White parachute flares

[Ships_Cat]

Re: do white parachute flares exist?

Perhaps they turn into black flares with age /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

I had never thought of carrying them myself - prompted me to think they are probably a good idea for the well fitted boat.

John

 

[BrendanS]

Re: do white parachute flares exist?

I haven't carried them up till now, though the thread has made me think too.

Anything that helps is a good idea - I mainly single hand, but I've aided in a few searches/recoveries/tows, and I travel at night probably more than most, so you never know when you might be asked to help with a search in the dark.

A white parachute flare or two, in retrospect, would probably be the difference between finding someone or not, if you know you are close.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: do white parachute flares exist?

Had used them on a lifeboat previously and had always wanted to carry some, saw them on allgadgets when I was buying my windex so thought I'll have some of them.

Thing I learnt, when setting them off or being part of the search when using them, resist the rabbit in the headlights thing of watching them go up and fire. You lose IMO around the first 15 seconds of burn due to this big white glow on your retina.

Fire in the direction you need to look, maybe at 60° and close your eyes, you will know it is burning, just try to resist looking at it. This is my personal observation, it is hard to do, very unnatural not to look at the bright light.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: do white parachute flares exist?

That makes sense. They burn very bright, and if you look at them, you won't see anything in the sea afterwards

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: do white parachute flares exist?

...very unnatural not to look at the bright light.

I bet your SWMBO calls you "Possum" - she will know what I mean, even if you do not /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

John

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: do white parachute flares exist?

He used to teach people not to drink

Is that so. Interesting, as he has publically maintained that he is a highly qualified and experienced electronics engineer and on that basis claimed that I do not have any qualifications or experience and do not knowing what I am talking about when it comes to radio /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Maybe he was once, or perhaps has been looking down the narrow end of too many empty gin bottles.

John

 

[Benbow]

Re: do white parachute flares exist?

White parachutes have been on all coded boats I have sailed on, not sure if its a coding requirement but I believe so.

I have never seen one fired but I agree that it would be important to use them wisely. When we fire-up a big spotlight eg to check a wall we are planning to come alongside we always identify a number of key people and instruct them to close their eyes and look away. That way we still have some functioning eyes when the light goes off. I guess you would do the same while a white flare was being fired if you had spare people.