Dave wrote, "Pure latex rubber is notoriously susceptible to degradation from a variety of contaminants -- atmospheric ozone (smog has similar stuff in it) being a prime culprit. And, sunlight will degrade latex fairly rapidly." >From practical experience in waterproofing batteries and other equipment during testing EPIRBs at sea and other related, short term testing, I agree strongly with Dave that condoms are definitely not a good long term storage device. They're good for a day or two, max, in even relatively controlled situations. Condoms used to --- and may still --- be included in U.S. Navy aircraft survival kits, listed in the inventory as "water containers". (They also used to be freely dispensed by the ship's Chaplains in the "liberty line" of sailors awaiting the P-boats to carry them ashore, but my guess is that canteens were not the focus of the practice --- and my other guess is that the practice may not be so obvious any more, if it's carried out at all in the "new Navy". To Peter O's comment about double-ended flare/smoke combinations, which I unintentionally deleted: dunno for sure what you have there, Peter, but standard survival systems in the Navy did, and probably still do, contain a combo flare/smoke in a cannister about two inches in diameter and six inches long; one end is a handheld red-orange flare --- not a deployable or parachute system --- and the other is an orange smoke. The smoke is far more visible in bright daylight and the handheld flare is obviously better during the night. (The smoke also gives the SAR aircraft a better local wind direction, which pilots appreciate in setting up approaches.) I'm not familiar with any combo devices which include a shootable flare and a smoke, but that would be neat if that's how they worked. And, yes, you can light both ends simultaneously, but keep then at full arms' length. The tend to be nasty. Better option to any of the small deployable "pencil" flares is the 12 gauge or 25 mm parachute flare. They have historically come with an internatinal orange pistol for launching --- looks like a sidearm from "Toons", but still might make for an uncomfortable boarder crossing inspection! --- and takes up a lot of room; think I just saw a new Orion system for launching 12 gauge flares that is straight, and would be easier to pack in a deck bag, hatch or below deck or in a drybox. These hummers get altitude, hang time, and are ten times brighter than so-called pencil flares. If I were doing a longer crossing or open water work, I'd carry them in a small Pelican-type drybox, and also carry a small ACR "Firefly" strobe light powered by replacable "AA" cell batteries. Very bright, small, light, waterproof, and ACR stands behind them, in or out of warranty, with or without damage. (ACR recently replaced mine when it failed to operate after a pretty good and obvious hit, no que! ! stions asked; they're pricey [maybe $50 to 60 US] but worth every penny if they're ever needed.) And there's always the use of retroreflective tape on the shoulder straps of PFDs, but that's probably another re-tread thread waiting to happen, I guess ... Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Feb 22 2000 - 06:43:38 PST
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