I have 3 expired flares from when I bought our pontoon boat at cabelas in 2011. Was told I needed them as required by law. But then I read last year if you only stay in freshwater and don't go into marine waters you don't need flares. So I just keep them as a rather have them and not need them then to need them and not have them deal. With the amount of traffic on Gardner I doubt I'll ever need them although it seems a lot of the boaters might not give you the time of day if in distress unless you threw a expired flare at them.