Odeo MK3 LED Distress Flare - anyone got one/used one?

FullCircle

FullCircle

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Nov 2003
Messages
28,223
Visit site
Looks fab for the deck level handheld, but I still need para flares and smokes.

Anyone used the Odeo besides the YM staff?

Seen them on Amazon at £97 - around 20 quid cheaper than chandlers

Good buy, or not, considering they have battery power for 600 flares and a 14 year battery life?
 
I have one - got rid of all those dangerous fireworks - except for the ones in the liferaft and they will be coming out at the end of the season.
Not used in anger thankfully so cant comment.
 
zambant said:
I have one - got rid of all those dangerous fireworks - except for the ones in the liferaft and they will be coming out at the end of the season.
Not used in anger thankfully so cant comment.
Click to expand...

what are you doing for orange smoke and white collision distress?
 
FullCircle said:
what are you doing for orange smoke and white collision distress?
Click to expand...

Can't answer for the smoke (personally I have no problem with the pyros) but it seems to me that a feck-off big lamp will do for anti-collision. Since it's less dramatic than igniting incendiaries, I reckon you're more likely to use it in time. I also have very bright deck lights which I would turn on if trying to make myself visible.

White flares are not a distress signal, btw.

Pete
 
zambant said:
I have one - got rid of all those dangerous fireworks - except for the ones in the liferaft and they will be coming out at the end of the season.
Not used in anger thankfully so cant comment.
Click to expand...

Decided last year to go with PLB's and when the flares went out of date to buy laser flares, went for the Odeo. Hope never to use it in anger but the battery life against the burn time of a flare has surely got to be a plus.

YBW did a test a while back
 
When I bought my boat in Decemeber, it had no flares on board. As this year I had only planned local day sailing and I was equipped with a chart plotter, a GPS, fixed and mobile VHF, plus mobile phone, I did not need flares as i could relay my accurate position in several direct ways. But at the boat show I looked out for the Odeo after reading a good review, and decided it would be an ideal addition for the slim chance I was sailing after dark. It seems to me to be the way forward to reduce the number of pyrotechnics on board, which have a short working life and difficulty of disposal.

The latest Odeo now flashes SOS as a message. The life of the device and the operating time (can be extended by changing batteries) make it look value for money and a flare look daft. It certainly is bright and I would recommend it as a brilliant bit of safety kit.
 
Thanks all, best price I found was £96.46 on Amazon.

Now ordered.

I will still be buying smoke though.
 
Seems to me the problem with lasers is that they are not recognised distress signals, not included in IRPCS, etc.

Someone seeing a winking red light might not interpret it as a boat in distress, whereas a flare will be so interpreted.

I can see a laser having some utility as a homing beacon, for when the big blue and orange boat approaches, but in those circumstances a torch would work just as well.

Add in the fact that the laser will be operated at about 2 metres above see level, and thus its visibility range is severely limited, whereas a parachute flare can be seen over a 15 or 20 mile radius in clear conditions, and there's no contest.
 
Last edited:
Twister_Ken said:
...... a parachute flare can be seen over a 15 or 20 mile radius in clear conditions, and there's no contest.
Click to expand...
IF someone is looking. Once becalmed and fired multiple parachutes plus some hand flares in clear sight of two vessels, no response. Badly injured crew on board. Sailed in many hours later when wind returned, lots of boat damage so no engine/radio.
 
Twister_Ken said:
Seems to me the problem with lasers is that they are not recognised distress signals, not included in IRPCS, etc.

Someone seeing a winking red light might not interpret it as a boat in distress, whereas a flare will be so interpreted.

I can see a laser having some utility as a homing beacon, for when the big blue and orange boat approaches, but in those circumstances a torch would work just as well.

Add in the fact that the laser will be operated at about 2 metres above see level, and thus its visibility range is severely limited, whereas a parachute flare can be seen over a 15 or 20 mile radius in clear conditions, and there's no contest.
Click to expand...

3.3 miles according to YM. Must be good, as I only spot major buoyage lights at under 2 miles.
I agree about para flares, but also wonder how much notice is taken of them.

So, I now have a 406 EPIRB, about to buy PLB/GPS/AIS, have a DSC radio, a liferaft, a full offshore medical kit, para flares, smoke and a zillion candle power light.
I am sure that at least one of those devices will come good. Or I will charge a ticket price for the light show between Kent and Essex coasts.
 
We've got one and when I get a chance the out of date flares will be disposed of.

I'm debating adding a couple of smoke floats as that's the one scenario the Odeo plus PLB / DSC can't cover and chucking a smoke float over the side is a lot more appealing than standing on the burning deck :-) with a firework in me hand - or more to the point the dear lady wife trying to cope with one
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top