wrote in message
ups.com...

JimH wrote:
"RB" wrote in message
.. .
Pep Boys, Auto Zone, etc sell safety flares. Will these work OK for my
boat safety package? Has anyone done this? Just curious.



I think they have to be USCG approved for use on a boat. I may be wrong
but
that is my understanding.

Nothing prevents the use of auto or camping store flares on a boat- but
they will not be counted as part of the required inventory during a
USCG boarding unless they are USCG approved. Also, some of those
freeway flares are designed to be lit and then dropped onto the
pavement. For obvious reasons this isn't an option on a boat- you'll
either extinguish the flare by dropping it into the water or risk
setting the boat afire if it lands on the deck.

BTW, the USCG standards for flares are a joke. You are almost as well
off "flicking a BIC" as relying on some of the pathetic little glimmers
emitted by some flares that are USCG certified.

For adequate flares, insist on the SOLAS standard rather than settling
for merely "USCG approved".


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.

On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:43:14 -0400, " JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT
comREMOVETHIS wrote:


wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:
"RB" wrote in message
.. .
Pep Boys, Auto Zone, etc sell safety flares. Will these work OK for my
boat safety package? Has anyone done this? Just curious.



I think they have to be USCG approved for use on a boat. I may be wrong
but
that is my understanding.

Nothing prevents the use of auto or camping store flares on a boat- but
they will not be counted as part of the required inventory during a
USCG boarding unless they are USCG approved. Also, some of those
freeway flares are designed to be lit and then dropped onto the
pavement. For obvious reasons this isn't an option on a boat- you'll
either extinguish the flare by dropping it into the water or risk
setting the boat afire if it lands on the deck.

BTW, the USCG standards for flares are a joke. You are almost as well
off "flicking a BIC" as relying on some of the pathetic little glimmers
emitted by some flares that are USCG certified.

For adequate flares, insist on the SOLAS standard rather than settling
for merely "USCG approved".


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.


Lake Superior?
--
'Til next time,

John H

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

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.

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.

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! *****
******************************************

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. ;-)

" 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.

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.

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?

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

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?




BTW: By sal****er I mean the oceans and gulfs or large bay areas. ;-)