XM flares.....any good ?

[andyball]

Sorry to repeat a question asked in another thread....I've seen XM flares on sale, much cheaper than other makes.....are they worth buying ?, has anyone ever found them unreliable ?.

Thanks in advance

 

[Guest]

Havent tried XM, but they will have had to pass exactly the same safety tests as all the others - indeed, I would doubt that they are anything other than some manufacturers standard product re- badged. Probably French given that they are owned by Plastimo.

Interestingly, we had a mass firing of old flares at my club one recent new years eve, and being a poor club many flares were into their teens and even twenties. Not one failed to go off properly (except mini flares) despite age. Since being spotted must relate to the numbrer of flares set off, I now always keep the old flares as well as the new replacements.

 

[andyball]

Thanks Howard, I checked the plastimo catalogue, and the "XM" flares look identical to the ones that plastimo only sell in France....as you said, just re-badged.

Interesting that even 20yr old flares all went off OK......

 

[Robin]

I bought mine in France from one of the big chandlers with branches all over (Acastillage Diffusion), Solas approved offshore kit with 4 paras, 6 (not 4 like UK) handflares and 2 smokes. Instructions were in English as well as French, came in a rectangular plastic box, easy to stow but not watertight, but I have an old watertight bottle from before. Cost was £67, way below UK prices, even for XM ones. These were apparently made in Spain, maybe they are the same source as XM?

 

[Guest]

It may be a little obvious but if someone found flares unreliable they may not be around to answer your question!
I had a pack of handhelds designed for windsurfers which got wet. I decided to set them off, as I felt I could not rely on them and they worked perfectly. This included one which had been very wet.
AGF