Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 5212
Loc: London
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The post in the lounge about an inland flare got me thinking ( thats not a good thing  ) Should a boat on an inland water way carry flares ? Forget the jokes i was going to add them myself .
Lets keep it to non tidal water ways ......
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Dont come running to me if you fall over and break your leg .
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BrendanS
regular
Reged: 11/06/2002
Posts: 39136
Loc: Me: Wilts. Boat: Lymington
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No reason why not, as many rivers and canals have fairly rural isolated stretches, and very few listeners on vhf. The downside is that few people inland would recognise a flare, or report it, as not the culture of people who live near coast. Upside is that your mobile phone more likely to be in a coverage area.
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and as everyone else is doing it
www.plaintalkconsulting.co.uk
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byron
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6844
Loc: UK -Berks
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Quote:
The post in the lounge about an inland flare got me thinking ( thats not a good thing ) Should a boat on an inland water way carry flares ? Forget the jokes i was going to add them myself .
Lets keep it to non tidal water ways ......
Anthing that would attract attention to you if you had a problem can't be a bad thing 
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http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
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marc1957
regular
Reged: 29/11/2007
Posts: 18
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Not a lot of point, really. Most inland waterways are swimmable/shoutable and are pretty busy with boaters and walkers. Can you imagine the havoc caused by hire fleet muppets thinking that flares make really nice fireworks!!!
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byron
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6844
Loc: UK -Berks
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Quote:
Not a lot of point, really. Most inland waterways are swimmable/shoutable and are pretty busy with boaters and walkers. Can you imagine the havoc caused by hire fleet muppets thinking that flares make really nice fireworks!!!
I don't think anyone is advocating issueing Flares to hire boats. The question is "do flares have any use on inland waterways". Whilst unlikely I believe there are cirumstances when they could prove of value. There are isolated reaches where one would attract attention of searchers or the public. I know of one instance many years ago when a flare would have drawn the searching Police 'copter to someone who was unable to leave their crew mate. Evince some canal boaters who wear lifejackets while boating on waters 4' deep. Highly unlikely to be needed but would you deny that there are situations when one could save a life, falling overboard unconcious maybe.
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marc1957
regular
Reged: 29/11/2007
Posts: 18
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Never been able to set off a flare whilst unconcious! but can see the point about lifejackets. Problem is, it's the Hire boat muppets that are most likely to need them! However, to be effective, a flare must be seen as such and the observer know how to respond. (calling emergency Services etc). At sea flares are instantly recognisable and other mariners (should) know the response. Even then in anything but inshore waters or a busy shipping lane, the chances of a flare being seen are slim. Do we really need to bog down boating with even more 'elf & safety?
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teddington_lock
regular
Reged: 23/10/2007
Posts: 317
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I once ( allegedly )set off a parachute flare on bonfire night ( i lived in Wembley at the time ) ....
You have never seen anything so bright , nor anyone run as fast as when that little pink sun lit up the surrounding 10 square miles , and floated downwards over the course of the next minute .....
Unbeleiveable .... until you've set one off you can't begin to explain to someone how bright they really are !!
Edited by teddington_lock (26/03/2008 07:57)
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byron
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6844
Loc: UK -Berks
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Quote:
Never been able to set off a flare whilst unconcious! but can see the point about lifejackets. Problem is, it's the Hire boat muppets that are most likely to need them! However, to be effective, a flare must be seen as such and the observer know how to respond. (calling emergency Services etc). At sea flares are instantly recognisable and other mariners (should) know the response. Even then in anything but inshore waters or a busy shipping lane, the chances of a flare being seen are slim. Do we really need to bog down boating with even more 'elf & safety?
The question posed is quite simple. "Would a flare ever be of use on an inland waterway". The answer has to be 'possibly' but you are obviously far more experienced than me in nautical matters and you say 'NO' so I will bow to your superior knowledge.
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http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
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Forbsie
regular
Reged: 09/03/2002
Posts: 2826
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I thought that the problem was that at sea the flare lights up the sky then drops into the sea still alight, whereas on inland waterways it may drop onto a property still alight.
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B175Chris
regular
Reged: 06/06/2006
Posts: 7030
Loc: B'ham + Port Grimaud
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I can attest to the brightness! 
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"Les Freres Heureux?"
"The Happy Brothers! It's homey, but just hard enough to pronounce to intimidate the riff-raff!"
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