Re: [Paddlewise] waterproof flares

Tom wrote:

>
>I just checked my ditty bag yesterday and found a bit of water got inside my
>flares.  The rocket flares seem to be all plastic and from the outside look
>ok.  The handheld flares turned out to be cardboard and one of them fell
>apart.
>1) recommendations on truely waterproof flares and where to get them?  I got
>mine at west marine.

There are some flares made for SCUBA divers.  I have looked at the local
dive shops, but have found any.  In the meantime, I took a ziplock bag (and
let the air out to avoid hot air expansion) and sealed it with a good dose
of Aquaseal.



>2) How do you store them so you can get them when you need them?  I don't want
>to have to fumble with goofy bags.

I can carry them in the (1) the pocket of my PFD or, (2) a pocket in my
spray skirt, or (3) a little fanny pack attached to the back of my PFD.  It
is a roll-up; clip bag... but if you roll... that leaks too.  Sealing with
"sex-wax" ...the stuff surfers use, is supposed to help the seal, but I
haven't been able to achieve much success at keeping the water out of these
bags when emmersed.  Gronseth is supposedly designing a new bag with Lotus
PFDs.  Perhaps that will be out in 1999.


>
>PS my "waterproof" combo flashlite/strobe sucked water too.  It's going back
>to ACR.

The dive shop is the best place to get the flashlights and strobes.  There
are some great little lights... and I mean little that will easily fit into
the PFD pockets. I use these little lights and the only light source for
night diving.  It's easy to carry a spare tucked away in a pocket or
clipped to a vest or deck line.

Robert



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