VHF radio/flares
Discussion
Slightly off topic....
But I've just replaced my flare set, and have a full set of old ones (coastal pack plus a couple of extras). OP is welcome to these, or some of these (the handheld ones?) for free, but not sure if the out-of-date thing will matter. I'm certain they'll still work OK and the date is just for extra safety, but depends on the organisers!
Anyway... I've been reliably informed that setting off flares is a tricky business, and that the handhelds get very hot (I've got a welder's glove in my flare pack on advice of another forum). But having never needed to set one off, I've got no real idea of how they work, how hot they get, and I'd probably have to read the instructions to work out how to set them off. Not ideal in an emergency situation.
Is there ever any opportunity to test these things legally?
EVERY other item of safety equipment on my boat is checked regularly, and I know how it all works (OK, I've never set off the EPIRB, but I know exactly where to prod it). The flares are the only single thing that would be 'first use' in an emergency situation, which is far from ideal.
Basically, I want to learn how to set off a parachute flare so that I could do it under pressure.
But I've just replaced my flare set, and have a full set of old ones (coastal pack plus a couple of extras). OP is welcome to these, or some of these (the handheld ones?) for free, but not sure if the out-of-date thing will matter. I'm certain they'll still work OK and the date is just for extra safety, but depends on the organisers!
Anyway... I've been reliably informed that setting off flares is a tricky business, and that the handhelds get very hot (I've got a welder's glove in my flare pack on advice of another forum). But having never needed to set one off, I've got no real idea of how they work, how hot they get, and I'd probably have to read the instructions to work out how to set them off. Not ideal in an emergency situation.
Is there ever any opportunity to test these things legally?
EVERY other item of safety equipment on my boat is checked regularly, and I know how it all works (OK, I've never set off the EPIRB, but I know exactly where to prod it). The flares are the only single thing that would be 'first use' in an emergency situation, which is far from ideal.
Basically, I want to learn how to set off a parachute flare so that I could do it under pressure.
maser_spyder said:
Slightly off topic....
But I've just replaced my flare set, and have a full set of old ones (coastal pack plus a couple of extras). OP is welcome to these, or some of these (the handheld ones?) for free, but not sure if the out-of-date thing will matter. I'm certain they'll still work OK and the date is just for extra safety, but depends on the organisers!
Anyway... I've been reliably informed that setting off flares is a tricky business, and that the handhelds get very hot (I've got a welder's glove in my flare pack on advice of another forum). But having never needed to set one off, I've got no real idea of how they work, how hot they get, and I'd probably have to read the instructions to work out how to set them off. Not ideal in an emergency situation.
Is there ever any opportunity to test these things legally?
EVERY other item of safety equipment on my boat is checked regularly, and I know how it all works (OK, I've never set off the EPIRB, but I know exactly where to prod it). The flares are the only single thing that would be 'first use' in an emergency situation, which is far from ideal.
Basically, I want to learn how to set off a parachute flare so that I could do it under pressure.
I went on a training course for flares and liferaft use ages ago.But I've just replaced my flare set, and have a full set of old ones (coastal pack plus a couple of extras). OP is welcome to these, or some of these (the handheld ones?) for free, but not sure if the out-of-date thing will matter. I'm certain they'll still work OK and the date is just for extra safety, but depends on the organisers!
Anyway... I've been reliably informed that setting off flares is a tricky business, and that the handhelds get very hot (I've got a welder's glove in my flare pack on advice of another forum). But having never needed to set one off, I've got no real idea of how they work, how hot they get, and I'd probably have to read the instructions to work out how to set them off. Not ideal in an emergency situation.
Is there ever any opportunity to test these things legally?
EVERY other item of safety equipment on my boat is checked regularly, and I know how it all works (OK, I've never set off the EPIRB, but I know exactly where to prod it). The flares are the only single thing that would be 'first use' in an emergency situation, which is far from ideal.
Basically, I want to learn how to set off a parachute flare so that I could do it under pressure.
We had special permission from the coastguard to set off some flares at the end of a pontoon on the upper reaches of the Hamble.
