Keep them on board and use them first, leaving the new ones as a last resort.
We get heaps handed in to Carnarvon sea rescue and even with running flare demos we have too many for us to use. If you have to get rid of them then DoT should take them.
Have checked and had a discussion with DOT and Water Police when I was in Karratha. The Law states that you have to have a set onboard that's in date. Apart from that there is no other guidance as to other flares.
I keep all my old flares. Ill look but think there is 4 sets in the emergency area. The requirement is that you have one set off in date flares onboard, but it isn't a problem with how many expired ones you have. In an emergency I would like to have as many as possible and would use the oldest first. If they don't work then there is always others to fall back on.
Edit: do a search as this topic has been covered a few times and you will find that most would keep their expired flares.
But Im sure that the cops told me in date is the requirement. I specifically asked about whether it was a problem carrying "old" flares though. Knew a couple of Water Police up there.
Shammy, that changed a couple of years ago, your flares must now be in date on rec boats.
And in some states (Victoria is one) it is illegal to have out of date flares, but thankfully common sense prevails here and we can have out of date flares as spares so long as there are a set of in date ones on board.
cransy..another government dept cock up i think, but only on phone now need laptop..
The brochure distributed by said frigging govt dept references marine order part 25...
This does not apply to recreational vessels...i may stand corrected but if they invokeMO part 25 then rec fishers in albany and esperance may need exposure suits and line throwing appliances....but i need my laptop to read.
Attention: News Editor/Chief of Staff
May 29, 2013
For immediate release
July 1 deadline nears for flares to be in date
Skippers in WA required to carry flares must ensure they have an in date set on board from July
1, 2013.
Department of Transport (DoT) Marine Operations Director Ray Buchholz said expired flares in
good condition were not reliable and there was a risk they would fail in an emergency.
The deadline was announced last November following a survey revealing around half of vessels
operating in unprotected waters in WA carried out of date flares. There is also evidence flares
become increasing less reliable the older they are.
“The information prompted a decision to take a firm stance on the carriage of expired flares in
the interest of saving lives on the water in WA,” Mr Buchholz said.
“From July 1, 2013 skippers operating in waters where flares are a required piece of safety
equipment must carry an in date set or risk a $160 fine.”
Mr Buchholz said out of date flares may be carried on board a vessel as spares or skippers
could correctly dispose of out of date flares by dropping them at the DoT offices listed as
collection centres (www.transport.wa.gov.au/dontexpire).
He said it was pleasing that the majority of skippers had supported the changes and had acted
to ensure their flares where in date ahead of the deadline.
To assist skippers to manage the expiry dates on flares and other safety equipment DoT
launched the Don’t Expire campaign which includes practical advice and the tools to keep track
of safety equipment with an expiry date.
A special sticker is available to record the expiry dates for flares, emergency position indicating
radio beacons (EPIRB), fire extinguishers and inflatable life jackets. Skippers can also set the
expiry dates in their diary or on their mobile phone to remember to service or replace safety
equipment.
Free Don’t Expire stickers and brochures are available from DoT's Marine Safety Education
Trailer which attends metropolitan boat shows, regional events and boat ramps throughout WA,
DoT offices or by contacting the Marine Safety Hotline on 1300 863 308.
To view the Don’t Expire campaign and for more information on safe boating visit www.transport.wa.gov.au/dontexpire
Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 0408 098 220
really ..in date....ffs..i carry a life raft on my boat by choice..
In it i have epirb 121.5 mhz as a bail out....thermals hats sunscreen water and flares
But all my flares are clean dry..easily accessable...ffs..
Soon i will need to go to tafe and get a cert 4 just to wipe my ass...
How will they ensure that each DCP fire extinguisher has been shaken once a mobth to prevent clumping..and on activation when needed all you get is a noisy stream of nitrogen gas...
Gents you correct.
In date......
I now need to recheck all my gear again.
Flares/ life jackets inflatable/ EPIRB / DCP FX / and buy another 27MHZ to go with my VHF as the 27 died recently.
Ka -ching .....
Personally I think its a crock.... I think if you have flares on board that are dry, no mould, in good condition that should be enough.... but there you go.
What's the longest expiry date you can get on flares?
I was just transferring all the boat crap into my new boat (old but new to me) and I checked the flares.
inshore exp MAR 2016
parachute exp JULY 2016
They look fine, and I am willing to bet there is nothing wrong with them.
Just a waste of money. What they should have done is said for Commercial they must be in date, and If they had to set a date limit for recreational, then allowed double the life assuming they are still in good condition. this way we could get 6 years rather than 3.
now.... not that I am suggesting it, but if lots of people set off out of date flares (inland , not at sea obviously) would it be enough to encourage the authorities to not have recreational boater have to throw away perfectly good flares.
Oh well, I guess it is a good excuse to check all my gear.
