I want to fire a flare

[capttb]

Why are you guys getting rid of "out-dated" flares. The odds of the flare knowing that it is out-dated and not working are pretty slim. How many could you possibly have?

Well, I try to keep it down to 2 guns, 15 shells, 6 smokes and 6 handheld flares but they still breed in the dark. Where do all the cheap orange life vests come from? Leave 2 in a dock box and when you come back there are 6.

[sailingdog]

Having too many aboard can be a fire hazard if you don't have the space to store them properly.

Originally Posted by T34C

OK, I gotta ask. Why are you guys getting rid of "out-dated" flares. The odds of the flare knowing that it is out-dated and not working are pretty slim. How many could you possibly have? In a real emergency you just might need an extra flare or two. Ever read any accounts of people in liferafts having to throw flares over the side because they have too many????
Funny, I haven't either.

[gregpecaut]

If you remember the forest fires in Fla. several years ago, the A$$ H01e that started those fires used marine flares. I would not set one off from my back yard, you could start a forest fire, or the next Chicago fire. I shoot them off on the 4th with everyone else. Only one though and I let some one who hasn't ever fired a flare do it so they have done it. They're no big deal. Very low recoil. You can get white flares and practice with one of them, then keep the other 2 for emegencies, like when a ship is going to run you over. I keep my expired flares with my new ones. 3 just doesn't seem like enough. Firing the oldest one on the 4th of July.

[badsanta]

You don’t need to get rid of the expired ones. Just keep fresh for the inspection and shoot the old ones first in an emergency. If in real trouble I want more than just the minimum.

[davidpm]

I called the CG and was told that they recommended setting off flairs for practice. He said to just call them on VHS or cell phone and tell them your position and time of firing so any reports could be safely ignored.

He said he does it all the time.
As he said "when you have 5 minutes to live and are in 30 degree water it is not the time to start reading the directions.

[TillerJohn]

Channel 16 in Los Angeles has Coast Guard announcements of non-emergency flare shootings all the time, usually for movie filming. The USCG gives the time and the place of the firing starting about 3 hours in advance, with announcements every 30 minutes until the firing time. It all seems pretty simple and straightforward as long as you tell them ahead of time what you are doing and you are not endangering yourself or others.

[MoonSailer]

I've shot them off in my back yard. Not anywhere as impressive as typical fireworks. I like to do it after a rain. I was really impressed by the low altitude and relatively dim light produced. Much cheaper fireworks show up better. BUT I live kind of out in the country and shoot them when all of the kids in the neighborhood are shooting off fireworks too.

[sailingdog]

You're obviously not using SOLAS grade flares.

Originally Posted by MoonSailer

I've shot them off in my back yard. Not anywhere as impressive as typical fireworks. I like to do it after a rain. I was really impressed by the low altitude and relatively dim light produced. Much cheaper fireworks show up better. BUT I live kind of out in the country and shoot them when all of the kids in the neighborhood are shooting off fireworks too.

[trantor12020]

we use our expired flares on every 31december 12midnight. ships anchor in habour also fired off their flares and blow the horns.

[Freesail99]

I shot off three different types of flares, the stick type most of us have and with my German flare gun, 12 gauge flares and 26.5 size flares. The 26.5 by far went the highest into the air.