flares

[rolmops]

I had to replace my flares again. The three year expiration date is up.

I decided to to some price comparison checking   Cabela , West Marine , Bass pro, and Walmart.

At walmart the set of handheld Orion flares is $24,98 , the other stores charge between $34 and $38.

The flares you can shoot from a flare pistol  are $19.93 at Walmart and at least $10 dollars more in the other stores.

So the 2 packages totalled $45 at Wallmart. In one of the above mentioned stores these 2 products sold for $80.

I do not like shopping in Walmart, but I hate getting ripped of at stores that have the word sport or boat in their name.

Edited April 4, 2018 by rolmops

[dukhnter8]

I did that last year when mine were up also. Walmart was the cheapest, just have to check the expiration dates as I saw some old ones that had 2 years left.

[prayingmantis]

6 minutes ago, rolmops said:

I had to replace my flares again. The three year expiration date is up.

I decided to to some price comparison checking   Cabela , West Marine , Bass pro, and Walmart.

At walmart the set of handheld Orion flares is $24,98 , the other stores charge between $34 and $38.

The flares you can shoot from a flare pistol  are $19.93 at Walmart and at least $10 dollars more in the other stores.

So the 2 packages totalled $45 at Wallmart. In one of the above mentioned stores these 2 products sold for $80.

I do not like shopping in Walmart, but I hate getting ripped of at stores that have the word sport or boat in their name.

Mine also expired. Did the same thing. Question is do you know how to dispose of them 

[TileMan Dan]

Mine also expired. Did the same thing. Question is do you know how to dispose of them 

You dont need to get rid of them. They will still work.


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[Sk8man]

At Runnings an hour ago the 4 cartriges for the gun were over $30. while as you say Wallmart $20. You need to look closely at the Expiration date too as some of them are 2020 so only 2 years left.The dates are on the flares themselves (not the package) and need to be positioned just right n the package to see properly.

[rolmops]

Do I know how to get rid of the old ones?. They become part of the 4th of July fireworks!

[salmonaddict]

I am going to the new electronic beacon it is coastguard approved and cost 99$ but never has to be replaced


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[rolmops]

Have you ever needed them , and did they help?

[NymphO]

Keep the old ones, use them first if u needed too, and your legal with your new ones

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[zipnzim]

I carry my outdated flares but got tired of haveing to buy new flares so I purchased a coast Guard approved  S O S Distress Lidht

[TileMan Dan]

Mine also expired. Did the same thing. Question is do you know how to dispose of them 

You dont need to get rid of them. They will still work.


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[Smoke-N-Finn]

I had to replace my flares again. The three year expiration date is up.

I decided to to some price comparison checking   Cabela , West Marine , Bass pro, and Walmart.

At walmart the set of handheld Orion flares is $24,98 , the other stores charge between $34 and $38.

The flares you can shoot from a flare pistol  are $19.93 at Walmart and at least $10 dollars more in the other stores.

So the 2 packages totalled $45 at Wallmart. In one of the above mentioned stores these 2 products sold for $80.

I do not like shopping in Walmart, but I hate getting ripped of at stores that have the word sport or boat in their name.

Need one of these, no more flares needed, no more expiration. Got mine for $69 shipped

 

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[Smoke-N-Finn]

this

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[Sk8man]

That object brings up a question in my mind that has been there for awhile. I am wondering if many people these days actually know and recognize the SOS signal when it is displayed.

Here is a pretty good example to look at: http://www.askaprepper.com/10-ways-signal-sos/

 

Edited April 4, 2018 by Sk8man

[rolmops]

It is not so true that outdated flares work. After 5 years they often have to be ignited by open flame and even then I have had some of them fizzle out. I now have a policy of using them for fireworks while they still work.

As for the electric SOS beacon, you cannot shoot it very high into the sky, on the other hand it will work a lot longer than flares do.

[Smoke-N-Finn]

It is not so true that outdated flares work. After 5 years they often have to be ignited by open flame and even then I have had some of them fizzle out. I now have a policy of using them for fireworks while they still work.
As for the electric SOS beacon, you cannot shoot it very high into the sky, on the other hand it will work a lot longer than flares do.

The Led flares will go about as high as a hand flare which is all that is required. Not everyone has a flare gun. Except 3min burn time. VS 20+ hours.

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[rolmops]

Let us just hope that we never have to find out if they work when needed. I would much rather buy new ones every three years and replace them when their time comes.

But I have seen them used once. The flare gun ones. It was pouring rain and the in the waves the hand held ones would have been invisible. That little episode ended in me towing in a 22 footer rag boat with a broken line that made it impossible to keep the sail up and a seriously upset and seasick wife on board. I believe that the guy could have handled the boat, as for the wife, I did prefer not to inquire.

Edited April 4, 2018 by rolmops

[emtystringer]

not sure but some stuff is coast guard approved but you need hand held flairs to be approved in New  York State it is different than coast guard approved

[Smoke-N-Finn]

not sure but some stuff is coast guard approved but you need hand held flairs to be approved in New  York State it is different than coast guard approved

Cause New York State knows more than Coast guard. Read the federal regs. I doubt new your state has additional, but could be wrong. This replaces hand held flares. But I will never be in New York so I'm safe. I would rather pay for new batteries rather than trust a 3 min. Flare. That expires every 3 years. But each to his own.

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[salmonaddict]

Coastguard Oswego station says they are good everywhere


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[emtystringer]

its ok with coast guard but New York over rules the coast guard .Good LUCK Iif you get boarded by the DEC i know from experiance

[jimski2]

Try testing your old flares. I found they would not open up where you twist the end cap. Do not depend on the hand held flares if you can not open them up.  Why they are approved is dangerous.

[Rookie Fisherman]

12 hours ago, emtystringer said:

not sure but some stuff is coast guard approved but you need hand held flairs to be approved in New  York State it is different than coast guard approved

 

 

Was just reviewing this last night for the upcoming season.  Below is taken from the New York State Boaters guide handbook.

My read is that an "approved" electric distress light device is now acceptable for night time.

 

"Most boats can meet this requirement by simply carrying three USCG approved day/night hand held flares. You may also carry any combination of three-day and three night-approved pyrotechnic de- vices. Non-pyrotechnic options include an approved electric distress light (for night) or an orange distress flag (for day). Whichever you choose, all devices must be in serviceable condition and readily accessible.  For pyrotechnics, the expiration date, as printed on the de- vice, must not have lapsed. When buying pyrotechnic visual distress equipment always look for the freshest devices possible, those with at least three years of service life would be the newest."

 

The State guidelines do not state who the device must be approved by. Maybe the Coast Guard

[dukhnter8]

I use the old ones to start bonfires we have. Also I have handed them to my wife and had her start them by herself so she knows how to do that. She is the one that is out with me most often and if I didn't show/teach her these things when things are calm then she may panic when things go bad and if something happened to me.

[wishinfishin]

When is a boat required to have flares? Meaning is it after a certain length boat or ?

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