I agree with you but I certainly would not support any one letting flares off on land,we have more than enough fires in the bush as it is,I can only suggest we do a Guy Faweks with some of these petty minded over bearing government employees, I trhink its called getting a rocket up the Ars
Whilst the visual condition of the flares might appear to be good it says nothing about what temperature they might have been subject too.
At elevated temperatures the flare composition can and does degrade very markedly and if the flares are in a salt water rich atmosphere environment (like exposed in the side pocket of a boat the ignition compound of the flare can and is also greatly affected.
This not to say that flares that are "in life and not expired" will be affected by the same adverse conditions and will fail or not perform as expected, the will.
However there must be some definitive (as good as can be) means of judging what is good and what is not.
This current method is about as good as can be. However if your "in life" flares look crappy then they are in all most probability are crappy and not worth a hoot.
As a tip, I vacuum seal all my flares in plastic (same as fish fillets) and thus add another layer of protection against moisture ingress and keep them in an insulated bag as protection against elevated temperature.
deforce
Posts: 57
Date Joined: 17/11/13
old flares
I keep mine and if required i will use them first before the dated ones
Moking
Posts: 1252
Date Joined: 30/05/12
You can drop them off next
You can drop them off next time you are near a Sea Rescue Base.
They dispose of them,or use them for there next Flare demonstration.
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
Subaquatic
Posts: 514
Date Joined: 23/04/11
Yeah, I keep mine onboard
Yeah, I keep mine onboard too. Just cos they are out of date, doesn't mean they wont work.
The day you need a flare, you cant have too many!
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Keep them
Keep them on board and use them first, leaving the new ones as a last resort.
We get heaps handed in to Carnarvon sea rescue and even with running flare demos we have too many for us to use. If you have to get rid of them then DoT should take them.
Swompa
Posts: 3906
Date Joined: 14/10/12
You may be able to answer
You may be able to answer this question but isn't it illegal to have 'expired' flares?
I was always under the impression it was but weighed up the pros and cons of having them on-board and deemed it beneficial to keep.
crasny1
Posts: 7004
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Not illegal
Have checked and had a discussion with DOT and Water Police when I was in Karratha. The Law states that you have to have a set onboard that's in date. Apart from that there is no other guidance as to other flares.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Swompa
Posts: 3906
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Thanks Mate
Thanks Mate
JWake71
Posts: 17
Date Joined: 28/10/15
cheers guys I'll hang onto
cheers guys I'll hang onto them, hopefully won't need them
Swompa
Posts: 3906
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Per above, I have my kit as
Per above, I have my kit as required by Law and the same amount in 'expired but in good condition' spares.
crasny1
Posts: 7004
Date Joined: 16/10/08
As a lot mentioned
I keep all my old flares. Ill look but think there is 4 sets in the emergency area. The requirement is that you have one set off in date flares onboard, but it isn't a problem with how many expired ones you have. In an emergency I would like to have as many as possible and would use the oldest first. If they don't work then there is always others to fall back on.
Edit: do a search as this topic has been covered a few times and you will find that most would keep their expired flares.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
shammy
Posts: 231
Date Joined: 03/07/09
flares
cransy...i may be corrected but i believe the law says that for a recreational boat "the flares must be in good condition" ..
Nothing about them being in "date"....for a pro boat or commercial yes in date...
I keep mine....and have some in the liferaft...some in a grab bag.and some under footstool...
"Life wasn't meant to be a spectator sport"
crasny1
Posts: 7004
Date Joined: 16/10/08
I will stand corrected
But Im sure that the cops told me in date is the requirement. I specifically asked about whether it was a problem carrying "old" flares though. Knew a couple of Water Police up there.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
The Saint
Posts: 472
Date Joined: 30/01/13
Shammy, that changed a couple
Shammy, that changed a couple of years ago, your flares must now be in date on rec boats.
And in some states (Victoria is one) it is illegal to have out of date flares, but thankfully common sense prevails here and we can have out of date flares as spares so long as there are a set of in date ones on board.
shammy
Posts: 231
Date Joined: 03/07/09
flares
cransy..another government dept cock up i think, but only on phone now need laptop..
The brochure distributed by said frigging govt dept references marine order part 25...
This does not apply to recreational vessels...i may stand corrected but if they invokeMO part 25 then rec fishers in albany and esperance may need exposure suits and line throwing appliances....but i need my laptop to read.
When home tonight i will have a look.....
"Life wasn't meant to be a spectator sport"
Subaquatic
Posts: 514
Date Joined: 23/04/11
Attention: News Editor/Chief
Attention: News Editor/Chief of Staff
May 29, 2013
For immediate release
July 1 deadline nears for flares to be in date
Skippers in WA required to carry flares must ensure they have an in date set on board from July
1, 2013.
Department of Transport (DoT) Marine Operations Director Ray Buchholz said expired flares in
good condition were not reliable and there was a risk they would fail in an emergency.
