Re: Flare replacement

On Tue, 13 May 2008 12:55:03 -0400, "Roger Long"
<strider@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>I have a shrink wrapped Orion flare and distress kit with an October 2007

>expiration date.  Is there any reason I can't just open it up and replace

>the pyrotechnics?  Surely the whistles, signal mirrror, etc. are going to
be 
>just as good a decade or so from now as they are today.
>
>I would keep the old flares in an appropriate container "just in case". 
I 
>know someone who blew a finger off shooting off an expired flare New
Years 
>Eve but it was very old.  I wouldn't keep the expired ones more than a
date 
>cycle.

Just replace the pyrotechnics. You can keep the older ones as spares
for a few more years, but make sure to keep them in a separate
container, preferably not the same place as the good ones, and clearly
mark that container as expired. If you are boarded for an inspection
(which isn't that likely for a sailboat, but it happens) you are
better off if they don't even know about the expired ones. Some
coasties feel that expired flares on board are just as much a
violation as no flares. Don't ask - don't tell.