Flares pros and cons

[essex]

What are sibbers thoughts on the pros and cons of carrying flares? I have a VHF and plb. I don't have flares but was considering a smoke flare. I understand they are visible from a long distance and are relatively cheap but there is a fire risk and they don't last long when you set them off and you are relying on someone spotting them.
Do many sibbers carry them? Are they from a historic era before electronics and would I be safer carrying these explosives?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by essex

What are sibbers thoughts on the pros and cons of carrying flares? I have a VHF and plb. I don't have flares but was considering a smoke flare. I understand they are visible from a long distance and are relatively cheap but there is a fire risk and they don't last long when you set them off and you are relying on someone spotting them.

Do many sibbers carry them? Are they from a historic era before electronics and would I be safer carrying these explosives?

It’s better to ask the question once, otherwise you get answers from all directions.

[Old seahorse]

For some years, I carried flares on my boat. I always had issues disposing of outdated ones, as I don’t live close to any approved recycling points. I eventually bought an Odeo electronic’flare’.
I understand they are probably not as effective in some situations, but they are safe to handle and store, and easy to use, and more economic over a long period. Now I’ve got an inflatable, I’d be very loathe to return to pyrotechnics, because of risk to the boat.
Although I’ve covered some ground, I’ve rarely been more than a couple of miles from shore. If your boating is further offshore and/or in challenging conditions, perhaps there is more reason to carry them

[essex]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

It’s better to ask the question once, otherwise you get answers from all directions.

Thanks for the reply. I posted this twice in error and cant see how to delete the duplicate.

[Fenlander]

As PD said...Had their day, PITA to dispose of, technology has overtaken them. PLB, VHF and an Odeo.

I first saw flares let off as a kid about 60yrs ago... very exciting. The next time was sometime before Covid and I had a horror that I'de been expecting perhaps to let these spark and fire spitting things off near a SIB's tubes/air floor. They went immediately never to return.

So I have an Odeo for night situations, a high power SOS flashing torch, VHF and PLB. And there is always the waved clothing tied to the extending boathook for day use!

[Peter_C]

Here's the USA's requirements for flares.
https://www.boatus.org/distress-signals/requirements/

Expired hand held flares are my favorite way to kill gophers! My friends give me theirs, and I use them all. *Just not during fire season*

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Here's the USA's requirements for flares.
https://www.boatus.org/distress-signals/requirements/

Expired hand held flares are my favorite way to kill gophers! My friends give me theirs, and I use them all. *Just not during fire season*

And the David Attenborough award for animal conservation goes to...........................

[jonp]

Where I'm from its compulsory to carry flare but they are pretty useless in many cases. If there's a brisk breeze the smoke blows away from a boat very close to water level where even 2km away is almost impossible to see. The hand flares are ok for night time if you are lucky enough that someone might spot the flare and no just think its a bright light on a boat. Rocket flares are good but expensive and again brief in burn time, so a few would be good.

I put my faith more into the compulsory Epirb we also have to carry on any vessel more than 2 miles from shore. I also use Garmin inreach devices which work similar to Epirbs and PLB's.

A PLB does not qualify here in Australia as a boat safety instrument where an Epirb does.

[Brinormeg]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Here's the USA's requirements for flares.
https://www.boatus.org/distress-signals/requirements/

Expired hand held flares are my favorite way to kill gophers! My friends give me theirs, and I use them all. *Just not during fire season*

I read golfers……and thought that’s a tad harsh!

Kids and their parents digging holes in the sand on a working harbour slipway so your transom wheel drops in and bends it…….now that’s a different matter and quite acceptable I would say

[Old seahorse]

[emoji23]

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

As PD said...Had their day, PITA to dispose of, technology has overtaken them. PLB, VHF and an Odeo.

I first saw flares let off as a kid about 60yrs ago... very exciting. The next time was sometime before Covid and I had a horror that I'de been expecting perhaps to let these spark and fire spitting things off near a SIB's tubes/air floor. They went immediately never to return.

So I have an Odeo for night situations, a high power SOS flashing torch, VHF and PLB. And there is always the waved clothing tied to the extending boathook for day use!

Same here David my thoughts were venting fuel tank, tubes and dry suit

[willk]

I'm currently re-supplying and the only pyro I'm giving any consideration to is a floating smoke. Odeo, PLB, DSC Handheld VHF, etc would be my primary plan.

Floating Smoke is with Helo Ops in mind. Typically, the helo has been tasked to save yer ass. However, it has to find it first, and then pilots are real particular about wind direction. I had the pleasure of being an a SAR S-92 that got tasked to a sinking "white boat". When we arrived at the general location there were maybe 40 white boats in a relatively small bay (near a marina). There was a lot of swearing aloft. Luckily, the RNLI arrived at that point and we bailed, but a floating smoke would have been real useful - no safety issues onboard a small craft either. The plume is easier to see from above.