Weems and Plath SOS Distress Light

JamesG161 · Jun 7, 2017

I have one in addition to flares. Our SOS blinking light may not be seen with high sea states, but definitely a good additional safety devices and better that hand held flares that die quickly.
Jim...

bawlmer · Jun 7, 2017

Funny. Just last week I dropped 35 bucks for a three pack of 12 gauge flares for the same reason. Now I have three packs of unused flares in my cabinet.

Roland5048 · Jun 7, 2017

I, also, bought the SOS distress light. Not going to do away with my flares. Just not buy them anymore. Keep outdated one's in a sealed container. Would use them first thing in an emergency. You might not be able to get the distress light up far enough to be seen but, in a CG rescue they should be able to see the blinking SOS light. Just remember to occasionally check the battery condition.

quadrille38 · Jun 7, 2017

Bought one last year after I'd decided to practice using some of my expired flares. Had never actually used one. Did it in the back yard at home. 30 seconds into it I knew I'd never want to light one of those flares on my boat. So I purchased the electronic flare

BlowMeAway · Jun 7, 2017

We generally have little concerns about flares or SOS being on a fingerlake, but my handhelds are all good for this season, we'll need new next season. Regardless, we do have needs for night operations, specifically related to dinghy travel. There are occasions when motoring the dinghy back to the boat following a holiday event can be a challenge with only a single headlamp or flashlight, and hoping the larger power folks see us. So I went online and found some new Black Diamond headlamps that have both red and green LED, as well as a 250 LM torch. I'm thinking that now with the typical three or four crew in the dinghy we'll have port, starboard, and stern running lights. I just have to convince crew to rotate headlamps appropriately on their heads and sit still. I know...good luck with that. We're gonna give it the old college try anyway.

njlarry · Jun 7, 2017

Just got the Weems and Plath light and was extra pleased to see not only do I no longer have to keep buying flares every three or so years, the Weems light has a life time warranty! ( I understand flares may have longer experation dates but the ones I come across always seem to expire in 3 or 4 years)

capta · Jun 7, 2017

Anybody have any idea of the legality of these things beyond the realm of the USCG?

Gunni · Jun 8, 2017

In the Safety at Sea training it became obvious that standard handheld and 12ga.pistol flares are inadequate. SOLAS flares and 25mm pistol flares are much better. SOLAS do not slag. If you want to be seen at distance you need to get the flare high in the sky. Parachute flares are awesome. For daytime alert nothing beats a smoke canister. There is compliance, and then there is effective.

Apex · Jun 8, 2017

2nd Gunni's thoughts on Solas. Same class, in Muskegon, MI though: We lit off some expired flares. The unit II trialed, the striker end FELL OFF. SOLAS was MUCH brighter in daylight, and some of the expired 12ga were pretty benign. It was too windy to safely launch a parachute flare. There was a LOT of interest in the W&P electronic. I bought new last year, so good through 2019, and will likely order the electronic after that.

Parsons · Jun 8, 2017

If you have the opportunity, set up or attend a local flare demonstration. Near the water, you need to clear it with the local Coast Guard station or you risk falsely sending a distress signal, which is a crime in all jurisdictions for obvious reasons. Our local yacht club does one of these every couple of years, and the local USCG actually sends a couple people over to give a little safety talk and 'supervise' the shoot. As most of you noted, the non-SOLAS flares are both pitifully dim and short-lived, and the handhelds are positively dangerous. The SOLAS flares cost at least twice as much. The main reason I carry flares is not for real emergencies but for compliance. I doubt that holding a handheld flare or flying an orange flag will attract anyone's attention in my cruising area. I'm depending on my own wits to avoid problems, and the VHF for something beyond my control. When my flares expire, I'm buying the WM electronic one to be compliant.

Ron20324 · Jun 8, 2017

bawlmer said:
... Now I have three packs of unused flares in my cabinet.

My club (SOS) every March has a safety day on a local river. We get expired 12 and HH flares from skippers, in exchange for new ones we get at a discount. Not many people get to use flares(fortunately) ,and they appreciate the opportunity to fire off a few.

justsomeguy · Jun 8, 2017

CABixler said:
BTW same price at Defender and Amazon.

Price-fixing...

JamesG161 · Jun 8, 2017

Gunni said:
There is compliance, and then there is effective.

Many devices can help "locate" your boat/crew. We have a bunch on our boat.

Of all the things I don't feel badly about an expenditure...

Safety

Jim...

njlarry · Jun 8, 2017

Li

justsomeguy said:
Price-fixing...

Likely so but at WM you get points and a free signal horn when on sail. Good news is the life time warranty that few marine items, let alone electrical, have nowadays.

SEMPERAVANTI41 · Jun 8, 2017

From the New York Times:

Because of its pistol configuration, the New York City Police Department has declared the flare pistol a firearm under the State Penal Law, according to Sgt. Howard C. Smith of the department's harbor unit. And in the state, carrying a firearm without a permit can result in a one-year mandatory jail sentence.

Roland5048 · Jun 8, 2017

That article was published on June 7, 1981.
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/07/sports/laws-on-flare-pistol-a-conflict-in-boating.html
The last sentence: Legislation is in process to eliminate the firearm registration requirements for flare pistols.

Roland5048 · Jun 8, 2017

Here's another link. This was published in 2015. See page 23. I don't think NYS boaters have a problem.
https://parks.ny.gov/recreation/boating/documents/NYSBoatersGuide.pdf

capta · Jun 8, 2017

SEMPERAVANTI41 said:
From the New York Times:

Because of its pistol configuration, the New York City Police Department has declared the flare pistol a firearm under the State Penal Law, according to Sgt. Howard C. Smith of the department's harbor unit. And in the state, carrying a firearm without a permit can result in a one-year mandatory jail sentence.

ROTFLMAO

JamesG161 · Jun 9, 2017

capta said:
ROTFLMAO

Too many Hollywood movies.

__________
Of course every mariner knows Morse Code SOS!
Dit Dit Dit Dah Dah Dah Dit Dit Dit ( Dit = Short , Dah=Long flash)
______
In 10 foot seas, visibility at 10 miles...
1) Top of wave... Dit Dit ( I )
2) Bottom of wave... Dit Dah Dah ( W ) not seen
3) Top of Wave #2 ... Dah Dit Dit ( D )
Yep SOS for sure.

Trivia: Titanic used a Morse Flasher to signal the California which was <15 miles away. SOS SOS SOS. The California wireless operator was asleep and the Officer of the watch tried to read the "gobble gook" sent by the Titanic . NO LUCK with SOS. The confusion of the Signal flash is now known to have been caused by "Cold Weather" air distortion similar to a mirage of Heat in a dessert.
Jim...

PS: I bought the W&P SOS Flasher already and also the Orion Coastal Flare Kit...
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/orion--coastal-alert-locate-flare-kit--14994487
Lets see $140 per 3 years ≈ $47 a year.

Weems and Plath SOS Distress Light

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John