www.iFourWinns.com

As I wait patiently for spring to arrive, I decided to go through my safety equipment box and discovered that I was now the proud owner of 12 outdated flares.
I was told the fire department would take them but upon inquiring, they were quick to say that they want nothing to do with them and to try my local police dept.

I have yet to approach them but I'm just wondering how you guys dispose of them.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

I shot off 18 of my old ones on the 4th of July at a friend's fireworks display and party.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

That's a great idea. Why didn't I think of that.
Thanks.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

and its fun too! otherwise they say to soak them for a while in a bucket of water then just toss them in the trash.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

Also good to know Brian, thanks.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

U. S. Coast Guard regulations prohibit display of distress signals except when a distress actually exists. You should only use distress signals when help is close enough to see the signal. The U. S. Coast Guard recognizes both pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic devices.

The Coast Guard takes false distress calls very seriously and actively pursues those who make them. The person responsible can be ordered to pay restitution to the government in an amount equal to that spent on responding to the hoax, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to 6 years in prison.

Hoax distress calls put responding Coast Guard crews in unnecessary danger and divert limited resources from responding to legitimate emergencies.

Please note that you can still keep them aboard to use in the event of an emergency - they will NOT count toward your needed flares that have not expired. I have in addition to current flares, several outdated flares for back-up.

hope this helps ...

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2002 Vista 298 VP 5.0Gxi

Just so I'm clear here.... I would never purposely make a false distress call for any reason nor would any other responsible boater here. I know that they are for use during distress situations only and that penalties are severe.

I think what is being said here is that the discharging of a flare and/or a flare gun in a safe manner during the fireworks portion of the 4th of July festivities would seemingly go unnoticed as such and merely be perceived as one of the many firework displays.
In my opinion, as long as its incorporated into a fireworks display, its a harmless practice and probably the safest way to dispose of them as well as familiarizing ones self with the operation and feel of their flare launching devise.

In my particular case, I've been boating for 20+ years and have amassed quite a surplus of 'outdated' flares. Even after disposing of these 12 flares, I still have 8 more 'outdated' ones on board along with the required 12 current dated flares, which I feel is more than enough.

My fear of the 'water soaking' method is that what if they were to completely dry out. Does this make them potentially explosive again? Just a thought.

In the end, my local Police department did take them off my hands but only after a major grilling as to how they came to be in my possession and what I planned to do with them.

Sorry for the rant but I just didn't want this thread to be taken out of context.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Hi

Lets NOT get to crazy here!!!

BUT!!! "Please note that you can still keep them aboard to use in the event of an emergency - they will NOT count toward your needed flares that have not expired. I have in addition to current flares, several outdated flares for back-up." from a past post.

This spring I need new ones!!! So I buy a new pack of 4, keep the ones that "just" exparied and thought the rest away.

Paul

Ok Paul, so where do you throw them away? Just in the garbage?

Also, I did have a total of 20 outdated flares. I'm keeping 8 of them as you and 'MCKLS' both suggested but the other 12 I had to dispose of.... thus my dilemma.

Anyway, thanks to all for their suggestions and for this time at least, they have been disposed of via the Police dept.
Cheers.
Pete

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

OK--so I will ask a dumb question. How long is the shelf life for a flare? I have never replaced mine and now I am thinking I need to.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Not a dumb question at all.
Shelf life (in Canada at least) is 4 years from date of manufacture which should be stamped on the flare itself. Not sure about US laws.

Pete

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Explosives/ incendiaries/ rockets/ ammunition (as in flare guns I saw in Walmart, I'd be locked up here if I had one !) . I'm surprised there's a problem in the US; you guys seem to have legal access to all sort of interesting stuff we can't buy here and can only dream of owning! Except real ale of course, Only kidding!

Flares only emit light and smoke ( plus of course heat). They're just like fireworks. If you're not happy setting them off out of the sight of the USCG, then soak them long enough in water, and rinse them and the oxidant ( nitrates, chlorates, perchlorates etc) ae gone; they won't burn the same again.

The only thing to be wary of are parachute rocket flares. They are still burning when they hit ground level. No issue over water, but they are a bit like incendiary devices when used over land !

Graham

The Coast Guard cut and paste is well known to anyone who is a boater and has flares aboard. Thanks for the refresher, but it will not apply in this case. As planetalternative said above. I have acquaintances in the local marine patrol and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in our marina. Both have said you can set them off during a fireworks display on the fourth of July. You can also turn them in to the coast guard, or auxiliary, and they will dispose of them for you.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Well put Cap'n!

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.

Hi to all

Some one stated "Shelf life (in Canada at least) is 4 years from date of manufacture which should be stamped on the flare itself. Not sure about US laws."

Expiration and shelf life are two different things. The flairs are good for year after that date stamped on the side. How many, I don't know. Thats way some have stated, to alway keep a few old ones just in case something happens.

On disposal, I would alway break them in half and pour a little water on them. The water will break them down quickly!!!

Good luck
Paul