Inshore flares

HDAV · 12 February 2017, 15:40

I need to purchase a pack of inshore flares seen a few places selling them, know to check date etc as they expire (would consider buying shorter dated if significantly cheaper) on the basis that DEC2020 are now around £50 a pack that's £16 a season in flares i hope i will never use.... but £17 shipping!

https://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/item/63...re-flares-kit-

Anyone seen a better deal with shipping? Or know of older stock going cheap?

Would rather buy in store than pay the silly courier fees tbh I drive up and down the M4/M5/M6 quite a bit can potentially collect....

treerat · 12 February 2017, 16:38

Bought mine from Decathalon - I think it was £15 for 3 hand held reds.

HDAV · 12 February 2017, 17:19

Wow that is cheap must call in next time I am near one!

Fenlander · 12 February 2017, 17:53

I'm giving up flares this season onwards. Last year in appropriate controlled circumstances (?!) I let several off and was horrified what hot particle spitting things they were. Totally unsuited to a SIB.

Will replace with a laser flare, upgraded radio situation and possibly a PLB.

If you could arrange carriage I'd sell you mine cheap... couple of seasons left in them I think.

HDAV · 12 February 2017, 18:13

I'm asking the question of the club I am applying to join but having flares is a requirement of membership....... so is a whole host of other kit............ I know they do check flares and date at the annual safety inspection every vessel has to undergo before being granted acces.....

If I find myself in your vicinity I will certainly let you know as for couriering I doubt any standard carrier will take them...

treerat · 12 February 2017, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDAV

If I find myself in your vicinity I will certainly let you know as for couriering I doubt any standard carrier will take them...

They don't like taking lots of things, but only an issue if they know.........................

jeffstevens763@g · 12 February 2017, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I'm giving up flares this season onwards. Last year in appropriate controlled circumstances (?!) I let several off and was horrified what hot particle spitting things they were. Totally unsuited to a SIB.

Will replace with a laser flare, upgraded radio situation and possibly a PLB.

If you could arrange carriage I'd sell you mine cheap... couple of seasons left in them I think.

Exactly my thoughts for hand held, rockets are ok but short lived I have heard they will ignor the odd flare as there's so many hoxes so at least three needed with what 9-12 min burn time.
PLB,DSC, laser flare, strobe & mirror for sun light for me

willk · 12 February 2017, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

I have heard they will ignor the odd flare

Risking thread drift to ask you where you heard that? Sounds highly unlikely to me!

Poly · 12 February 2017, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by treerat

They don't like taking lots of things, but only an issue if they know.........................

There are many things like that where a blind eye might be OK, and even if discovered then the worst case is they bin your package. If they were to discover you'd shipped flares on a standard courier service I'd expect them to treat that a bit more seriously. You maybe don't want them throwing the box of flares the way they do with other stuff, and if there was ever a fire in the wharehouse or vehicle you'd really rather know what was in that box!

Fenlander · 12 February 2017, 22:05

>>>if there was ever a fire in the wharehouse or vehicle you'd really rather know what was in that box!

Yep very true. In 1989 I had some involvement in the aftermath of an explosion where an unmarked lorry carrying materials for a firework factory caught fire while turning round in the yard (while lost) of an unrelated business. When the lorry exploded a firemean was killed and others badly injured plus many members of the public suffered blast and shrapnel injuries. 130 cars were damaged and many industrial/commercial businesses very badly damaged.

Two main lessons came out of that. The explosive and flammable materials were being carried in unsuitable packing and the lorry had no visible external warnings of its contents causing the fire service to take less care than they might and encouraging members of the public to look on at what they thought was just an interesting lorry fire rather than clear the area.

ShinyShoe · 12 February 2017, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Exactly my thoughts for hand held, rockets are ok but short lived I have heard they will ignor the odd flare as there's so many hoxes so at least three needed with what 9-12 min burn time.
PLB,DSC, laser flare, strobe & mirror for sun light for me

I agree with Willk - the CG won't ignore it.
BUT...
If you only have one then (a) public might dismiss it (not sure what they saw (b) the report will be ... Erm it was over 'there' roughly. Don't expect two people to have taken bearings on it!

BUT...
On that basis I suspect you need probably at least a dozen! Released at 3minute intervals. Enough to get someone making a phone call and then time to get assets looking in the right direction.

I await the day someone in recent years tells me about a rescue induced by a flare. And more so, one where there was a working VHF and PLB on board when the boat set off.

HDAV · 12 February 2017, 22:21

As they are a "requirement" but vhf is not a requirement I could argue or just pay £50 for some flares and hope I never need to use them (they can cause horrible injury even when used correctly!) effectiveness of laser flares in the day does concern me a bit.

I would much rather use the vhf dsc than launch a flare!

jeffstevens763@g · 13 February 2017, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

I agree with Willk - the CG won't ignore it.
BUT...
If you only have one then (a) public might dismiss it (not sure what they saw (b) the report will be ... Erm it was over 'there' roughly. Don't expect two people to have taken bearings on it!

BUT...
On that basis I suspect you need probably at least a dozen! Released at 3minute intervals. Enough to get someone making a phone call and then time to get assets looking in the right direction.

I await the day someone in recent years tells me about a rescue induced by a flare. And more so, one where there was a working VHF and PLB on board when the boat set off.

for the life of me i carnt think where i read/heard it or weather it was an opinion but it stuck in my mind that, what if you only had time to deploy one flare which then got me to thinking as shiny has said in his first parragrafe did someone see anything, where etc so it propmted me to by a PLB most of my boating is in remote areas in scotland one flare or even three might not raise any attention.anyway not going to bother me now not going to carry them bonfire night in a 3.6m sib no thanks all in my opinion.

beerbelly · 13 February 2017, 18:25

i had an RNLI check on my ship and equipment recently and he was less than impressed with my motley collection of out of date pyro flares so iv just ordered an led one I also have a plb so touch wood ill be ok if I need to use either (tbh iv never been comfortable with the idea of pyro,s in an inflatable boat)

treerat · 13 February 2017, 21:40

We ran a multi agency exercise a few years ago in Weymouth bay, a single para and a smoke were let off.

Dozens of calls in the first two minutes were recorded by the local MRSC!

You'll be surprised how many people will see them and call.

breezeblock · 14 February 2017, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by treerat

We ran a multi agency exercise a few years ago in Weymouth bay, a single para and a smoke were let off.

Dozens of calls in the first two minutes were recorded by the local MRSC!

You'll be surprised how many people will see them and call.

I would love to know how well this would work on the west coast of Scotland

Pikey Dave · 14 February 2017, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by breezeblock

I would love to know how well this would work on the west coast of Scotland

Not well at a guess. Add the islands into the mix & I wouldn't like to think I was relying solely on fireworks to call the cavalry.

breezeblock · 14 February 2017, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Not well at a guess. Add the islands into the mix & I wouldn't like to think I was relying solely on fireworks to call the cavalry.

so whats the best options plb and an led flare

Pikey Dave · 14 February 2017, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by breezeblock

so whats the best options plb and an led flare

Depends, if all you want is rescuing if it hits the fan:-
PLB
Dsc vhf
Led flare.

Personally I'd rank vhf above PLB IF I had to choose. If budget isn't a consideration, all 3.

jambo · 14 February 2017, 13:22

Well as one who does all his cruising in the West I have all three. I also find surprisingly so that a shout first usually brings s response if all you need is assistance. But as Pikey says if your in deep dodo then PLB.