(hope my post wonīt come duplicated again, Kirk. Weīll see...) Hi all, Nick has already mentioned several important points. I think itīs a kind of question of faith, but also a question of luck to get rescued. We canīt say WHICH flare will give us the needed help in dangerous situations. Fact is, every flare got itīs own area of application and we have to take the right mixture with us, depending on the special water-area, our abilities, weather. There is a group specific choice and the question which flares might be ideal for the region. For example, on a coast with many "eyes" a normal parachute rocket or even a hand flare together with a strobe ligth, might be enough. Even for a single paddler. But if you paddle on a lonely coast, maybe alaska, you canīt say "hey, someone will see my flare, for sure". Then it might be better to take the more expensive flares, like a VHF and a 406 Mhz COSPAS-SARSAT EPRIB, which will alert the officials in a safe way. But you also have to alert the next ship to get quick help. With an EPIRB or even via VHF it can take some time to send a ship or a helicopter. So, I would carry some parachute rockets almost everywhere. My advice for Chuck is, GET SOME NEW aerial flares, everytime they will be an approved backup. Itīs better to take little bit more flares, than too few one. Even by daylight a 30.000 candela red parachute rocket will give you some good chance to be seen. Under "alert red" conditions you always MUST have some luck, by every kind of flare. But itīs better to take the more approved ones. On tour, my maximum flare load is my handheld VHF, 2 parachute rockets red, 2 red hand flares, 1 smoke signal (on longer tours or harder conditions maybe a 2nd one (a pinpoint one or the 3minute swimming one)), a strobe light (the best one - an ACR firefly), a whistle, a UKE lamp with red light stick, some cyalume lights (together with the high intensity orange ones). I will buy the new McMurdo Fastfind EPIRB (brand new on market, first kayak fitting 406 Mhz EPIRB), soon I get enough money for it. On day trips or by calm conditions or in a group I take less flares with me. The minimum would be the handheld VHF + a smoke signal + a hand flare red. When we tried to paddle across north sea, we got alltogether 5 red paras, 3 white paras, 2 red handflares, 1 Mk5 smoke signal, 1 pinpoint smoke signal, 1 white hand flare, 25W VHF with DSC-C controlled alert signal with 5metre high standing antenna (plus reserve antenna), 4W handheld VHF, 1 firefly strobe ligth, several cyalumes, UKE 4AA lamp. ------ On more word to the new "FASTFIND" from http://www.McMurdo.co.uk It is an approved 406 Mhz EPIRB (emergency position indicated radio beacon). It is also vailable with an integrated GPS. Each EPIRB gots it own individual number (MMSI), so the official could find out something about the ship, the route or the person. A 406 Mhz signal with 5W output alerts via satelite the next "emergency bureau", its to hard for me to explain the exact way. With GPS, the position data will send with the MMSI-number, without GPS the beacon will be located via low orbiting satelites, working with the Doppler Effect. The beacon will be located within about 3-4 nautical miles. This takes a little bit more time. The beacon got a 2nd signal with a lower output (non specified) signal on 121,5 Mhz, it will be the "homing-signal", so the rescue units can plott the exact way to the beacon. Whats new on these Fastfind? Its the smallest one. The dimensions: 14,6cm x 7,8cm x 4,9 cm, weight 260g. With a bigger batterie its 1,1 cm thicker and weights 400g. It is waterproof up to effective 10metre. You could carry it in a jacket or PFD-pocket. I got the english promotion paper for the Fastfind, made some scans (pdf-file) and could send them to you... It will cost here in Germany in the normal version about 850 Euro (700 USD) and with GPS (Fastfind Plus) about 1315 Euro (1050 USD). It will be on eof the cheapest ones. There is one cheaper on the market, the Kannad 406 SX, but its a degenerated one. (The Kannad is cheap, cheap, cheap, but not really good. i.e. it gots NO homing signal). With my collecting order I could order it for about 700 (1080) Euro. The whole cospas-sarsat-system is a little bit more complex, I couldnīt explain it in few words. Who wants to know more about the COSPAS-SARSAT System should have a look under www.cospas-sarsat.org or try the US Coast Guard, there is the system explained also. With itīs alarm technique and also the false alerts stattistics and lots more. paddle long and safe - and its OK, so far you know where your towel is (hitch hikers guide to the galaxy) NO (never) PANIC :-)) Jochen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Feb 11 2002 - 11:33:21 PST
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