safety flare alternative source
 

JimH writes:

For all we know it could be an inland lake and purchasing flares
meeting the SOLAS standard is overkill.

Like horsepower in a boat, or caliber in a gun, you can never have too
much.

safety flare alternative source
 

My own experience with lighting about 12 hand held "Orion" flares and 6
Pains-Wessex. ALL OF THE ORION FLARES FAILED TO LIGHT. ALL
Pains_Wessex lit and were used to light the Orions. The Orions were
pathetic, worse than useless.

safety flare alternative source
 

When you need help, nothing is overkill. I carry SOLAS hand held flares
plus parachute flares plus some highway flares, a bunch of 12 gage
flares, smoke, etc. If you ever set off a SOLAS handheld (which you
should, just to know how they work) you'll understand the difference.
Don't look directly at it, or you'll be almost blinded for a few
minutes afterwards!!!

safety flare alternative source
 

On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:07:51 -0500, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

JohnH writes:

What do you do that gave you that bit of knowledge?

Pyrotechnics.

Dross can interfere with the proper functioning of a lot of pyrotechnic
devices, like clogging up nozzles in a gerb or smoke signal.

Marine flares are designed to not slough dross. The Pains-Wessex
handheld type leave you holding an incandescent baton of solid dross.

Having fired quite a few expired P-Ws on land, illuminating acres of the
surroundings with a literally dazzling light, to celebrate Independence
Day, I don't want to ever hold one in hand on a pitching boat. It would
take some skill to avoid nasty burns.

One should practice with these things (not out on the water, of course).
Any occasion calling for their use would be enough worry in itself, to
which you should not add an initiation into how to hold a 3000 degree
gob of burning magnesium at arms length.

Light off a few of your expired boat flares at home next July 4 (or
whatever your appropriate local occasion is). You might find a dim
fizzle that calls for a different model, or be surprised at how scary
the "good" ones are.

Thanks for the info, Richard. Interesting field!
--
'Til next time,

John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

safety flare alternative source
 

JimH wrote:


I think you may be jumping the gun as we do not know where he plans to boat.
For all we know it could be an inland lake and purchasing flares meeting the
SOLAS standard is overkill.

It's a good idea gear up for the worst possible conditions one might
encounter, rather than the typical conditions "normally" encountered.
Good flares stow just as easily as the
little kiddie sparklers, don't cost much more, and on a very dark night
(where fog and or heavy rain could be a factor, even not that far
offshore) they just might make all the difference. An acquaintance of
mine spent a long night on an overturned hull near Vancouver Island. He
had both SOLAS and "USCG approved" flares. He failed to attract the
attention of a nearby fishing boat with either- but his experience
comparing the effects of the SOLAS with the USCG approved units has
made him an enthusiastic crusader for SOLAS. He says he will never have
another merely "USCG approved" flare on any boat he owns.

safety flare alternative source
 

On 26 Apr 2006 11:53:50 -0700, "
wrote:


JimH wrote:


I think you may be jumping the gun as we do not know where he plans to boat.
For all we know it could be an inland lake and purchasing flares meeting the
SOLAS standard is overkill.

It's a good idea gear up for the worst possible conditions one might
encounter, rather than the typical conditions "normally" encountered.
Good flares stow just as easily as the
little kiddie sparklers, don't cost much more, and on a very dark night
(where fog and or heavy rain could be a factor, even not that far
offshore) they just might make all the difference. An acquaintance of
mine spent a long night on an overturned hull near Vancouver Island. He
had both SOLAS and "USCG approved" flares. He failed to attract the
attention of a nearby fishing boat with either- but his experience
comparing the effects of the SOLAS with the USCG approved units has
made him an enthusiastic crusader for SOLAS. He says he will never have
another merely "USCG approved" flare on any boat he owns.

I appreciate the advice, Chuck!
--
'Til next time,

John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

safety flare alternative source
 

wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:


I think you may be jumping the gun as we do not know where he plans to
boat.
For all we know it could be an inland lake and purchasing flares meeting
the
SOLAS standard is overkill.

It's a good idea gear up for the worst possible conditions one might
encounter, rather than the typical conditions "normally" encountered.
Good flares stow just as easily as the
little kiddie sparklers, don't cost much more, and on a very dark night
(where fog and or heavy rain could be a factor, even not that far
offshore) they just might make all the difference. An acquaintance of
mine spent a long night on an overturned hull near Vancouver Island. He
had both SOLAS and "USCG approved" flares. He failed to attract the
attention of a nearby fishing boat with either- but his experience
comparing the effects of the SOLAS with the USCG approved units has
made him an enthusiastic crusader for SOLAS. He says he will never have
another merely "USCG approved" flare on any boat he owns.



