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04-15-2018, 04:41 PM
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#1
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Member
City: Whidbey Island, Wa
Vessel Name: Grey Goose
Vessel Model: Compass 55 (Grand Harbour)
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 22
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Old flares
So I was doing some spring cleaning today and came across all sorts of great pyrotechnics including parachute flares, Ariel flares, smokebomb orange smoke signal and assorted emergency flares; but this box of stuff is all dated 1993 -1996. (I must have started boating at age four.)
Obviously they don't comply with anything regulatory but what the heck do I do with them?
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04-15-2018, 04:55 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
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I know what folks in St Augustine do with them on July Fourth fireworks night.
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04-15-2018, 05:08 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Port Townsend, WA
Vessel Name: Traveler
Vessel Model: Cheoy Lee 46 LRC
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,574
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CCS
So I was doing some spring cleaning today and came across all sorts of great pyrotechnics including parachute flares, Ariel flares, smokebomb orange smoke signal and assorted emergency flares; but this box of stuff is all dated 1993 -1996. (I must have started boating at age four.)
Obviously they don't comply with anything regulatory but what the heck do I do with them?
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Do what we did: buy an SOS Distress Light which makes you compliant with USCG regulations. After that, your flares do not need to be current, and you can keep them aboard as long as you feel it prudent (although I'm not sure about flares from the early '90s!). We have kept all our old flares and feel confident that we have two excellent ways of visually communicating distress on the water.
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04-15-2018, 05:24 PM
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#4
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TF Site Team
City: Brisbane
Vessel Name: Insequent
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 50 Mk I
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,262
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I keep the most recently expired set of flares on board along with current ones. We have a law that says you need a pyrotechnics licence to have flares, EXCEPT if they are currently in date. Then it's legal to have them. I don't think anybody has been fined for non-compliance, but clearly the authorities believe that keeping old flares can be hazardous.
Provided they are well stored (dry, not in sun or other heat source) there is likely minimal risk. But I still would not keep old ones indefinitely. I can't imagine surveyors or insurance companies being happy with a stack of old flares on board. And you wouldn't want to give the latter any excuse to deny a claim!
Disposal is relatively straightforward here. Google search yields nearby Volunteer Marine Rescue/Coastguard or other location that have bins for them. A few enquiries should locate a disposal location in your area.
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Brian
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04-15-2018, 05:43 PM
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#5
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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I have the recently expired extra flares onboard, too, but had to find a disposal site for the older ones last year. I called the CG in case they could use them for training, but they don't take 'em. I ended up driving to a local firehouse and gave them to the fireman who answered the door. I told him, "Here...have fun with 'em!"
Problem solved, mission accomplished.
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04-15-2018, 05:48 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Sidney BC Canada
Vessel Name: RochePoint
Vessel Model: 1985 Cheer Men PT38 Sedan
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,744
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Here in Canada the Canadian Power Squadron has flare days all across the country at local stores were you can drop them off for free and they are disposed of properly.
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04-15-2018, 07:17 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
City: Phoenix
Vessel Name: Interim
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 36
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 149
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We use our old flares for starting fires when we go to shore.
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04-15-2018, 08:01 PM
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#8
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,663
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gbinterim
We use our old flares for starting fires when we go to shore.
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You might want to mention that you are talking only about hand held flares. using a rocket flare to start a fire will start it all right, just not where you want it to start.
If you need to dispose of rockets, shooting them downwards into your wake will get rid of them without burning what shouldn't be burned and will familiarize you with shooting them.
__________________
Keith
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04-15-2018, 09:47 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: Phoenix
Vessel Name: Interim
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 36
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 149
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Well put, we use our hand held flares for starting fires. On the 4th of July we usually fire off our expired aerial flares. Thank you for the clarification.
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04-16-2018, 05:08 AM
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#10
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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In the past we have anchored in sight of the USCG station and informed them we are having a training drill , and will be lighting off flairs for the next 30 min.
The key is to inform them NOT ask for permission.
Np problems ,
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04-16-2018, 05:12 AM
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#11
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Guru
City: Sarasota,FL/Thomasville,GA
Vessel Name: Steppin Stone IV
Vessel Model: Marine Trader Kelly Trawler 46
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,815
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FF
In the past we have anchored in sight of the USCG station and informed them we are having a training drill , and will be lighting off flairs for the next 30 min.
The key is to inform them NOT ask for permission.
Np problems ,
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Great Idea
__________________
Alan
Skype roatan63
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04-16-2018, 07:22 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Even my favorite place, Chapman's school, stopped taking them.
I made a nice tax free contribution and my expired flares 'disappeared' LOL
Places for proper disposal are fast drying up.
Someone told me, their expired flares 'fall over the side' when they are 3 miles out.
Per shooting them off, once you get permission from the USCG, do a pom pom over channel 16 so other boater do think you are in trouble. When you run out of flares, pom pom so they know you are finished, unless you set your boat on fire. LL
Then call for help
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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04-16-2018, 08:42 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Quebec
Vessel Name: Bleuvet
Vessel Model: Custom Built
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,375
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When I got the boat the PO was keeping all old flares aboard, I had more than 50 decaying flares in a bag. I went to my local firefighters station to ask what to do with that and they directed me to the nearby recycling center, problem solved.
L
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04-16-2018, 08:49 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
City: Richmond
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 310
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Our local Power Squadron loves to get old flares to use in training classes. I'm guessing the Coast Guard Aux would like them as well.
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04-16-2018, 08:57 AM
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#15
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Guru
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,440
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I figure that if I need then there will never be enough, new or old so I keep them unless they are deteriorating or damaged.
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04-16-2018, 09:24 AM
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#16
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Hey bayview, didn't they name a yacht club after you or maybe you own it?
Keeping all those expired flares eventually become a fire hazard and ensures total destruction of you boat if it catches on fire. No one will want to come to your aid. LOL
A. put on PFD B. call for help C. toss really really expired flares over the side. LOL
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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04-16-2018, 08:48 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Tri Cities, WA
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,406
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If you belong to a yacht club you can hold a "Flare Demo Day". There's a USCG form that you need to fill out to let them know. I've done two for our club and invited the fire department and notified the Emergency Dispatch Center.
Invite club members to bring their old flares and shoot them off over the water.
__________________
Mike and Tina
1981 Boston Whaler 13'
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04-17-2018, 04:59 AM
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#18
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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C." toss really really expired flares over the side."
Quality flairs make a difference , we have a very pistol and have shot parachute flairs that are 30-40 years from mfg , and about 8 out of 10 worked.
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04-17-2018, 06:31 AM
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#19
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FF
C." toss really really expired flares over the side."
Quality flairs make a difference , we have a very pistol and have shot parachute flairs that are 30-40 years from mfg , and about 8 out of 10 worked.
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Corrections, "Fell over the side."
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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04-17-2018, 08:25 AM
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#20
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Member
City: Whidbey Island, Wa
Vessel Name: Grey Goose
Vessel Model: Compass 55 (Grand Harbour)
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 22
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Thanks for all the great tips. I no longer plan to keep 25 year old flares on the boat. They have gone to a better place. C
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