Disposal of expired flares

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by willk

I've popped a couple of parachute flares and I wouldn't do it again!

Did they go off okay and come down in a neighbour's garden?

[willk]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Did they go off okay and come down in a neighbour's garden?

Let's just say there were a few seconds of extremely high adrenaline levels...

[jambo]

Always thought that Ribnet should be promoting a responsible method of disposal.

[willk]

Originally Posted by jambo

Always thought that Ribnet should be promoting a responsible method of disposal.

If Ribnet owned flares, I'm sure it would be very careful indeed

[jambo]

[QUOTE=willk;747440]If Ribnet owned flares, I'm sure it would be very careful indeed [/

We are dealing with dangerous pieces of equipment and therefore should be disposed responsibly and I still think as this organisation should be supporting that view.

[mikew4]

Surely there is a way, with collaboration with the coastguard, to let them off as flare release practice. After all, who gets to let off para flares?

[willk]

Originally Posted by jambo

We are dealing with dangerous pieces of equipment and therefore should be disposed responsibly and I still think as this organisation should be supporting that view.

So firstly, let's clear up who's flares I'm talking about - mine, not RIBnet's. The policy is mine, not Ribnet's* - I burn off quite a few of my old pyros and I would have no issues suggesting to others that they do the same - taking all the precautions listed on the pyro itself. Maybe I should mention that I'm not firing 10 year old units? Mine are just out of date or about to become so over the winter. I learn a lot about how they deploy and I'd be much more confident and safe (IMHO) when firing one than someone who has driven to the CG and handed their "dangerous equipment" over with trembling fingers and a bead of sweat on their brow...






*But ask JK the same question for the craic - he's a Pyromanic!

[willk]

Originally Posted by mikew4

After all, who gets to let off para flares?

Me. I wouldn't recommend it in an urban environment...

[jeffstevens763@g]

i consider letting mine off on bonfire night as a training exercise which has lead me to not carrying them now due to risk assessing the dangers from fire/damage to a small boat/crew & replacing with more modern methods of alerting the coast guard ME LUD

[willk]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

...which has lead me to not carrying them now due to risk assessing the dangers from fire/damage to a small boat/crew & replacing with more modern methods of alerting the coast guard ME LUD

I'll have to stick with mine until the various international Coding Authorities concur with your assessment

[Poly]

Originally Posted by jambo

Always thought that Ribnet should be promoting a responsible method of disposal.

Philosophical question: is ribnet the website/forum software, the site owners, or the collective community who post here?

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Poly

Philosophical question: is ribnet the website/forum software, the site owners, or the collective community who post here?

All the above!! I just think and it's my opinion, that as as a boating forum collectively and its admin team should be promoting safe responsible disposal of flares.

[Pikey Dave]

I suffered quite serious burns when a "just" out of date parachute flare exploded in my hand. I used to carry a pair of welding gauntlets in the flare box after that. I'm now pyro free & plan to remain so. The RYA are advising against them for leisure use.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I suffered quite serious burns when a "just" out of date parachute flare exploded in my hand. I used to carry a pair of welding gauntlets in the flare box after that. I'm now pyro free & plan to remain so. The RYA are advising against them for leisure use.

Yes Dave I have changed to all electronic much safer and easier.

[JimRib]

When you say all electronic, what type do you mean ? I'm about to replace a set that are just about out of date. And electronic sounds interesting

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by JimRib

When you say all electronic, what type do you mean ? I'm about to replace a set that are just about out of date. And electronic sounds interesting

There's a wealth of alternatives out there for attracting attention in an emergency:-
Epirb
PLB
Vhf/dsc
AIS
Laser/LED flares

Any combination of the above

[jambo]

Originally Posted by JimRib

When you say all electronic, what type do you mean ? I'm about to replace a set that are just about out of date. And electronic sounds interesting

Ive gone vhf, PLB and EDF 1

[Poly]

Originally Posted by JimRib

When you say all electronic, what type do you mean ? I'm about to replace a set that are just about out of date. And electronic sounds interesting

Carriage of Pyrotechnic Flares | Current Affairs | Knowledge & Advice | Knowledge & Advice | RYA

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by jambo

Ive gone vhf, PLB and EDF 1

Similar here vhf/AIS/DSC/PLB/Greetland rescue laser. If that lot fails, I'm fecked anyway[emoji6]

[Poly]

Originally Posted by jambo

All the above!! I just think and it's my opinion, that as as a boating forum collectively and its admin team should be promoting safe responsible disposal of flares.

I think its been made clear many times that the views of individual Ribnet moderators are not necessarily the views of Social Knowledge and they are still entitled to have personal opinions, despite giving up their time to keep the forum running. I dare say that Willk's alternative argument that testing a flare in controlled environment was not irresponsible, and gained him useful knowledge should he have to use it in anger, has merit alongside my just pay the chandler to take them away.