McMurdo Fastfind 210 PLB

kennharriet · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:12 am Post subject: McMurdo Fastfind 210 PLB

Does anyone have experience with this unit? I am looking at it primarily for the boat, but would also carry it on light fixed-wing aircraft as a back-up to the aircraft ELT. It is offered by West Marine and others for about $300.

Some advantages I see compared to other EPIRB's and PLB's: low cost, small enough to carry on your person, no subscription fees.

thataway · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:37 pm Post subject:

From my reading it seems to be a good unit. I happen to own 2 ACR PLB, but today if I was buying one, I would consider the FastFind.--be sure to get on with the built in GPS--location is much faster and more accurate.

Yes, it is a real EPRIB, and has the 406 mhz satellite signal.

20dauntless · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:05 pm Post subject:

I think I'm going to be buying one before this summers boating begins. Check with Matt about purchasing, I purchased all my electronics for the C-Dory from him and had a great experience-good prices and it's always great to support a fellow forum member. I emailed him about the McMurdo PLB and he had the best price I could find.

kennharriet · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:18 pm Post subject:

It has the built in GPS, 406 mhz, 121.5 homing, waterproof and visual confirmation when the unit is transmitting. The only difference I can tell from the much more expensive units is that it does not float and the battery is limited to about 24 hrs. vs 48 hrs. or so. I really like the compact size which would encourage wearing it on your PFD. I carry basic survival equipment one my person when flying and this would be a valuable addition without noticable weight.

CommercialCaptains.com is about $30 less than others in my research so far.

helm · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:59 am Post subject:

We decided to go with a gps enabled epirb over the fast find. The reasoning is this - the fast find won't float, you have to hold it so the antenna is upright, when you are holding it you have to be careful that you aren't covering the gps reciever. Probably all reasonable if you are hiking on land and lost or even fell and broke your leg. Probably less reasonable if something catastrophic has happened to you and your boat.
Just a thought - and by the way Matt does have great prices on gps enabled epirbs on his website.
Eric

kennharriet · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

Unless I am confused, the Fastfind is GPS enabled? I hear you on the flotation. It looks like the trade-off is about $200 more for the flotation or keep it secured to a PFD. Thanks for the other factors to consider.

thataway · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject:

Eric makes good points--and we always had two large EPIRBs on our long distance boats (one with the ditch bag). However I am not aware of at least the ACR PLB having a problem with the GPS antenna being obscured by a holding hand.

The fast find should be GPS enabled--they are just as much as EPIRB as the larger units--same frequency and power, but shorter battery life. Hopefully you will have a good life jacket on if you go into the water--and holding the EPIRB/PLB will not be a problem.

The major advantage of the Fast fine or other PLB, is that it is WITH YOU ALL of the time. There are many instances of deaths where there was an EPRIB on the boat, and there was a rapid sinking where the ERIRP was not pulled out of its holder and the people suddenly in the water had no way to give a distress call. The PLB stay in our pocket/pouch, along with the waterproof VHF, Strobe and whistle--plus it goes on the dinghy, Kayak as well as on land. It is always available. When deployed the unit shoul.d be tethered to your jacket--and it will be with you. The free floating EPIRB may drift away. The purpose is to save your life, and if you don't have the rescue device with you--you may be cooked. This is the reason I have PLBs (and if going offshore, will again carry two EPIRBS).

kennharriet · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

Makes good sense. I did order a Fastfind 210, $270 including shipping from Matt. I think I'll order a second one when I can, with the intention of securing them to both my wife and I's PFD's.

In a previous occupation, I instructed aviation crash survival courses. Part of that training was to attend some survival courses offered by "Learn to Return"- an AK based company. They teach that in nearly all crash survival situations, the victims who survived where those who had the basic survival equipment on their person. Typically the aircraft ELT and any survival equipment is destroyed in the crash or post crash fire. I can see the similarity in marine accidents.

When my wife and I are in the backcountry with our mules, I carry a knife, signal mirror, and fire starter on my person. I will add the PLB to this equipment. We carry a GPS and satellite phone with our camp gear. We also pay an annual subscription to the area Life Flight service. I know it sounds like overkill, but it makes an adventure a lot more fun knowing you are prepared if the worse case scenario develops.

helm · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:42 am Post subject:

I thought I would put this out there as another opinion

"One thought...the EPIRBs and PLBs with internal GPS have been know to burn up their battery life much quicker when searching for GPS signals.

So a PLB not being handled correctly may have a greatly shortened battery life due to it's much smaller battery size.

recommending a mile range for safety equipment with no other parameters is just not a great idea.

Traffic, expected weather and water conditions, other survival equipment...etc..etc...all have a much greater impact on overall equipment selection rather than an arbitrary miles-offshore factor.

The real professionals seem to universally agree that a PLB is never a suitable replacement for an EPIRB...it's a good backup or for those that rarely venture out of siight of land or other boats and have at least 2 other reliable methods of attracting attention....then the PLB is a welcome addition to any survival arsenal.______________
CDR, USCG (ret.)
USCG Lic. 100 Ton. and Certified Instructor
Sea Tow Captain
Factory trained marine electronics technician
Avalon, NJ"

Just one more opinion
Eric

kennharriet · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:04 am Post subject:

Eric,

Thanks for the good advice. I certainly respect your knowledge and background. I suppose in a perfect world one would have a commercial EPIRB mounted on the boat and all occupants with a compact EPIRB/PLB on their person.

A few years ago I visited with the Coast Guard rescue group at Kodiak. They all wore PLB's on their person. I wonder what they wear today with technology improvements. The Air Force PJ's/rescue group at Kulis AFB were wearing PLB's at the time. Do you have any contacts who could recommend the various units available today?

thataway · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:49 pm Post subject:

Helm's post seems to come from "The Hull Truth" by a Capt. Scott, on 4/05/09. (who is the Sea Tow capt, unless I am mistaken).

Do you have any hard numbers on battery life?
How much does connecting the unit to the boat's GPS deplete the battery of a PLB?

The PLB still is rated for 24 hours battery life. Near shore rescue should occur in relitatively short time--at least under 12 hours in the boating situations where most of use the PLB. The ability to pin point and the faster response time would seem to swing the odds a bit toward the GPS, unless it severely depleats the battery.

The reason we carry 2 PLB is for both of us to have one; they could be sequently operated, if one battery runs out, and also a back up if one fails. Again, I endorse the full EPIRB offshore.

There are some reports that PLB have 48 hour batteries with the latest Li Ion technology. I am not sure which have this.

helm · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:42 am Post subject:

I just put the post out there from the Hull Truth as another opinion about the plbs thus the quoted text. No axe to grind pro or con epirbs or plbs but the more information people have the better in most cases.
Eric