How does one dispose of expired flares? Save for the 4 of July? Call the
fire dept?

Doug Kanter wrote:
How does one dispose of expired flares? Save for the 4 of July? Call the
fire dept?


The Ccanadian Coast Guard and the Cdn Power & Sail Squadron used to have
a demonstration here once a year where you could take the flares and
shoot them off. Now we're supposed to give them to the local police.

How does one dispose of expired flares? Save for the 4 of July? Call
the
fire dept?


**************

Don't do the 4th of July routine. The only reason you might not get
busted is that the cops are too busy dealing with everybody else.

Flares that are designed to be shot off when surrounded by wide
expanses of open water are not automatically safe when discharged into
the air while surrounded by hundreds of boats anchored or rafted beam
to beam for a fireworks display.

It isn't uncommon to see an illegally discharged, still burning,
parachute flare fall onto another boat's deck or rigging at FOJ
celebrations. I once saw a boater give a buring hand-held flare to a
little kid I'd be reluctant to trust with a sparkler.

The last time I bought flares, I took the expired cartridges down to
the fire station. At first, they gave me a hassle. "You need to call so
and so at such and such a phone number and make an appointment (on the
fourth Thursday of the next month with an R in the name) to drive 50
miles out of town and turn these in......."

When I commented, "Wow. That seems like a major inconvenience. I'm
surprised more people don't just screw all of that nonsense and throw
them into the nearest dumpster..........." they suddenly became very
accommodating and eagerly accepted my flares. :-)

If you haven't had some practice firing flares, you should - it is quite
enlightening.

We regularly shoot off last years' flares on July 4th, or another local
"celebration". Flares are fired from the shore over the water (nowhere near
any boats) as practice.

As many as 75% misfire some years (not counting the expired ones!), and an
occasional burn from the hand-fired type keeps the reliability and safety of
these things in perspective.

--
Sal's Dad


How does one dispose of expired flares? Save for the 4 of July? Call
the
fire dept?


**************

Don't do the 4th of July routine. The only reason you might not get
busted is that the cops are too busy dealing with everybody else.

Flares that are designed to be shot off when surrounded by wide
expanses of open water are not automatically safe when discharged into
the air while surrounded by hundreds of boats anchored or rafted beam
to beam for a fireworks display.

It isn't uncommon to see an illegally discharged, still burning,
parachute flare fall onto another boat's deck or rigging at FOJ
celebrations. I once saw a boater give a buring hand-held flare to a
little kid I'd be reluctant to trust with a sparkler.

The last time I bought flares, I took the expired cartridges down to
the fire station. At first, they gave me a hassle. "You need to call so
and so at such and such a phone number and make an appointment (on the
fourth Thursday of the next month with an R in the name) to drive 50
miles out of town and turn these in......."

When I commented, "Wow. That seems like a major inconvenience. I'm
surprised more people don't just screw all of that nonsense and throw
them into the nearest dumpster..........." they suddenly became very
accommodating and eagerly accepted my flares. :-)

Great - one more thing to put in the emergency box: An oven mitt. :-(

"Sal's Dad" wrote in message
...
If you haven't had some practice firing flares, you should - it is quite
enlightening.

We regularly shoot off last years' flares on July 4th, or another local
"celebration". Flares are fired from the shore over the water (nowhere
near any boats) as practice.

As many as 75% misfire some years (not counting the expired ones!), and an
occasional burn from the hand-fired type keeps the reliability and safety
of these things in perspective.

--
Sal's Dad


How does one dispose of expired flares? Save for the 4 of July? Call
the
fire dept?


**************

Don't do the 4th of July routine. The only reason you might not get
busted is that the cops are too busy dealing with everybody else.

Flares that are designed to be shot off when surrounded by wide
expanses of open water are not automatically safe when discharged into
the air while surrounded by hundreds of boats anchored or rafted beam
to beam for a fireworks display.

It isn't uncommon to see an illegally discharged, still burning,
parachute flare fall onto another boat's deck or rigging at FOJ
celebrations. I once saw a boater give a buring hand-held flare to a
little kid I'd be reluctant to trust with a sparkler.

The last time I bought flares, I took the expired cartridges down to
the fire station. At first, they gave me a hassle. "You need to call so
and so at such and such a phone number and make an appointment (on the
fourth Thursday of the next month with an R in the name) to drive 50
miles out of town and turn these in......."

