Old flare disposal.

[3 Squids]

The Wellcraft Coastal I just picked up recently was stocked full of flares. I'm not imagining when I say there were at least 50 flares, some handheld, some of the pistol style. Apparently they just never disposed of them as there were some expiring from 1989- present day.

How do you guys dispose of them. Of course putting them in the trash would be a dumb decision.

[spareparts]

I doubt half of them will work, and you;ll be surprised how weak the ones that work wil be. I had a bunch, decided to light them off on July 4th. The 12 gauge shells are about the same as a decent bottle rocket, at best. The small hand held rockets with the chain pull barely work, I had 6 that were due to expire that week, only two worked and they were pretty weak. All of the hand held flares worked, I used a couple to start trash fires with, the rest I lit off and threw them in a bucket of water. One of those I threw in the bucket was a smoke flare, Big mistake, it turned my house and two of my neighbors house orange. If i were to depend on any of those, the smoke flare would be the one that would work the best. Now if those happens to be 30/50 mm flares, you might be in for a fireworks show

[Destroyer]

Pretty much what Spareparts said. I use them for 4th of July, training, or what not.. If they have just expired I'd keep them. There's no law that says you must dispose of them. The law says you have to have current ones on your boat. But extras, are ok, even if out of date. Now, if they were just lying around, not in a plastic, waterproof bag... then it shoot them off for fun time. Moisture kills them.

[Cam]

We usually donate them to the Coast Guard Aux to use in practice drills. They really appreciate them.

[livnontheriver]

west marine will take them if you have 1 close

[3 Squids]

west marine will take them if you have 1 close

Good to know. I have 3 within a 40 mile radius here so may be my best option. Most of them are soaking wet but still don't want to risk one firing off in the back of a trash truck.

[bradford]

Flares are a racket like trailer lights and trailer brakes.

And boat horns.

[phatdaddy]

And college textbooks

[SkunkBoat]

Flares are a racket like trailer lights and trailer brakes.

And boat horns.

:you: EXACTLY!!!!

[cfelton]

I keep mine in a ziplock bag in my Orion kit. Fired some old ones off last year and they were still good.

[Destroyer]

I keep mine in a ziplock bag in my Orion kit. Fired some old ones off last year and they were still good.

I do basically the same thing. I have a "Foodsaver" unit that vacuum seals things. So all my flares are in vacuum sealed plastic bags. And I know that this is a thread about disposal of the flares, but I also keep a dozen 15 minute railroad flares in sealed bags too. The law says you have to have X approved marine flares aboard... but there's no law that says you can't have railroad flares aboard also. And truthfully, I like the idea of a 15 minute flare better than a 3 minute or a 30 second flare for attracting attention should I ever get in trouble at night.

[SkunkBoat]

speaking of flares...just had to shell out some more $ for hand helds and shells.
Ever notice they always expire mid-summer, not in January?

I keep my flares & pistol in a plastic pretzel container...watertight & floats.

BTW I've got some dating back to 2002!

Got me an ACR PLB too, seeing as I've been venturing further out...

[bradford]

Skunk you are right about them always expiring during summer, just bought some new handhelds.

Same people who put 8 hot dogs in a pack when the buns come only 6.

Oh and the two trailers i completely rewired late last year the lights don't work now. Been dunked maybe 10 to 12 times each. Get tired of always trying to do it right just to get screwed.