Time expired flares

[Ian_Edwards]

Anyone aware of a chandelier who is currently operating a "take back" scheme for time expired flares?

I need new flares, but have the age old problem of getting rid of the old ones.

I don't want to dump them at sea, or set them off on 5th Nov or get rid of them in any other illegal way.

The MCA in Aberdeen operate a collection service in a Remote location one a month, which is more or less useless.

 

[Aeolus]

My local chandler did so when I asked, altho they don't advertise the service. They're on the South Coast so probably no good for you but it must be worth asking your local chandler.

Forgot to say - the offer was in the context of me buying new flares.

 

[yachtorion]

North Yorkshire police took mine in at their York headquarters.... said the firearms team would dispose of them.

Don't know if other police forces will.....

For hand held ones, especially white, I've no problem just setting them off if they are near their date and I'm well away from water but I wouldn't do that with para flares or smokes.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I've asked Gael Force and they don't take time expired flares. Caley Marina don't sell flares. So no luck locally.

 

[prv]

Don't know if other police forces will.....

For the record (not that it helps the OP), Hampshire Police will no longer accept them at most of their stations (including even the big one in Southampton). Only Basingstoke, Lymington, and possibly one other I can't remember. Of course, they only remembered this after assuring me by phone that they would accept them at Bitterne, and after I had driven there and then waited for them to return from their lunch break, and then waited some more for the various stations to phone each other and find out what the current policy was...

Who knows if the stations alleged to accept them would actually do so if I travelled there, so I'm not rushing to try.

For hand held ones, especially white, I've no problem just setting them off if they are near their date and I'm well away from water but I wouldn't do that with para flares or smokes.

Agree - I set off my hand flares in the back garden after the Police farce. Good training - I gave one to a regular sailing buddy who happened to be visiting, and he was rather surprised by the bang/pop as it got going, said he might have dropped it. Obviously you want to discover that on a concrete patio over a dustbin full of water, not in a rubber raft!

Obviously nobody's going to mistake me for a vessel in distress; there's a certain amount of smoke which might be a nuisance, but really no worse than a barbecue or bonfire and it only lasts a minute or so.

Alternatively, let it burn out underwater, with the smoke dissolving into it? I have a dustbin full of water for flushing the outboard; I told my mate he could drop the flare into it, meaning to dispose of the hot tube when finished. But he dropped it in with about half the flare still to burn, and it carried on doing so, bubbling furiously.

Smokes and parachutes are a bit more problematic, as you say. I guess the smoke could be let off at night when nobody can see it, but it would have to be somewhere a bit less populated than my city back garden. And the parachutes are very problematic - I've heard of someone firing them into a large metal tank through a small hole, but I'm not sure I fancy trying it...

Pete

 

[KenMcCulloch]

The Bosun's Locker at Port Edgar were accepting TEPs when new flares were purchased, a year ago. I think they probably still do.

 

[CFarr]

Ocean Safety took my TEP's when I bought new from them.

 

[trapezeartist]

Anyone aware of a chandelier who is currently operating a "take back" scheme for time expired flares?

OK. No-one else has risen to the bait so it has to be down to me.

I really don't think you should put flares in your chandelier. They might singe the ceiling. Stick to those candle-bulbs (if you can still get them).

I'll get me coat .....

 

[blackbeard]

For those in Solent/Hamble/Gosport area: last time I got rid of some flares;
Arthur's Chandlery will take old flares @£ 1.70 per flare.
Force 4, Bursledon, will take old flares provided you buy equivalent new ones.
Maybe other chandleries will operate a similar system. Won't hurt to ask ...

all of which assumes flares are in OK condition apart from old, ie not about to ignite spontaneously!

 

[jerrytug]

If this is about the S coast, RNLI Poole, quick phone call and drop them off at security no problem.

 

[alahol2]

For those on the South Coast there are various 'flare amnesty' events this year... http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/536307/flare-amnesty-dispose-of-your-out-of-date-flares

 

[nigelmercier]

... and it only lasts a minute or so...

