Smoke

[tjs]

While sitting in my boat the other day looking at my wood stove I wondered if the smoke from it would help rescuers find me if in trouble. Is there anything I could add to a wood ( I usually use charcoal) fire to get a lot of smoke? Maybe even red or orange smoke.

[Garvy]

tar , pitch etc

[ken mcclure]

There are various chemicals/minerals that you can add to a fire to produce colored smoke. The fireworks people use them a lot. Call a fireworks manufacturer, explain your need and they may be able to direct you to sources of supply.

[NormMessinger]

Or just pick up a three pack of purpose made smoke flares for a few bucks. Interesting quesion but yu'll have to have USCG approved devises anyway, no?

--Norm

[Cedarhill Boatworks]

What Norm said.

[paladin]

just build a good bed of coals and throw in a couple of cups of sugar...........

[Art Read]

You know? I can't think of too many "distress" situations where I can envision having my stove burning. A bad leak or stress of weather would seem to argue against lighting off your stove. A fire aboard would be a "distressing" enough sight I suspect. I suppose a hard grounding or loss of steering wouldn't interfere with operating your stove, and a medical emergency, hypotherma for instance, might even suggest it. But you sure as hell aren't gonna take your stove along in your "grab bag" if you have to abandon ship! That being said, I suppose having some pyrotechnic chemicals aboard might make you a bit more "obvious" to any potential rescuers. And a stove fire would certainly last a lot longer than a flare. You're still gonna want a box of approved flares, if for no other reason, just to keep the Coasties happy. And not having at least a hand held VHF is just foolish. Interesting idea though.

[tjs]

I have all the CG required equip. and two VHFs but envision being dismasted or loosing a rudder etc..calling in the coast gaurd, and then helping them find me. The sea is so great and my ship is so small.

[Alan D. Hyde]

The best sources of salvation at sea are found above your shoulders and at the end of your arms.

The Coast Guard can't be everywhere at once, or know soon enough, or get there quickly enough, or do what must be done soon enough...

And, in any case, safety from most hazards at sea is better obtained through forehandedness and avoidance, than through thoughtlessness and the perils that inevitably will follow.

There is no substitute for an alert and prudent mariner.

And that's no smoke...

Alan