I have some of the Orion ski-safe flares because they are small, inexpensive and meet USCG requirements for operating at night. I seldom go paddling at night so didn't elect to spend the money to get something more useful. I also have some Orion handheld flares which are very inexpensive, have a long burn time and are reasonably bright, but nothing like the Pains-Wessex handheld flares which are much brighter. The parachute flares that I am familliar for a pistol launcher are for the 25mm pistol only. They sound good but the pistol is fairly expensive and the 25mm parachute flares go about $34 each. I have some Pains-Wessex parachute flares on my sailboat. They are great flares but due to size and cost ($40 each) I will not be taking them in my kayak. As for EPIRB's, the 121.5 MHz units commonly used by kayakers are small and comparatively inexpensive but they operate on a crowded frequency. Positioning accuracy is estimated at about 12 miles. There are so many false signals on this frequency that response time is usually very slow. 406 MHz units on the other hand, are very accurate for positioning, transmit a unique identity signal so that emergency response crews can identify the source (you must register them so that your name and vessel ID are known. Emergency telephone contact numbers are also required so that they can call first to check with whomever answers to confirm before sending out the troops.) They will usually bring rapid response anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, they start at nearly $1000, are large and heavy and periodic battery replacement costs a small fortune. It is a calculated risk but I usually don't take any of this equipment paddling. I always dress for immersion (wetsuit), wear a very buoyant PFD, I wear a helmet when paddling the exposed coast, carry a good first aid kit and pack along a fair supply of water. If I were going some place that was very remote, I might take along the 406MHz EPIRB that is actually registered to my sailboat. Cautiously, Dave Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Jul 17 1999 - 23:53:31 PDT
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