Flare Expiry Dates - Trap For New(ish) Players
Submitted by Work to Fish on Tue, 2022-01-11 11:09
Hi All,
I was just checking the expiry date on my flares (pack of 4 offshore) and noticed they orange flares had a different expiry date to the red flares
- orange flares manufactured 12/19 and expire 12/22
- red flares manufactured 09/19 and expire 03/23
I was reminded to check when I saw the safety sign at the boat ramp a few days back - not knowing that having different expiry dates is the norm, I quickly checked (only the red flares) and therefore assumed both orange and red would expire 03/23 - it wasn't until I got home and checked again, that I noticed the red flares would actually expire 12/22.
Lesson for me (and others newish to boating) is to check dates on both flares as they will differ.
plugga25
Posts: 54
Date Joined: 27/01/13
My offshore flares have
My offshore flares have different dates as well. Only a month difference though. Heard at tackle store that you gotta take earliest daye but fisheries dude said can take either. Not sure which is right but would assume the earliest date
SpotHound
Posts: 439
Date Joined: 06/02/14
Expiry
If the date says expires 2/22, is that 31 January expired or 28/2 expired?
Work to Fish
Posts: 36
Date Joined: 02/03/15
Good question and I have no
Good question and I have no idea either...
plugga25
Posts: 54
Date Joined: 27/01/13
DOT guy at the boat ramp
DOT guy at the boat ramp said its the end of the month.
02/22 would be valid until the end of Feb
trout1105
Posts: 28
Date Joined: 03/07/09
Back in the day recreational
Back in the day recreational boaters flares had to only be in "Good working order" But all that has changed so now we have to remember to check the dates on them which is a PITA.
Thanks for the heads up I just checked mine and they run out of date in 3 months So I am off to BCF to spend yet another $120 on flares.
I keep the out of date flares onboard and will use these first IF I ever need to (I haven't fired off a flare in anger Ever in 40 years of boat ownerhip) this way I can at least save myself the expense of replacing them.
Don't get me wrong having flares and the other safety gear on a boat is essential But it is still a PITA to remember to check the dates and throw out perfectly good flares every 2 years.
Work to Fish
Posts: 36
Date Joined: 02/03/15
When purchasing your
When purchasing your replacement set, ask if they can provide a discount, depending on how long the flares have been on the shelf.
As far as I can tell, the orange flares have the shortest life span (3 years) so check how many months are left on the orange pair and see if they can offer a discount (they did for me a BCF).
little johnny
Posts: 5360
Date Joined: 04/12/11
100 percent agree
Long as dry and in good condition . Flares do not fail . Waste of money .
sea-kem
Posts: 15005
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Correct! Tried it with an
Correct! Tried it with an old orange smoke flare in the backyard once, went all over the misso's washing. Outcome, doghouse for 2 days and a lot of grovelling.
Love the West!
eziliving
Posts: 875
Date Joined: 30/12/09
Hahaha that's something I
Hahaha that's something I would do. I might have to grovel but deep inside I would be internally smiling.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
sea-kem
Posts: 15005
Date Joined: 30/11/09
It sortta was fun, man you
It sortta was fun, man you cannot put those things out. Tried smothering it in the dirt and it got worse lol.
Love the West!
Swompa
Posts: 3893
Date Joined: 14/10/12
I did a smoke flare for New
I did a smoke flare for New Years one year. Once it engulfed the yard with orange smoke, I threw it in a bucket and it bubbled away in the bucket burning a hole in the bottom so it was orange smoke and burning bucket....
Wadnt popular.
Reefsta
Posts: 321
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Made me check
This post got me to go and check my flares.
Having the expiry dates meanswe have to check them at least occasionally, and maybe that's a good thing. Flares kept in good condition probably work fine for a decade or more, but not if they get damaged or wet. Stuff on boats can get knocked around much more than if it was stored in a house or car. So maybe the expiry dates for marine flares are mainly to ensure they are occasionally looked at and are more likely to be in good nick when you really need them. Nonetheless, I still keep several old sets as backup and they still look like new.
Reefsta
Posts: 321
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Alternative to flares soon
In the recreational boating review, release last October, they included the following new item;
"Skippers operating beyond 400 metres from shore in unprotected waters will have the option to carry an electronic night signalling device instead of flares, as long as they also carry a GPS enabled emergency position indicating radio beacon or wear a GPS enabled personal locator beacon."
Likely safer, easier to use and much cheaper in the long run than flares.
Oldbull
Posts: 179
Date Joined: 21/09/15
Electronic night signally device
Is that a torch or something much more technical.
Reefsta
Posts: 321
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Fancy torch maybe?
No idea, but you can bet is will be some sort of expensive torch, with specified brightness and colour, waterproofing etc etc. Checked online and found some that might be what is proposed, priced at about $180.
Reefsta
Posts: 321
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Will still need flares
DOT today told me that the proposal for an electronic signaling device will not become a reality until October. More importantly, the signalling device will only be a substitute for the offshore nightime flares (Para/rocket) and that if you had one you'd still need an inshore flare kit (smoke etc). So it seems we'll still need flares regardless and have the same replacement issue every 3 years.
An inshore flare kit is about $70 and the offshore about $120, so the saving is about $50 every 3 years. However the electronic flare things will likely be $150-200, so the break even time is around 10 years. That's if you can service batteries etc in the electronic device yourself, but who knows. Just another item to keep track of. For me I'll simply be sticking with the offshore flare kit.
Brock O
Posts: 3233
Date Joined: 11/01/08
As stated before too gents,
As stated before too gents, as soon as you use one....a new packet is required, must have 2 & 2 of each on board.
Its a bit over the top for rec fishing imo, good condition should have stayed in place.
For your boat to fail in a big way and time didn't allow a Radio call then the next go for me would be the Epirb. To have to ditch the vessel in a hurry life jacket and Epirb would be my first go to not a flare.
Anyone know the order of use for the critical items in an emergency..or assistance and non emergency ? When would you use a flare and why..
sea-kem
Posts: 15005
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Yep agree Brock, emegency
Yep agree Brock, emegency grab bag and wterproof handheld VHF my first go to,then Epirb before a flare. I have a spare epirb mounted on the boat as well. flare last option.
Love the West!
resurgence
Posts: 578
Date Joined: 23/04/14
Depends on the situation
Each emergency device has advantages and disadvantages.
Flares could be useful (in addition to Epirb) in locations where there are other boats in the vicinity that could respond to seeing a flare. For example around Cockburn Sound, on the river or in the vicinity of Rottnest. Downside of an Epirb is that another boat half a mile away has no idea that an Epirb has been activated, whereas they might see a flare.
Flares are also useful if you know emergency assets might be searching for you.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18036
Date Joined: 11/03/08
Definitely life jackets then
Definitely life jackets then epirb. And as our some is usually with us his phone is waterproof .
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together