Road Safety Flare could be useful on the boat too.

I like that idea. While the need to carry parachute flares is less necessary now because of Epirbs, VHF etc, there is still a need for something to show precisely where the vessel in distress is, or indeed which vessel it is, in busy areas. I would want to know how bright it is in terms of lumens, but it's a lot safer than for example, hand held flares.
 
NormanS said:
I like that idea. While the need to carry parachute flares is less necessary now because of Epirbs, VHF etc, there is still a need for something to show precisely where the vessel in distress is, or indeed which vessel it is, in busy areas. I would want to know how bright it is in terms of lumens, but it's a lot safer than for example, hand held flares.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's especially bright, it's just some LEDs in a translucent housing. The idea is to put several in the road behind your broken-down car to guide following traffic out and around you in the same way as the lanterns they hang on roadworks cones. In the US they've had pyrotechnic "road flares" for that purpose for decades; this is the electronic equivalent.

Not to say that a flashing orange light has no possible use on a boat (colregs permitting :) ), but I don't think these things can be put in the same category as the Odeo and similar LED "hand flares".

Pete
 
They were in Lidly a couple of weeks ago for $4.99 each....


And they do work well : I tried my Christmas present to myself (sad :) ) and they're clever little beasts.
 
I have one of these and it is incredibly bright-I got it in the event of a total lights failure at night. It will certainly attract attention.
 
prv said:
Not to say that a flashing orange light has no possible use on a boat (colregs permitting :) ), but I don't think these things can be put in the same category as the Odeo and similar LED "hand flares".

Pete
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention Colregs :)

Rule 20

(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise and during such times
no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified
in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the
keeping of a proper look-out.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Funny you should mention Colregs :)

Rule 20

(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise and during such times
no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified
in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the
keeping of a proper look-out.
Click to expand...

That is true but in an emergency situation anything to attract attention or to prevent a collision is OK.
 
Rogershaw said:
That is true but in an emergency situation anything to attract attention or to prevent a collision is OK.
Click to expand...
For emergency nav lights the right thing to do would be to get proper emergency nav lights.
http://www.navisafe.com/products-2/

If you are talking about an alternative to a white flare, I would have thought a bright torch would do the job.

This product looks more like something to have instead of (or in addition to) a red hand-held flare, but the flashing is not something that would be recognised as universally as a flare. Still could be useful to help identify your location if someone were looking for you.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Funny you should mention Colregs :)

Rule 20

(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise and during such times
no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified
in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the
keeping of a proper look-out.
Click to expand...

Try telling that to the oil rig support vessels in the North Sea! They are all lit up like Christmas trees, with deck lights that are so bright that they completely obscure the navigation lights and also destroy your night vision! We had some anxious moments coming south from Whitby when we simply couldn't work out what such a vessel was doing, especially as these vessels can and do move in almost any direction using thrusters.
 
prv said:
It wasn't just a random comment :)

More specifically than "no other lights", you'd also be claiming to be a hovercraft or hydrofoil - or in the Solent, the Red Jet.

Pete
Click to expand...



Spirit of Glenans said:
Or a Port-Hand Buoy!
Click to expand...

These are the reasons I went for a white strobe light at less likely to be confused with a hovercraft or hydrofoil or a navigation buoy/light.
 
I hope if I'm ever in trouble, my burning tar barrel is not mistaken for a Russian aircraft carrier proceeding on its smokey way. Better than having a red hand held flare mistaken for someone's port nav light. :rolleyes:
 
Rogershaw said:
That has 6 flashes in a group then a pause.

Could be more confused with a north cardinal which has 12 plus 1 long flash.
Click to expand...
My mistake. How quickly one forgets, when not out there sailing. :(
It could be either one, though. In a heavy swell it takes a while to be sure you have seen the whole sequence.
Apologies for the thread drift.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top