The handheld flares are quite dangerous. As you say, they get very hot, and they actually continue burning even when under water. Scary stuff. Obvious advice is never let them off holding them over the deck, and on the leeward side so that any burning debris doesn't fall on your boat.
Also, orange smokes to leeward, as breathing in the stuff would be nasty.
Nothing to do with this, but I found that getting into a liferaft was a bit tricky too, even when dressed in nothing more than a pair of budgie smugglers. I'd imagine it's not something I'd want to do in a big sea dressed in foulies and an inflated lifejacket.
Riff Raff said:
I went on a training course for flares and liferaft use ages ago.
We had special permission from the coastguard to set off some flares at the end of a pontoon on the upper reaches of the Hamble.
The handheld flares are quite dangerous. As you say, they get very hot, and they actually continue burning even when under water. Scary stuff. Obvious advice is never let them off holding them over the deck, and on the leeward side so that any burning debris doesn't fall on your boat.
Also, orange smokes to leeward, as breathing in the stuff would be nasty.
Nothing to do with this, but I found that getting into a liferaft was a bit tricky too, even when dressed in nothing more than a pair of budgie smugglers. I'd imagine it's not something I'd want to do in a big sea dressed in foulies and an inflated lifejacket.
Was that an RYA course? I'm quite keen to do a liferaft and or marine first aid course, so might look to do it late summer or something.We had special permission from the coastguard to set off some flares at the end of a pontoon on the upper reaches of the Hamble.
The handheld flares are quite dangerous. As you say, they get very hot, and they actually continue burning even when under water. Scary stuff. Obvious advice is never let them off holding them over the deck, and on the leeward side so that any burning debris doesn't fall on your boat.
Also, orange smokes to leeward, as breathing in the stuff would be nasty.
Nothing to do with this, but I found that getting into a liferaft was a bit tricky too, even when dressed in nothing more than a pair of budgie smugglers. I'd imagine it's not something I'd want to do in a big sea dressed in foulies and an inflated lifejacket.
maser_spyder said:
Riff Raff said:
I went on a training course for flares and liferaft use ages ago.
We had special permission from the coastguard to set off some flares at the end of a pontoon on the upper reaches of the Hamble.
The handheld flares are quite dangerous. As you say, they get very hot, and they actually continue burning even when under water. Scary stuff. Obvious advice is never let them off holding them over the deck, and on the leeward side so that any burning debris doesn't fall on your boat.
Also, orange smokes to leeward, as breathing in the stuff would be nasty.
Nothing to do with this, but I found that getting into a liferaft was a bit tricky too, even when dressed in nothing more than a pair of budgie smugglers. I'd imagine it's not something I'd want to do in a big sea dressed in foulies and an inflated lifejacket.
Was that an RYA course? I'm quite keen to do a liferaft and or marine first aid course, so might look to do it late summer or something.We had special permission from the coastguard to set off some flares at the end of a pontoon on the upper reaches of the Hamble.
The handheld flares are quite dangerous. As you say, they get very hot, and they actually continue burning even when under water. Scary stuff. Obvious advice is never let them off holding them over the deck, and on the leeward side so that any burning debris doesn't fall on your boat.
Also, orange smokes to leeward, as breathing in the stuff would be nasty.
Nothing to do with this, but I found that getting into a liferaft was a bit tricky too, even when dressed in nothing more than a pair of budgie smugglers. I'd imagine it's not something I'd want to do in a big sea dressed in foulies and an inflated lifejacket.
That particular school is no longer operating. There must be others about though that do the same sort of stuff.
MOTORVATOR said:
Riff Raff said:
Nothing to do with this, but I found that getting into a liferaft was a bit tricky too, even when dressed in nothing more than a pair of budgie smugglers.
I can understand that, I'd have been pushing you back out of the liferaft too. 
Have a look here http://www.warsashacademy.co.uk/home.aspx for training courses.
The best IMO, and I absolutely love going there.
The best IMO, and I absolutely love going there.
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