Odeo distress flare any good?

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Cathy*

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The Odeo distress flare is advertised as the safe alternative to traditional flares with a 10 year battery life and non of the disposal problems. I wonder whether anyone has used one or seen one used in anger during daylight? We only cruise during the day, have AIS, DSC and now an epirb so I need convincing that we still need to carry flares. If we do then they are due for replacement.
 
I asked a RNLI chap at the boat show about their view of these. In brief his reply was that they are not a flare and the signal they give is not immediately recognised as a distress signal. They saw no value in them at this time. I should think that they are pointless in daylight. I have a DSC and a cockpit mike and a PLB and good torches that can strobe.. I have given up carrying flares day or night sailing.

A search will find other opinions. Of course.
 
Cathy* said:
The Odeo distress flare is advertised as the safe alternative to traditional flares with a 10 year battery life and non of the disposal problems. I wonder whether anyone has used one or seen one used in anger during daylight? We only cruise during the day, have AIS, DSC and now an epirb so I need convincing that we still need to carry flares. If we do then they are due for replacement.
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I agree
IMO, Pyrotechnics are the last thing you want when you are in a small inflatable life raft.
We do carry a small selection of pyrotechnic flares on board and some in our life raft but I have reduced the amount that we have on board.
Instead, a few years ago, I put a long range laser flare and an Odeo hand held flare in the grab bag.

I disagree with the RNLI chap - I DO see value in the Odeo flare.
It is bright and if you wave it around, I'm sure that people would see it as a distress signal.
It is safe, cheap, you don't have to dispose of it, it works many times longer than a pyrotechnic flare, and it can be replaced by simply changing the batteries (conventional AAs IIRC)

IMO, it is the pyrotechnic industry that is holding on to a market that ought to be scrapped.
These modern signals are more appropriate - AND SAFE.

Sorry - just my opinion.

EDIT
This is the laser flare that we have in our grab bag
http://www.rescue-flares.co.uk/
 
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I see them as an addition to pyrotechnics rather than an alternative. Pop a red rocket and most people know what to do, even if they’re not seasoned mariners. Would they know you were in difficulty if they saw a red light flashing at them? I’m not confident they would.

Would a laser flare guide in SAR assets the last few miles when they were looking for you? I’m sure they would, and for that possibly a better bet than a hand flare.
 
We have one, tested it in the office, large call centre type, I was in a side office with window into main space. Everyone said what the hell was that, & thats daylight plus god knows how many led spots.
 
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mm42 said:
I see them as an addition to pyrotechnics rather than an alternative. Pop a red rocket and most people know what to do, even if they’re not seasoned mariners. Would they know you were in difficulty if they saw a red light flashing at them? I’m not confident they would.

Would a laser flare guide in SAR assets the last few miles when they were looking for you? I’m sure they would, and for that possibly a better bet than a hand flare.
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+1
 
The dumpy ones have been reduced to 85 quid in Force 4. Typical, I paid £110 there just before Christmas. Nice thing about these is that they take standard AA batteries.
I think they are potentially handy things to have on board or in your pocket for dinghy trips etc.
 
mm42 said:
I see them as an addition to pyrotechnics rather than an alternative. Pop a red rocket and most people know what to do, even if they’re not seasoned mariners. Would they know you were in difficulty if they saw a red light flashing at them? I’m not confident they would.

Would a laser flare guide in SAR assets the last few miles when they were looking for you? I’m sure they would, and for that possibly a better bet than a hand flare.
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Had a chat with HM coastguard at SIBS and they are quite keen on them. Apparently helicopters and some RNLI vessels have equipment that can sense the LED frequency from a long way off which sounds like a good idea if I am hoping to be a recipient of their services!
 
Since posting the question I have also spoken to a member of HM coastguard. He sees the laser as a replacement for pyro and gave me an impressive list of reasons to back it up so that's the way we're going to go. Thank you for your replies.
 
Hot Property said:
?... Apparently helicopters and some RNLI vessels have equipment that can sense the LED frequency from a long way off which sounds like a good idea if I am hoping to be a recipient of their services!
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Sounds like BS. Frequency of what? The light? Some form of RF?

Be interested to know what sort of equipment this is if true.

W.
 
+2 mm42
A dog walker on a cliff will recognise a flare or a rocket but a laser will confuse, is it a hooligan or the military?
 
Bouba said:
+2 mm42
A dog walker on a cliff will recognise a flare or a rocket but a laser will confuse, is it a hooligan or the military?
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If we need to use it we won't be interested in attracting dog walkers it will be to show our position to SAR who will already know roughly where we are.
 
Bouba said:
+2 mm42
A dog walker on a cliff will recognise a flare or a rocket but a laser will confuse, is it a hooligan or the military?
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Are you referring to a laser or the Odeo.
In the case of the laser, I agree but I disagree with the Odeo - it can be waved around - just like a hand flare.
The laser is more of a signalling device to contact someone who is actually looking for you.
 
jrudge said:
Much as I love technical progress this sums it up.
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Not sure your point.
Are you saying that these electronic devices are "not what they are cracked up to be"?
As I said above, we still carry pyrotechnic flares/rockets but we have the electronic ones as well.
And I would be very much more comfortable having the electronic ones in a life raft with me - even at the expense of not having the pyrotechnic ones.
And the electronic ones would last longer if you weren't spotted - especially as we also carry spare batteries in the grab bag.

IMO, electronic signalling is the way to go - we should get rid of the dangerous pyrotechnics.

And, of course, we haven't mentioned here EPIRBs and PLBs which add even more to the electronic argument.
Again, we have both - a PLB and an EPIRB on board.
 
Cathy* said:
If we need to use it we won't be interested in attracting dog walkers it will be to show our position to SAR who will already know roughly where we are.
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Only if you have managed to alert them of your distress by other means first and they're actually looking for you.

There is a god reason why SOLAS do not approve these.

PW.
 
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