Lower Fore St, Beer, East Devon, EX12 3EG
Distress Flares form an essential part of the safety equipment inventory on any yacht or boat that ventures to sea. Flares are like an insurance policy – all sorted and up to date, just in case the worst happens, but hopefully never actually used. Flares all have an expiry date which is effectively a maximum of 4 seasons. Old, out of date flares should be disposed of and not kept onboard even as a back-up.
Flare pack contents are limited in quantity so ensure that there is a good chance of being seen before you set one off. The earth’s curvature creates the horizon and the distance is dependent upon height above sea level e.g. you may be able to see the light on top of a yacht’s mast from your deck but that does not mean that their crew will be able to see your hand flare from their deck.
It is therefore important to select the right type and colour for different situations/incidents.
Flares, even when set off correctly, can be dangerously hot, so a leather protective glove (or a pair depending on the intricacy of the firing mechanism) is a good addition to your flares polybottle. Practice is a good idea, but only on an official safety course when the Coastguard have been informed.
Illumination Flares – produce a bright red or white light - effective in murky weather or at night (dim light or darkness) – not so effective in bright light - red is for attracting attention, white is for illuminating an incident but can also be used for attracting attention.
There are 2 types of Illumination Flare:
Smoke Flares – produce a dense orange smoke – visible in daylight – ineffective at night - for attracting attention
There are 2 types of Smoke Flare:
Flares are available individually or in packs.
Select your pack according to how far offshore you intend to venture.
Electronic generally means a floating, battery operated, Red LED light with no heat, flames or personal risk.
Electronic flares are therefore only an alternative or better still a back up to your red hand held flares.
Electronic Advantages: