Rob said: >I use the pencil flares...They may present an issue in retrieving and screwing on in heavy seas, but at least they work.< During our Storm Island rescue, we launched a number of pistol-fired 12-gauge flares. They were much better than the small cylinder flares normally carried by paddlers, and much easier to fire, though you need two hands too, for loading and reloading. We had to raft up to fire the flare guns, but I imagine it could be done solo, in extremis, as sometimes just about anything can be done when life is on the line. However, the flares failed to attract initial attention, nor did they help substantially, at first, in helping the vessel of opportunity and subsequently the airforce Hercules to pinpoint our position. Smoke flares would have been better, though they would have dissipated quickly in the wind. Smokies can be even harder to hang on to, for a solo paddler, in rough seas - depending on skill and kayak stability. As the coast guard officer said, if your backup plan includes the use of hand-held or hand-fired flares, and it is too difficult to do that from your paddle-craft, perhaps you shouldn't be paddling in those conditions. Like duh. Like he was right, though. Tony said: >Does anyone have any data on how many kayakers lives are saved annually when the rescue resulted from the use of flares?< Much of the data wouldn't be kept officially anywhere, as I imagine many a flare-initiated rescue were responded too by other vessels in the immediate area, without coast guard or official action. As to whether one should carry flares, type, number, etc, remember the "P's & Q's" of emergency signalling: Practice, Preparation, Quality, Quantity. you can take that one to the bank (better take your Visa card too!). Doug Lloyd Victoria BC *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Jun 02 2004 - 06:30:46 PDT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:31:15 PDT