Boat Flares 

Indicate the position of a boat or a person in distress.

White Flares: To indicate to another boat, there could be a danger of collision.

Red Flares: Can be used night or day and are very bright and visible.  Ideal for attracting the attention of other boats.

Orange Smoke Flares are for daytime use only.  It can be a canister to throw in the water or handheld.

Parachute Boat Flares: A red rocket flare used day or night, reaching a height of 300 metres and then slowly descending to earth.

 

Boat Flares - indicate the position of a boat or a person in distress.

Boat Flares - White Red, Orange and Parachute

White Flares: To indicate to another boat, there could be a danger of collision.

Red Flares: Can be used night or day and are very bright and visible.  Ideal for attracting the attention of other boats, search and rescue helicopters, and rescue organisations.

Orange Smoke Flares are for daytime use only.  It can be a canister to throw in the water or handheld.

Parachute Flares: A red rocket flare used day or night, reaching a height of 300 metres and then drifting slowly down by parachute.

Boat Safety & Fire Systems

How to use a boat flare

  1. Select the right colour or type to be used.
  2. Take a position on the boat where the wind is blowing the smoke away from yourself and the boat.
  3. Try to wear a pair of gloves.
  4. Set off the flare, and let it burn at arm's length.
  5. Do not use a parachute flare if helicopters are in the vicinity.

Danger

A pyrotechnic flare is explosive and can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Keeping boat flares onboard

Boat Flares should be kept in a waterproof container and if possible, with a pair of leather gloves and goggles, at sea in an accessible location near the helm. Keep them out of reach of children.

Boat Flares - Expiry Date

Flares have an expiry date marked on their side.  When changing boat flares, keep one set aboard until the next expiry date, then dispose of the older set; that way, you always have two sets available, a new set and the other on standby.  Always use your most recent first in an emergency and for insurance purposes.

Disposing of pyrotechnics - TEPs

Out-of-date pyrotechnics are now known as TEP's - Time Expired Pyrotechnics.  Disposing of these flares can be a bit of a problem, first of all try the local chandlery or coastguard station.

Handling a boat flare

Your crew and yourself must learn how to use a boat flare.  Take the flares out of their container, pass them to your crew to get them used to handling them, and read the instructions on how they are activated.  Discuss the best position to set off the flare so that heat and smoke are blown away from the boat.

 

Team Imardex-Marine 

In many countries the authorities now require paperwork showing test certificates and expiry dates for fire and safety equipment, VHF and AIS certification, and certificates showing compliance with local rules including test results of LPG appliances and systems. These systems are covered by imardex-marine’s Maintenance Programme.

 

Please continue to our ‘Fishing Vessel Maintenance’ page.

 

Posted by : The imardex-marine team

 

Boat Information Directory

Welcome to our Boat Information Directory, (Boat-InfoD) an eclectic collection of information, for mariners and nautical-thinking people.

Our Boat-InfoD is to guide you easily and quickly to a destination and locate an item of interest about boating matters and nautical themes.

It is a vast structured list of information for you to dip into and is updated more often than the changing tides. Access to this lazarette of nautical knowledge is free.

 

Main Section Content
Auxiliary Machinery Generators, Bow & Stern Thrusters, Bilge pumping Systems.
Bilge Pumps Bilge filling with water
Boat Insurance Click here for more information.
Boat Terminology Astern, Ahead, Abaft
Boatyard Work Your guide to work and costs in a boatyard
Cruising the French Waterways Cruising the Canals & Rivers of France
Domestic Systems Gas, Fresh Water, & Toilet Systems...Cats & Dogs Aboard
Electrical Systems AC and DC Systems, Solar Panels, LED Systems
Flag Etiquette Flag Etiquette, Dressing a Yacht, Bunting.
Flares & Signalling Devices Flares, Signalling Devices.
Green Energy Content coming soon
Main Engine All the parts and information on your boats Diesel engine.
Maintenance Information Information on Imardex Marine’s Maintenance Programme
Navigation Systems Radar, AIS, GPS...
Old Navy Jargon Scuttlebutt, Pipe Down, All Hands on Deck...
Safety Systems Man Overboard, Emergency Fuel Shut Off...
System Training Modules Information on Training Programmes for boaters.
Underwater Systems Sea cocks to Anti Foul...
Winterising Winterising - The list
Yacht Terminology Baggywrinkle, Baby Stay, Clew, Bob Stay.
Waste Management & Emissions Control Sustainability and Responsible Boating Practices.
Captain & Owners Responsibilities An overview of respective responsibilities.

 

Safety Systems

 

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