Pep Boys, Auto Zone, etc sell safety flares. Will these work OK for my boat
safety package? Has anyone done this? Just curious.

"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.

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".

On 25 Apr 2006 17:08:27 -0700, "
wrote:


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".

That's a bit of info I didn't know! My $90 High Performance Orion kit
doesn't seem to meet the Solas standard. But, for only $19 each, I could
upgrade to Solas flares. Carrying three of those might not be a bad idea.
Thanks for the tip.
--
'Til next time,

John H

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

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. ;-)