The deadline was announced last November following a survey revealing around half of vessels
operating in unprotected waters in WA carried out of date flares. There is also evidence flares
become increasing less reliable the older they are.
“The information prompted a decision to take a firm stance on the carriage of expired flares in
the interest of saving lives on the water in WA,” Mr Buchholz said.
“From July 1, 2013 skippers operating in waters where flares are a required piece of safety
equipment must carry an in date set or risk a $160 fine.”
Mr Buchholz said out of date flares may be carried on board a vessel as spares or skippers
could correctly dispose of out of date flares by dropping them at the DoT offices listed as
collection centres (www.transport.wa.gov.au/dontexpire).
He said it was pleasing that the majority of skippers had supported the changes and had acted
to ensure their flares where in date ahead of the deadline.
To assist skippers to manage the expiry dates on flares and other safety equipment DoT
launched the Don’t Expire campaign which includes practical advice and the tools to keep track
of safety equipment with an expiry date.
A special sticker is available to record the expiry dates for flares, emergency position indicating
radio beacons (EPIRB), fire extinguishers and inflatable life jackets. Skippers can also set the
expiry dates in their diary or on their mobile phone to remember to service or replace safety
equipment.
Free Don’t Expire stickers and brochures are available from DoT's Marine Safety Education
Trailer which attends metropolitan boat shows, regional events and boat ramps throughout WA,
DoT offices or by contacting the Marine Safety Hotline on 1300 863 308.
To view the Don’t Expire campaign and for more information on safe boating visit
www.transport.wa.gov.au/dontexpire
Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 0408 098 220
shammy
Posts: 231
Date Joined: 03/07/09
flares
really ..in date....ffs..i carry a life raft on my boat by choice..
In it i have epirb 121.5 mhz as a bail out....thermals hats sunscreen water and flares
But all my flares are clean dry..easily accessable...ffs..
Soon i will need to go to tafe and get a cert 4 just to wipe my ass...
How will they ensure that each DCP fire extinguisher has been shaken once a mobth to prevent clumping..and on activation when needed all you get is a noisy stream of nitrogen gas...
Im off to tafe to learn how to wipe my arse.
Damn........
"Life wasn't meant to be a spectator sport"
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
Shoot parachute flares at
Shoot parachute flares at mates when on piss
shammy
Posts: 231
Date Joined: 03/07/09
flares
Gents you correct.
In date......
I now need to recheck all my gear again.
Flares/ life jackets inflatable/ EPIRB / DCP FX / and buy another 27MHZ to go with my VHF as the 27 died recently.
Ka -ching .....
Personally I think its a crock.... I think if you have flares on board that are dry, no mould, in good condition that should be enough.... but there you go.
What's the longest expiry date you can get on flares?
"Life wasn't meant to be a spectator sport"
ashleyw
Posts: 2
Date Joined: 29/06/13
Bloody annoying. I was just
Bloody annoying.
I was just transferring all the boat crap into my new boat (old but new to me) and I checked the flares.
inshore exp MAR 2016
parachute exp JULY 2016
They look fine, and I am willing to bet there is nothing wrong with them.
Just a waste of money. What they should have done is said for Commercial they must be in date, and If they had to set a date limit for recreational, then allowed double the life assuming they are still in good condition. this way we could get 6 years rather than 3.
now.... not that I am suggesting it, but if lots of people set off out of date flares (inland , not at sea obviously) would it be enough to encourage the authorities to not have recreational boater have to throw away perfectly good flares.
Oh well, I guess it is a good excuse to check all my gear.
diver
Posts: 149
Date Joined: 25/09/08
Ashleyw
I agree with you but I certainly would not support any one letting flares off on land,we have more than enough fires in the bush as it is,I can only suggest we do a Guy Faweks with some of these petty minded over bearing government employees, I trhink its called getting a rocket up the Ars
ashleyw
Posts: 2
Date Joined: 29/06/13
I agree, I was just
I agree, I was just venting.
At least everything else I checked is still in date
I wonder what caused the change to the old system that allowed use of expired flares as long as they were in good condition.
Has anyone had the misfortune to have to use a flare, and have it not work?
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Decision on state of flares
Whilst the visual condition of the flares might appear to be good it says nothing about what temperature they might have been subject too.
At elevated temperatures the flare composition can and does degrade very markedly and if the flares are in a salt water rich atmosphere environment (like exposed in the side pocket of a boat the ignition compound of the flare can and is also greatly affected.
This not to say that flares that are "in life and not expired" will be affected by the same adverse conditions and will fail or not perform as expected, the will.
However there must be some definitive (as good as can be) means of judging what is good and what is not.
This current method is about as good as can be. However if your "in life" flares look crappy then they are in all most probability are crappy and not worth a hoot.
As a tip, I vacuum seal all my flares in plastic (same as fish fillets) and thus add another layer of protection against moisture ingress and keep them in an insulated bag as protection against elevated temperature.