G'Day, Please - does anyone have any comments regarding flares carried in PFD's??? Until recently I thought it sensible to carry flares in a lifejacket pocket because what was the point in having them in a kayak if you were separated from it or unable to readily access them when required? Now on New Years Eve, during a spectacular fireworks display in Sydney Harbour, a friend decided to try out a few flares as a way of celebrating the millennium. His description of their thermal intensity was somewhat disturbing!! Appparently they were capable of boiling a cubic foot of water. What if they went off accidentally in the PFD - I could imagine some pretty severe burns as a result! Can anyone comment on the chance of accidently setting off flares carried in the pocket of a PFD. This has been my practice for almost a year but I am having second thoughts? Also how robust are flares against exposure to salt water - I sometimes (often) get completely soaked when mucking about in surf and carrying flares in my lifejacket. Is this likely to compromise the flare?? Would be glad of any advice or experience on these matters. Regards, PeterO. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The small flares that fit into a PFD pocket are mainly a placebo or pacifier. For several reasons. 1. They have such little hang time (the amount of time they are in the air and possibly visible) that they likely only alert someone in the rare chance that they are looking your way at the precise few seconds of flaring. 2. There have been too many cases of failure, even for flares that have been carefully wrapped or left in the original packaging. If you are carrying 3 flares, you can pretty much count on 1 or 2 failing. 3. Yes, saltwater exposure will rust chains, compromise seals, etc. However, having said all that, they are still good to have on your person or PFD as they are better than nothing. ralph diaz Peter Osman wrote: > > G'Day, > > Please - does anyone have any comments regarding flares carried in PFD's??? > > Until recently I thought it sensible to carry flares in a lifejacket pocket > because what was the point in having them in a kayak if you were separated > from it or unable to readily access them when required? Now on New Years > Eve, during a spectacular fireworks display in Sydney Harbour, a friend > decided to try out a few flares as a way of celebrating the millennium. His > description of their thermal intensity was somewhat disturbing!! Appparently > they were capable of boiling a cubic foot of water. What if they went off > accidentally in the PFD - I could imagine some pretty severe burns as a > result! > > Can anyone comment on the chance of accidently setting off flares carried in > the pocket of a PFD. This has been my practice for almost a year but I am > having second thoughts? > > Also how robust are flares against exposure to salt water - I sometimes > (often) get completely soaked when mucking about in surf and carrying flares > in my lifejacket. Is this likely to compromise the flare?? > > Would be glad of any advice or experience on these matters. > > Regards, PeterO. > > *************************************************************************** > 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/ > *************************************************************************** -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I recently began to carry some small 'comet' brand flares in my PFD don't know about accidental ignition possiblities re waterproofing - I actually don't know. However, - One is in a manufacturer's sealed bag. - at the suggestion of wayne langmaid of ocean planet I placed the other in a condom and knotted it closed. both go into a plastic zip lock sample bag as used by geologists, geomorphologists etc, they're very robust. nick gill Peter Osman wrote: > G'Day, > > Please - does anyone have any comments regarding flares carried in PFD's??? > > Until recently I thought it sensible to carry flares in a lifejacket pocket > because what was the point in having them in a kayak if you were separated > from it or unable to readily access them when required? Now on New Years > Eve, during a spectacular fireworks display in Sydney Harbour, a friend > decided to try out a few flares as a way of celebrating the millennium. His > description of their thermal intensity was somewhat disturbing!! Appparently > they were capable of boiling a cubic foot of water. What if they went off > accidentally in the PFD - I could imagine some pretty severe burns as a > result! > > Can anyone comment on the chance of accidently setting off flares carried in > the pocket of a PFD. This has been my practice for almost a year but I am > having second thoughts? > > Also how robust are flares against exposure to salt water - I sometimes > (often) get completely soaked when mucking about in surf and carrying flares > in my lifejacket. Is this likely to compromise the flare?? > > Would be glad of any advice or experience on these matters. > > Regards, PeterO. > > *************************************************************************** > 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/ > *************************************************************************** -- Nicholas Gill Lecturer in Geography School of Geosciences University of Wollongong NSW 2522 Ph. 02 4221 3721 Fax. 02 4221 4250 *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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