[C320-list] Expired Flare Kits

[Chris Burti]

These are pretty easy to check visually. As long as the bases are not corroded and the tubes are not swollen, in my experience 95 percent of them will fire. After about ten years they will not burn as long as when new.  

I take my old flares to an inland lot with gravel along with a bucket of water and fire them down into the ground. After they burn out, I drop them into the bucket with pliers. This practice has given me my quantitative observations. With three vessels, I tend to accumulate a lot of flares. 

I store my out of date flares in a plastic tub marked “Out of Date”

Best Regards,
Chris Burti

> On Jan 14, 2020, at 2:25 PM, Doug Treff <doug at treff.us> wrote:
> 
> I agree with the keeping old ones - however, when it comes to the 12 gauge aerial flares,  I would use the new ones first, then go to the old ones if needed later. 
> 
> If the old ones are duds and jam in the gun, you now have a jammed gun with an unstable flare in it. Not an ideal situation in a life-threatening emergency situation.
> 
> See the blog post below.
> 
> https://wherethecoconutsgrow.com/2014/01/are-expired-marine-flares-still-safe/
> 
> --
> Doug Treff
> doug at treff.us
> 
>> On Mon, Jan 13, 2020, at 7:52 PM, Dave Hupe wrote:
>> Troy-
>> Good message ...… !
>> Keep old/expired flares and use first ….. very likely will work when 
>> needed.
>> Buy only as many new flares as required by USCG, or get battery 
>> operated approved electronic flare.
>> Dave Hupe
>> 1994 C320 (#32)
>> Holland, MI
>> 
>> 
>>