Re: [Paddlewise] Pencil Flares:was need new pfd

From: <Rcgibbert_at_aol.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 13:35:26 EDT
In a message dated 5/30/2004 6:41:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net writes:


> I  keep
> three of those fairly  useless small red flares in there in  a dry bag.
> Once a year I shoot them off and buy new ones.  Every year only one works.

I use the pencil flares. They are screw on cylinders that fit atop a spring 
loaded launcher. They are bright and high flying. In all my yearly flare 
retirement launches I have yet to see one fail. The *fairly worthless red flares* 
you mention maybe the same as the fairly worthless red flares I used to buy. 
they fail at about the 60-65% ratio, too.

I keep a small waterproof hard case in my pfd pocket with the flares and 
launcher. It also keeps my vitamin I, tums, epoxy filler and duct tape. They may 
present an issue in retrieving and screwing on in heavy seas, but at least they 
work. They are waterproof, so I might store a preloaded one in a cigar tube. 
I make absolutely certain no contact between the primer and firing pin is 
made. When in need I can tighten the flare onto launcher and slide the firing pin 
back and fire. I'm not particularly recommending this, as it can be dangerous, 
I'm just stating how I solved the problem of highly unreliable flares stored 
on ones person.

Any one bought a shoulder or chest holster and mounted the orange 12 guage 
flare pistol in it? Thought about it for about 3 seconds and then the Dirty 
Harry comparisons one will likely receive at every launch and landing would be too 
much. 

Rob G
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Received on Tue Jun 01 2004 - 10:35:52 PDT

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