"Steve" wrote in message
news:2RqLe.269$5U2.245@lakeread07...
I now have TWO full canisters of expired flares, both hand held and 12
gauge, with expiration dates that make them old enough to buy booze. I
keep
the flares that are up to 3 years expired for backups, just in case,
behind
the canisters of the unexpired flares.

I've asked 3 fire departments, 3 police officers, the USCG Auxiliary and
the
USPS (Power Squadron, not the post office) and all I get is "I don't
know..." or, one fire department told me to take them out on the
Chesapeake
Bay and fire them horizontally, preferably at Bayliners.

What do YOU do?

Whatever you do.............do not carry them on board as spares. I have
read stories (including here at rec.boats) about folks being ticketed by the
USCG for carrying expired flares, even though they were only backups to
their current ones.

Go figure.

"*JimH*" wrote
Whatever you do.............do not carry them on board as spares. I have
read stories (including here at rec.boats) about folks being ticketed by
the USCG for carrying expired flares, even though they were only backups
to their current ones.

Interesting. I have some expired handheld flares in my boat right now. By my
understanding of the law, I don't go anyplace where I'd be required to have
any flares on board at all. Could they still cite me for carrying expired
flares, I wonder?

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"Steve" wrote in message
news:2RqLe.269$5U2.245@lakeread07...
I now have TWO full canisters of expired flares, both hand held and 12
gauge, with expiration dates that make them old enough to buy booze. I
keep
the flares that are up to 3 years expired for backups, just in case,
behind
the canisters of the unexpired flares.

I've asked 3 fire departments, 3 police officers, the USCG Auxiliary and
the
USPS (Power Squadron, not the post office) and all I get is "I don't
know..." or, one fire department told me to take them out on the
Chesapeake
Bay and fire them horizontally, preferably at Bayliners.

What do YOU do?

Whatever you do.............do not carry them on board as spares. I have
read stories (including here at rec.boats) about folks being ticketed by
the
USCG for carrying expired flares, even though they were only backups to
their current ones.

Go figure.

That is odd, the C.G. aux that did my courtesy inspection recommended
keeping the expired ones on board as backups.

Steve wrote:
: I now have TWO full canisters of expired flares, both hand held and 12
: gauge, with expiration dates that make them old enough to buy booze. I keep
: the flares that are up to 3 years expired for backups, just in case, behind
: the canisters of the unexpired flares.

: I've asked 3 fire departments, 3 police officers, the USCG Auxiliary and the
: USPS (Power Squadron, not the post office) and all I get is "I don't
: know..." or, one fire department told me to take them out on the Chesapeake
: Bay and fire them horizontally, preferably at Bayliners.

: What do YOU do?

I save them for New Year's eve.

b.