorch. Local chandlers stopped selling mini-flares, but will look to see if some in.
Pete7
Well-Known Member
I beg to differ. Most are a flat pack with a pencil widget to screw on to the flare and fire. However, in the 1990s there was a version which looked like a revolver with a rotating revolver part that could be fired in quick succession. I think these were the ones banned. I did have one with the dive kit, but decided that as it was years out of date, better to dispose of it along with a box of other flares.
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
Yes I make you right on that one, I'm also out of date..
[70521]
Well-Known Member
I've carried them for years on mountains and at sea.
They are brilliant at guiding rescue parties in for the last mile.