When I commented, "Wow. That seems like a major inconvenience. I'm
surprised more people don't just screw all of that nonsense and throw
them into the nearest dumpster..........." they suddenly became very
accommodating and eagerly accepted my flares. :-)

wrote in message
oups.com...
How does one dispose of expired flares? Save for the 4 of July? Call
the
fire dept?


**************

Don't do the 4th of July routine. The only reason you might not get
busted is that the cops are too busy dealing with everybody else.

Flares that are designed to be shot off when surrounded by wide
expanses of open water are not automatically safe when discharged into
the air while surrounded by hundreds of boats anchored or rafted beam
to beam for a fireworks display.

It isn't uncommon to see an illegally discharged, still burning,
parachute flare fall onto another boat's deck or rigging at FOJ
celebrations. I once saw a boater give a buring hand-held flare to a
little kid I'd be reluctant to trust with a sparkler.

The last time I bought flares, I took the expired cartridges down to
the fire station. At first, they gave me a hassle. "You need to call so
and so at such and such a phone number and make an appointment (on the
fourth Thursday of the next month with an R in the name) to drive 50
miles out of town and turn these in......."

When I commented, "Wow. That seems like a major inconvenience. I'm
surprised more people don't just screw all of that nonsense and throw
them into the nearest dumpster..........." they suddenly became very
accommodating and eagerly accepted my flares. :-)


Why not just keep the expired ones alongside the new ones you purchase and
are up to date? That is what I did.

Is it illegal to have expired had held and gun fired flares on board when,
at the same time, you have a full compliment of "fresh" ones meeting USCG
regs?

Why not just keep the expired ones alongside the new ones you purchase and
are up to date? That is what I did.

Yep thats what I am doing .. to a point of course as there is the time
when the expired flares will take up all the space in your boat

Is it illegal to have expired had held and gun fired flares on board when,
at the same time, you have a full compliment of "fresh" ones meeting USCG
regs?

Its legal. Carry whatever you like in addition to the required non
expired flares.

I rather carry 6 expired SOLAS flare than 3 non expired regular
(=useless) flares

matt

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
How does one dispose of expired flares? Save for the 4 of July? Call
the
fire dept?


**************

Don't do the 4th of July routine. The only reason you might not get
busted is that the cops are too busy dealing with everybody else.

Flares that are designed to be shot off when surrounded by wide
expanses of open water are not automatically safe when discharged into
the air while surrounded by hundreds of boats anchored or rafted beam
to beam for a fireworks display.

It isn't uncommon to see an illegally discharged, still burning,
parachute flare fall onto another boat's deck or rigging at FOJ
celebrations. I once saw a boater give a buring hand-held flare to a
little kid I'd be reluctant to trust with a sparkler.

The last time I bought flares, I took the expired cartridges down to
the fire station. At first, they gave me a hassle. "You need to call so
and so at such and such a phone number and make an appointment (on the
fourth Thursday of the next month with an R in the name) to drive 50
miles out of town and turn these in......."

When I commented, "Wow. That seems like a major inconvenience. I'm
surprised more people don't just screw all of that nonsense and throw
them into the nearest dumpster..........." they suddenly became very
accommodating and eagerly accepted my flares. :-)


Why not just keep the expired ones alongside the new ones you purchase and
are up to date? That is what I did.

Is it illegal to have expired had held and gun fired flares on board when,
at the same time, you have a full compliment of "fresh" ones meeting USCG
regs?

I asked the Coast Guard Auxiliary this question. They said to put them in a
bag marked "practice flares", and keep them on board.

On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 20:05:48 -0400, "NOYB" wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

Is it illegal to have expired had held and gun fired flares on board when,
at the same time, you have a full compliment of "fresh" ones meeting USCG
regs?

I asked the Coast Guard Auxiliary this question. They said to put them in a
bag marked "practice flares", and keep them on board.

Isn't that interesting. How do they expect you to practice with them?

Later,

Tom

You practice firing one in the air, then the CG practices coming to your
rescue, then they practice writing a citation with a big fine for your
initial practice of firing the practice flare. That is if they don't
practice arresting you...

--Mike

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 20:05:48 -0400, "NOYB" wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

Is it illegal to have expired had held and gun fired flares on board
when,
at the same time, you have a full compliment of "fresh" ones meeting
USCG
regs?

I asked the Coast Guard Auxiliary this question. They said to put them in
a
bag marked "practice flares", and keep them on board.

Isn't that interesting. How do they expect you to practice with them?

Later,

Tom