The time when these anachronisms should be outlawed has long passed; the regulations need to be changed, and quickly.

 

[tigr]

Anyone aware of a chandelier who is currently operating a "take back" scheme for time expired flares?

I need new flares, but have the age old problem of getting rid of the old ones.

I don't want to dump them at sea, or set them off on 5th Nov or get rid of them in any other illegal way.

The MCA in Aberdeen operate a collection service in a Remote location one a month, which is more or less useless.

Just received this e-mail

"Do you have any out of date flares that you are struggling to get rid of?
Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit in conjunction with Ramora UK, one of the UK's leading bomb disposal companies and the below marinas are offering "a distress flare amnesty" for private boat owners. The disposal of out-of-date flares is a growing problem for boat owners who face severe penalties if they fail to follow the correct procedures.
Out-of-date flares can be delivered to the following sites in Hampshire & the Isle of Wight.
Sat 26th April - Northney Marina
Sat 10th May - Hamble Point Marina
Sat 17th May - Cowes Yacht Haven
Sun 10th Aug - Lymington Yacht Haven
Sun 19th Oct - Hamble Point Marina
The service will be between 1000hrs & 1500hrs on the above dates and will be in conjunction with open days/boat shows already taking place at the venue.
Up to ten flares per private individual will be accepted free of charge however the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit will be asking for a charitable donation. Previous other events have charged £2 per flare. Disposal of quantities greater than ten will only be possible by prior agreement.
Over the year they hope to raise enough money to buy a sailing dinghy(ies) which they will then donate to a sailing club(s) for the use of young people who would not normally get the opportunity to experience the sport of sailing.
For further information please contact Hampshire Police Marine Unit via their email marine@hampshire.pnn.police.uk.
Kind Regards,
The Thornham Team
01243 375 335
info@thornhammarina.com"

 

[jerrytug]

The time when these anachronisms should be outlawed has long passed; the regulations need to be changed, and quickly.

I think you ought to make it clear that you are joking, or someone might get the wrong idea.

 

[nigelmercier]

I think you ought to make it clear that you are joking, or someone might get the wrong idea.

Not joking at all, our reliance on flares is ridiculous.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Not joking at all, our reliance on flares is ridiculous.

I don't rely on them, but it's nice to have them. Same with lifejackets.

 

[coopec]

Why not buy new flares but keep your out-of-code ones as well? Is that dangerous or something?

I would welcome flares aboard if I had major electrical problems and no radio: maybe because of lightning strike.

 

[coopec]

In the event of a lightning strike, flares may be the only way to signal distress.

FredT
06-18-2006, 05:55 PM

An EMP strike should total the EPIRB unless you have it in a grounded faraday cage.

To get weather equipment to survive when mounted on lighthouses up in the great lakes and off the FL coast we often placed them in two cages. A sealed grounded metal box INSIDE another sealed gorunded metal box. Then we'd generally have to rehab the lightning protection on the structure with a couple additional down conductors and install a counterpoise system cut into the rock. The data management computers (DACTs) were about $30K each, a couple of the grounding systems in Lake Superior at each end of Isle Royale were well over $60K installed, but we stopped loosing 2 'puters a year.

FT
http://www.spearboard.com/archive/index.php/t-30734.html

 

[tigr]

On a mailshot I noticed

"Flare Amnesty by Project Kraken

Empty your boat lockers and dispose of your marine flares before they become unstable. Avoid an explosive disaster!

Disposal details are:-

Saturday 10th May 10am to 3pm at Hamble Point Marina (MDL)
Saturday 17th May 10am to 3pm at Cowes Yacht Haven
Sunday 10th August 10am to 3pm at Lymington Yacht Haven
Sunday 19th October 10am to 3pm at Hamble Point Marina (MDL)"

 

[l'escargot]

For the record (not that it helps the OP), Hampshire Police will no longer accept them at most of their stations (including even the big one in Southampton). Only Basingstoke, Lymington, and possibly one other I can't remember...

Newport IW will take up to 10 over the counter in the lost property office. I took some in there 2 weeks ago. Not even any paperwork to fill out any more.