Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Mandatory pyrotechnic use 'nonsensical'
Practical Boat Owner
|July 2025
'Two red hand flares and two orange smoke flares' are on the list of lifesaving appliances required on small sea-going commercial vessels for sport or pleasure use, in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) draft Sport & Pleasure Vessel Code of Practice.
-
Under the UK Merchant Shipping Regulations certain pyrotechnic distress flares are mandatory for Pleasure Vessels of 13.7m in length and over, and commercial vessels.
PBO contributor Gilbert Park, a retired director of intensive care, argues that this is an outdated, potentially fatal requirement: "Pyrotechnics are a Category 5 explosive device, and carrying on a fuel-powered boat when there are safer alternatives seems nonsensical.
"This was brought home to me when I took my grand-children on a motorboat with 400lt of petrol in the tanks and I realised with horror that flares had to be readily available. I thought 'do I really want to use an explosive device for the first time, in a stressful situation, if my boat may be sinking?"
This story is from the July 2025 edition of Practical Boat Owner.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Practical Boat Owner
Practical Boat Owner
An adventure to St Kilda
Marsali Taylor swaps skippering her Offshore 8m for being crew on a converted herring drifter, with comfy berths in the former fish hold
8 mins
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
Mast refit and upgrade
Nicholas Koligiannis explains how he improved the mast on his Albin Ballad
5 mins
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
Making more noise in fog
Nick Tyler takes the guesswork out of broadcasting fog signals
3 mins
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
Solo across the Pacific
Triple amputee Craig Wood sailed into the history books with a non-stop, 90-day, 7,506-mile unassisted voyage
8 mins
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
Al-assisted Shipping Forecasts
The Met Office has released new data showing a decade of steady improvement in the UK Shipping Forecast, with wind speed and sea state accuracy up by 10% or more.
1 min
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
Bligh-ted reputation
Making the case for the mutiny on the Bounty's much maligned Captain Bligh
3 mins
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
Wiper motor repair
Richard Stone mends his deck saloon windscreen wipers
2 mins
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
'Let someone know boat plans' says report into fatal man overboard incident
The importance of designating a shore contact before setting off on a boat trip has been highlighted following a fatal man overboard incident near Inishbofin, Co. Galway, Ireland.
1 mins
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
LITHIUM BATTERIES latest safety advice
Marine engineer and surveyor Marcus Jones unpicks the confusion surrounding the use of lithium batteries and what you should consider if installing them on board your boat
8 mins
January 2026
Practical Boat Owner
How to winterise your motor boat
Jon Mendez explains the steps you need to take to ensure your boat stays in top condition for next season
4 mins
January 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size