Though I've carried them for years, I've been rethinking the usefulness of aerial flares, especially now that the latest set is about to go out of date and needs replacement. I'd like the opinions of other Paddlewisers on this subject. On the negative side, though flares are most useful after dark, I rarely paddle after dark, and only once paddled solo, on a starry night with light ripples and almost no wind. Furthermore, I have plenty of backup devices, which include an emergency flasher attached to the shoulder of my PFD, a waterproof headlamp, an LED light, a VHF radio, a GPS for sending my exact location, and, for daylight use, a signal mirror and an orange distress flag. Note that if you carry the flasher, Inland Rules do not require you to also carry flares. The Skyblazer flares I carry are notoriously unreliable unless fresh, and cannot be tested without firing them off. Disposal is also a problem. In contrast, battery-powered devices can be tested before every trip, and spare batteries are easy to carry. On the positive side, aerial flares are the only signaling devices I carry that can be seen over the horizon. However, if you wait to fire off your limited supply of flares until you see another vessel or aircraft, that advantage is lost. My wilderness paddling is normally among Lake Superior's Apostle Islands, where there is a fair amount of pleasure boat traffic, or in true wilderness along the Canadian shore of Lake Superior, where there is little boat or plane traffic, any signal is less likely to be seen, and even radio communications is uncertain. How say you -- yea or nay? Chuck Holst -----Original Message----- From: Steven A. Holtzman [SMTP:sh_at_actglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 8:03 AM To: Doug Lloyd; PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Laser Flares Doug, Please post whatever you are able to find out about these. They look intriguing. After having watched the demonstration of all of the different types of flares in Wayne Horodowich's video on caspsize and recovery. I have had to completely re-think my options of being seen. Although flares are great at night, the visibility of most of them is terrible during the day. During the daylight trials, the only ones that I was able to see were the ones fired from the small 12 guage pistols--and they were still hard to see. Steve Holtzman *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 13:21 09/02/2002 -0600, Chuck Holst wrote: >I've been rethinking the usefulness of >aerial flares, especially now that the latest set is about to go out of >date and needs replacement. I'd like the opinions of other Paddlewisers on >this subject. I think this is going to be a fascinating discussion! Just some initial thoughts to add to Chuck's: ->Flares are understood by most people to mean distress - but you usually have to put at least two in succession up before people believe they actually saw it. And you'll then want more to have in reserve: gets pricey and bulky; ->Orange smoke daylight flares are pretty visible: but disperse very quickly in strong winds; ->My kayak club arranged with the local coastguard to practice using flares (recently time expired); they all fired, but quite a few got caught by the wind and went all over the place. Flares are not very good at pinpointing position. Some were very fiddly to operate: and this was in sheltered, warm, non-emergency circumstances. One person got slightly burnt; -> All too often shipping now relies purely on electronic methods of watch (radio, radar, auto-pilot etc.) rather than visual. -> Flares give no feedback to the kayaker in distress: you rarely know whether or not they have been seen and acted on. I don't think flares have altogether had their day, but my gut feeling is that in the majority of circumstances they are no longer a first resort for summoning help. It would be interesting to know what proportion of rescues have resulted from flares as compared to, say, VHF, EPIRBs or other electronic means - and indeed, of any information on flares having failed to get a response. I intend to contact the U.K. coastguard to get their take on this, and will post their reply. Nick (Scottish Highlands) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
(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/ ***************************************************************************
. Quoting "Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats" published by US Coast Guard: "Under Inland navigation Rules, a high intensity white light flashing at regular intervals from 50-70 times per minute is considered a distress signal. Such devices do NOT count toward meeting the visual distress signal requirement however." An "electric distress light" that automatically flashes SOS is acceptable for night use if marked that it meets 46CFR161.013. I have seen quite a few strobes, but does anyone have a source for a suitable "electric distress light"? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Never miss a good chance to shut up." Will Rogers WhiteRabbit - ICQ#111665477 --------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Holst" <cholst_at_bitstream.net> To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2002 1:21 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] Aerial Flares >Furthermore, I have plenty of backup devices, > which include an emergency flasher attached to the shoulder of my PFD, a > <clip> > Note that if you carry the flasher, Inland Rules do not require you > to also carry flares. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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