i just bought 2 packs of hurrican matches (can't find the b.c.b. lifeboot match ) and tested them. i wheated the match and the strike, turn the shower on and lighted them and put it under the shower. it burned till it reatched the wooden part of the match, but it burn very rappid and instead of a flame you get a very short small glowing part that burns down the match. so my question is: if you start a fire with these matchs how do you "aim" the flamy part ? do you just put the match under/agains/on the firestarting material ( tinder ) like convensional matches or do you do it on another way ?

Did you buy Coglan's? This glorified sizzle isn't going to light anything; been there,done that. All "storm" type matches do indeed burn rather rapidly, so you need your tinder ready at hand. This is the tradeoff between a match using it's own wood stick as tinder and the weatherproofs that rely on more sophisticated ignition heads. You can get true lifeboats from several sources; Exploration products listed in retailers and perhaps Barry @ Blueline. They do require practice to light and are relatively expensive. their one flaw is a readily snapped stick. Buy a sacrificial unit and PRACTISE. The Coglan's are still better than paper, so hang on to them until you upgrade.

well i do have coghlan "waterproof" matches, but i was talking about the swiss made hurricane matches, the one that doug had writen about http://equipped.org/devices28.htm#StrikeOne and are listed as "second choice"in that artical. <br>i think im gonna take both type of match to put my kits now..

Wise move! I have Lifeboat matches, strike anywheres, several disposable lighters, a Hurricane lighter, Metal Match,Sparklite & tinder, vaseline soaked coton balls, fatwood,Esbit tablets and candles distributed in my gear. I made a friction fire once in an emergency,never again!

i got something like that 2 ! i got 2 B.C.B. flint and steel, 1 MG firestarteer, esbit tablets, trioxane bars, candles, vaseline+ coton bals, a flint match, lots of lighters and matches.