"An acquaintance of mine spent a long night on an overturned hull near
Vancouver Island. He had both SOLAS and "USCG approved" flares. He failed to
attract the attention of a *nearby* fishing boat with either..."


Not too compelling of a story on why to get SOLAS standard flares. But I
guess carrying a couple could not hurt.

That does not dismiss the fact that SOLAS flares are needed by everyone in
every boating environment. We have no idea where and how RG plans to boat.
He may not need suspenders and a belt Chuck. ;-)

safety flare alternative source
 

" JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT comREMOVETHIS wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:


I think you may be jumping the gun as we do not know where he plans to
boat.
For all we know it could be an inland lake and purchasing flares meeting
the
SOLAS standard is overkill.

It's a good idea gear up for the worst possible conditions one might
encounter, rather than the typical conditions "normally" encountered.
Good flares stow just as easily as the
little kiddie sparklers, don't cost much more, and on a very dark night
(where fog and or heavy rain could be a factor, even not that far
offshore) they just might make all the difference. An acquaintance of
mine spent a long night on an overturned hull near Vancouver Island. He
had both SOLAS and "USCG approved" flares. He failed to attract the
attention of a nearby fishing boat with either- but his experience
comparing the effects of the SOLAS with the USCG approved units has
made him an enthusiastic crusader for SOLAS. He says he will never have
another merely "USCG approved" flare on any boat he owns.



"An acquaintance of mine spent a long night on an overturned hull near
Vancouver Island. He had both SOLAS and "USCG approved" flares. He failed
to attract the attention of a *nearby* fishing boat with either..."


Not too compelling of a story on why to get SOLAS standard flares. But I
guess carrying a couple could not hurt.

That does not dismiss the fact that SOLAS flares may not be needed by
everyone in every boating environment. We have no idea where and how RG
plans to boat. He may not need suspenders and a belt Chuck. ;-)




Edit...brain fart.

safety flare alternative source
 

JimH wrote:


"An acquaintance of mine spent a long night on an overturned hull near
Vancouver Island. He had both SOLAS and "USCG approved" flares. He failed to
attract the attention of a *nearby* fishing boat with either..."


Not too compelling of a story on why to get SOLAS standard flares. But I
guess carrying a couple could not hurt.

That does not dismiss the fact that SOLAS flares are needed by everyone in
every boating environment. We have no idea where and how RG plans to boat.
He may not need suspenders and a belt Chuck. ;-)

Not until his pants are falling off. :-)

Read about "burn time" and "luminosity" in this link from an
organization that ran some
head to head tests between SOLAS and USCG approved flares. Particularly
the parachute flares, as those are the units most likely to catch
somebody's attention.


http://www.boatus.com/boattech/pyro.htm

About the time somebody fails to get medical attention as quickly as
needed or additional tens of thousands of dollars damage occur to a
vessel in trouble, that $50 saved by buying cheaper flares will seem
pretty insignificant.

safety flare alternative source
 

wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:


"An acquaintance of mine spent a long night on an overturned hull near
Vancouver Island. He had both SOLAS and "USCG approved" flares. He failed
to
attract the attention of a *nearby* fishing boat with either..."


Not too compelling of a story on why to get SOLAS standard flares. But I
guess carrying a couple could not hurt.

That does not dismiss the fact that SOLAS flares may not be needed by
everyone in
every boating environment. We have no idea where and how RG plans to
boat.
He may not need suspenders and a belt Chuck. ;-)

Not until his pants are falling off. :-)

Read about "burn time" and "luminosity" in this link from an
organization that ran some
head to head tests between SOLAS and USCG approved flares. Particularly
the parachute flares, as those are the units most likely to catch
somebody's attention.


http://www.boatus.com/boattech/pyro.htm

About the time somebody fails to get medical attention as quickly as
needed or additional tens of thousands of dollars damage occur to a
vessel in trouble, that $50 saved by buying cheaper flares will seem
pretty insignificant.


I totally understand the need when boating on the Great Lakes, on sal****er
and on very large inland lakes. But if the person asking the question boats
on a small inland lake (1 -2 miles wide) then the SOLAS flares may indeed be
overkill.

And we have yet to find out where RB boats. ;-)

Just out of curiosity..........do you carry an EPIRB w/GPS receiver and Type
I life jackets on your boat Chuck?