P 0 P E Y E
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
- Messages
- 441
OK, I know I am sort of a new guy around here who has been stirring up the mud a little, Hopefully in a positive way.
Here is an experience I had with flares last year that just might open a few eyes.
I planned a little Flare awareness cruise for 21 members of the Yacht Club I Manage.
I called the Local marine police, coast guard, Harbor Master, Harbor Management Commission and a few other local yocals to let then know that a Yacht Club Launch, 26 ft in length would be partaking in a signal flare testing and demonstration cruise at the entrance of the harbor on date and time specified.
It was a typical Saturday with some 20 or more boats doing usual boat stuff. There we were out of the channel but in plain sight on a beautiful day.
We must of shot off 150 flares of every shape and size. From the little plastic gun to the big aluminum $85 a pop ones.
Here are the results/conclusions
a. only one boat out of the 20 plus boats in visual contact approached us to ask if we were in distress. The rest had no clue.
b. the plastic shotgun kind with the 5 shot stripper clip barely shoot higher than the fly bridge of most boats.
C. If you ever need flares, you need a whole bunch apparently to attract any attention. Use the VHF or Cell and shoot off when you have visual contact with the authorities.
D. the big aluminum tube flares are the best, especially if you are any distance away from shore. Some of the ones we tested were over 19 years expired and still were brilliant.
E. I would say carry more flares or keep you old ones as spares. When you buy flares, make sure you are buying the freshest ones on the shelf.
It's good to know how a flare gun feels or a how to shoot a flare off ahead of time. Be careful and stay safe yall
Here is an experience I had with flares last year that just might open a few eyes.
I planned a little Flare awareness cruise for 21 members of the Yacht Club I Manage.
I called the Local marine police, coast guard, Harbor Master, Harbor Management Commission and a few other local yocals to let then know that a Yacht Club Launch, 26 ft in length would be partaking in a signal flare testing and demonstration cruise at the entrance of the harbor on date and time specified.
It was a typical Saturday with some 20 or more boats doing usual boat stuff. There we were out of the channel but in plain sight on a beautiful day.
We must of shot off 150 flares of every shape and size. From the little plastic gun to the big aluminum $85 a pop ones.
Here are the results/conclusions
a. only one boat out of the 20 plus boats in visual contact approached us to ask if we were in distress. The rest had no clue.
b. the plastic shotgun kind with the 5 shot stripper clip barely shoot higher than the fly bridge of most boats.
C. If you ever need flares, you need a whole bunch apparently to attract any attention. Use the VHF or Cell and shoot off when you have visual contact with the authorities.
D. the big aluminum tube flares are the best, especially if you are any distance away from shore. Some of the ones we tested were over 19 years expired and still were brilliant.
E. I would say carry more flares or keep you old ones as spares. When you buy flares, make sure you are buying the freshest ones on the shelf.
It's good to know how a flare gun feels or a how to shoot a flare off ahead of time. Be careful and stay safe yall
