Flares - Heads UP!

[captrob]

<div>Just after midnight on New Years day with maybe a few rum drinks
under our belt some of us liveaboards decided to "test" our
flares. The whole thing started out as lark but quickly turned
into serious experiment with serious implications.We first tried 3 "Skyblazers" (all in date). Not a single one
fired. Not even a fizzle! So we decided to try some older
"Skyblazers" roughly 3 years out of date. In that pack of 3 one
fired, one did not fire and one fired but also backfired blowing
the fireing mechnism our cutting the firer's arm. At this point
we quit experimenting with "Skyblazers". By this time we are
really concerned. One of us had some Orion 12 gage. We fired 6
3 indate and 3 out of date. All 6 fired but remained aloft only
a few seconds (dark and no watch). If you were expecting someone
to see these you would have to get very lucky.The bottom line - I have thrown away my "Skyblazers" and will get
"real" flares (SOLAS or equlivant).Heads UP!Vic Copelan
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[cavale]

Vic
At the Safety at Sea seminars they do a demonstration of a number of different flares. The difference between the Pains-Wessex SOLAS flares and the other mass market flares is literally night and day. Once you've seen them held next to each other you'll understand why the SOLAS flares are worth every penny paid.

 

[captrob]

<div>After my experience I have to agree with you. To my way of thinking it is almost criminal to sell a product that does not work and has the potential to harm or lead to their harm as a "safty product." I will purchase SOLAS flares.Vic C.
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[carl_miller]

<div>PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!, When you fire the DAMN things, DO NOT LOOK OVER THE BARREL of the Pistol like firing mechanism. I had one blow up in my hand. Thank God, I was holding my head out of the way, or I would be BLIND.A long involved report was made to the Coast Guard, but it is still for sale; right now, today. Fair Winds & Rum Drinks
Tom Pinkston
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[captrob]

<div>Tom,What brand.Vic
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[cavale]

Last spring 7 boats were broken into in my boatyard just before launching time. The one item that was taken from five of those boats was their flare pistols. Very little of anything else was missing. The police were very concerned that there is now a group of well armed young people in the area. As Tom has shown, these pistols are very dangerous to use and to just have on board. The quality, brightness and duration of the hand held and parachute SOLAS flares far surpass the cheap flare pistols. Those pistols, as is stressed at the Safety At Sea Seminars, should have no place aboard a well and safely equipped vessel.