Steamkettle
New Member
I've got a coastal liferaft for UK - no flares!
Waypoint 2 Person Coastal Single Tube Lightweight Liferaft in Valise -7kg - In Stock
Mixed feelings about Flares
- Thread starter Barnacle Bill
- Start date
Waypoint 2 Person Coastal Single Tube Lightweight Liferaft in Valise -7kg - In Stock
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately we’re sailing further this year so got a big heavy life raft and new EPIRB just in case 
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
For longer distance cruisers, I thoroughly recommend a sea survival course. Includes getting in a liferaft. Not easy. 
OCuea
N/A
Interesting……. Unfortunately I have a large (LARGE) ammo box of flares dating from 1970 (oldest - and green according to label …. Green?!) .
All out of date, but some only by a couple of years , but all need disposing of as boat has sold. No idea what to do with SO MANY flares. Store at end of garden. So many look brand new and 1970 in hermetically sealed packing. No coastguard nearby, dare not go near police station, when sailing I carried in date flares and out of date flares in case I ran out of in date flares……. need to find a solution now.
All out of date, but some only by a couple of years , but all need disposing of as boat has sold. No idea what to do with SO MANY flares. Store at end of garden. So many look brand new and 1970 in hermetically sealed packing. No coastguard nearby, dare not go near police station, when sailing I carried in date flares and out of date flares in case I ran out of in date flares……. need to find a solution now.
GEM43
Well-Known Member
I had a big bagful of flares in the garden shed, in the end I couldn’t ignore them anymore so I took them to Ocean Safety and forked out a tonne of money to have them professionally disposed of. Ouch. But I didn’t see any other (ethical) option.
OCuea
N/A
I have read of leaving them in a barrel of water for a few years? I suppose water would be toxic though even if flares were considered safe?
GEM43
Well-Known Member
Not a solution is it. Flares are potentially dangerous, it’s just not a risk I wanted to take for the sake of £100 or so. Imagine if a child got to play with a flare that went bang. I’m no expert so my comments are ill informed, but my risk assessment is that it needs a proper solution notwithstanding the cost.
OCuea
N/A
You did an honourable thing…… paying a lot to dispose of them.
I think the companies that produce them should do something ….. give guidance perhaps? ….. perhaps they do?
There used to be easier solutions but they dont exit any longer. Those of us living in the sticks would have to travel to an official place AND then pay.
Mine are still in ammo box at end of garden. I do not wish to turn them into toxic water in a barrel but have no idea what else to do do yet. Even if leave toxic barrel to evaporate, chemicals would end up in air orcas sludge? But sewage plants can pay nominal fine during a spot of rain and dump raw sewage into known rivers and sea outfalls and KILL people via bacteria - meningitis found in sand around samples of sand for one example. Go SAS (West Country based?) I do not know what chemicals are in flares except potassium nitrate and strontium (red flares for red effect ) / I have zero biology knowledge .
Marsali_1
Well-Known Member
I wonder if it is worth contacting your local Fire Service by stopping at one of their stations. Explain your circumstances and that you want to dispose of the old flares safely, that they don't pose a hazard but could if not disposed of properly. Since they do live fire training it is possible that they could take them and use them in one of their scenarios..
Frogmogman
Well-Known Member
You’re not wrong about the French authorities requiring any pyrotechnics on board to be in date; ditto life rafts, fire extinguishers etc.If you go to France they will require all flares to be in date & they did inspect mine in Boulogne & another port ( forget which one). So, best thing is to carry them across the channel & lob them overboard, once in Cherbourg's outer harbour.
That will learn em
However, there’s no call to drag your trash across the channel to dump in our harbours !
OCuea
N/A
OCuea
N/A
It is a possibility, perhaps an anonymous phone call to brigade would be prudent asking questions before being turned down and plod turning up at doorstep wanting to clap on the irons…… pessimistic nature of mine.
OCuea
N/A
30 years ago or more our sailing club was given permission by local coast guard to set off flares for learning purposes….. no big deal.
I started to consider them a last resort after some malfunction and physical injury to an instructor years ago as published in magazines.
So I consider them a bit dangerous but required as a last resort.
Would buy new if ocean cruising as well as all other safety gear, but still be careful in deployment ….. downwind etc etc
Not the point. Sold boat. Now approx 100 flares to get rid off dating back to 1970……. As said, I carried old flares as back up in case ran out of new flares. I have tested old flares, some failed and some lasted less than the stated time, but nothing worse than that and no discolouration..
I started to consider them a last resort after some malfunction and physical injury to an instructor years ago as published in magazines.
So I consider them a bit dangerous but required as a last resort.
Would buy new if ocean cruising as well as all other safety gear, but still be careful in deployment ….. downwind etc etc
Not the point. Sold boat. Now approx 100 flares to get rid off dating back to 1970……. As said, I carried old flares as back up in case ran out of new flares. I have tested old flares, some failed and some lasted less than the stated time, but nothing worse than that and no discolouration..
Marsali_1
Well-Known Member
I doubt there is such a thing as an anonymous phone call to the Fire Services but I think the Old Bill are definitely going to turn up at your door if you do try that route. I don't know where you are located but I believe most departments have non-emergency telephone numbers which will make a good starting place. If you have circa 100 old flares that does represent a fire risk that they would likely be happy to remove from their jurisdiction.
OCuea
N/A
Or happy to shove me in clink?
For now, in metal ammo box, dnd of garden near no other property. I will need to find a legal environmental solution? A trip to Poole RNLI after phone call? Yes …. Phone calls to make…….. probably 50 flares at very most ….. I should have counted sometime ago
Juan Twothree
Well-Known Member
OCuea
N/A
Noted ….. with due gratitude
Marsali_1
Well-Known Member
I've made a suggestion to solve your flare problem but I'm afraid I can't offer any suggestions to solve your fear of the authorities. 50 old flares is still a sizeable number.
billskip
Well-Known Member
Get metal dustbin with a lid, strike the flare chuck in bin put lid on, repeat...bin will get hot
OCuea
N/A
Indeed. I had to pay extra insurance to transport them via car from my boat and sailing club to my home. Hence I like to abide by the law…… my problem ….., I will find a solution.
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