EPIRB: I finally bit the bullet

That's the one we have. Luckily I have not needed to use it! We bought it when we thought we were going to become offshore fisherman in the gulfstream :teeth Turns out my daughter and I both get sea sick in the swell in a small boat. I had no idea, and when I'd taken sport fishing charters previously I never had a problem. I'm glad I have it on the c-dory, even though we rarely go more than 10 miles away from land. Its just another level of redundancy, on top of our VHF and cell phones.

Anyway, it's really easy to register with NOAA and I'm not saying you'll change boats again lol, but if you do, its really simple to update the registration to a different boat.

This one's good for 10 years without a re certification or battery. That's why I bought it over some other choices.
 
Paul: So is the initial setup pretty straightforward? Did you mount it to your 22 bulkhead? You mentioned NOAA but doesn't the USCG need to be notified when the unit is set up?

Thanks!
 
I just followed the directions in the packet. There was a website that was listed, I went to the site and registered the serial number of the EPIRB, to the HIN and boat registration number. They ask for your home port and emergency contact information. You submit, and within a week or two I received paperwork in the mail confirming my registration.

As far as whether it was NOAA, or USCG, I cant confirm. But there was only one registration site I needed to bother with. They may work together to manage the registration I'm not sure.

I liked the mounting bracket that came with it, and was tempted to mount it on the bulkhead inside the berth. On second thought though, I was concerned a young person might trip the button messing around in the boat. So it sits in its box stowed safely away underneath the dinette seat.
 
How does the EPIRB differ from a PLB? (Personal Locator Beacon) I have the PLB, and wear it on my inflatable vest when trolling solo on Lake Michigan. However keep it in the boat or car with us when traveling in desolate locations. Colby
 
colbysmith":30yp8c4f said:
How does the EPIRB differ from a PLB? (Personal Locator Beacon) I have the PLB, and wear it on my inflatable vest when trolling solo on Lake Michigan. However keep it in the boat or car with us when traveling in desolate locations. Colby
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Dr. Bob? The floor is yours.
 
Hi Jason!
Not Dr Bob, but he has influenced much of my thinking on these subjects.

Congratulations, I hope you never have to set it off in a life-threatening situation. But if you do, ACR (only ACR, not any of the competing companies) will give you a brand new one for free. Like so many things in boating, one can debate whether or not that is a good use of your under $500 purchase price. My training and experience (including as crew in USAF helicopter Search and Rescue missions in Montana) indicates that good luck generally favors the well-prepared. And drunks, for some reason.

See the registration form here:
https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGD ... dda3dc409f

Though you can register directly on line.
Keep in mind that the bane of SAR authorities is false alarms. Therefore, what they want in “Emergency Contacts” can include someone who has a view of your boat in the marina that can say, “well, I’m looking at his boat docked in the marina and it looks fine and no one is on it” if some meth-head steals your EPIRB and sets it off. Take reasonable measures to prevent or mitigate false alarms. You can’t set one off by touching a single button once.
I contend an EPRIB (or PLB, if only short term signaling is needed) is a reasonable investment for anyone boating outside of VHF coverage and/or sight of land. I also contend that after the giant rogue wave in the thunderstorm or fire has capsized your C-Dory with crew in the water that’s no time to be reaching for your cell phone. But if it’s working and has 2 bars, fine.
I would also contend that the ‘automatic’ models which release from their housing at a hydrostatic 5-10 ft depth is made for outside mounting where they float free and automatically activate. (Both automatic and manual models won’t activate when splashed outside or rained on in their housings, mine via a magnet sensor). Your EPIRB can’t get it’s signal to the satellites if it’s in the boat and the boat sinks with your EPIRB inside and crew in the water. (Submarines use a different system). Therefore, I contend that the best place to keep my EPIRB is in a ACR ditch bag with built-in floatation at my feet at the helm. I chose the manual model, not in housing ,which will still activate in water when not in it’s housing.

https://www.marinescreens.com/acr_rapid ... 66495.html

In any boating catastrophe, our plan is to toss the ditch bag in the water and join it if the boat is sinking. The ditch bag has a strobe attached that activates with water contact and two floating 6 watt waterproof DSC handheld VHF (I like Standard Horizen 871’s), 2 inflatable PFD’s with strobes and Storm whistles plus a lot more, but that’s a different subject. The wisdom of inflating PFD’s inside the cabin of a boat that’s sinking or capsized is questionable since it could impede egress. That’s why we secure our SOLAS (higher standard than USCG approvals) Type 1 Offshore PFD’s in the cockpit, not inside Cat O’ Mine.
As for the down side…as so often the case, cost. My ancient ACR model uses 5 year batteries that can ONLY be replaced at an ACR approved facility and that costs $220-$250 every 5 years to ship it off. The last one expiration date was in 2015, but the unit still tests as good battery, maybe because I run the test sequence yearly rather than monthly. I’ll be looking for a new ACR model like the Globalfix IV (seen for $399) with a 10 year USER REPLACEBLE battery (I’ve seen them on line for $150). I suggest that when shopping, a USER REPLACEABLE, 10 YEAR battery is likely the best deal, even over a free older unit like mine. I see the same problem with PLB battery replacement every 5 years.
In my experience ACR recommends battery replacement every 5 years but mentions a ‘service life’ of up to 10 years if never activated (not including test sequence no more than monthly).
And you can’t beat the free replacement program unique to ACR if you ever use it.
I’d encourage thinking about these issues as they pertain to your boat and your boating and what makes the most sense in your situation. Especially, the issue of wanting your EPIRB to be with YOU, not with your boat, after the boat sinks.
Happy boating!
John
 
I happen to have 3 PLB currently. Reason for PLB, is that it is registered to the person (not the boat--you can take it with you on any boat, ski, hiking, RV etc trip you want anywhere in the World.) The PLB can be easily attached to the PFD, including inflatable. One of ours is about 2" by 1" by about 3"--.

I don't consider the PLB just for heading offshore. As I have been watching boating forums for the last 20+ years, i have seen a number of people die in bays and rivers, where the small boat swamped, they were in the water, no VHF, cell phone didn't work--and no one saw them. There are hundreds of these. Then add in the skiers, rock climbers etc--hundreds of potential lives saved each year.

The PBL has to be held out of the water, and the antenna has to be deployed and held out of the water. The battery has to last 24 hours (usually more) rather than the 48 hours for the EPRIB. Power and other features are all about the same. You are just more likely to have the PLB with you if there is an emergency.

We have 2 PLB for our persons, and they travel with us in the car, RV, boat etc. and one in the ditch bag, which often goes with us in the dinghy--probably as much need for the ditch bag with the dinghy as the C Dory..!

Consider that a fair number of boat losses are from fire, or hitting a submerged object and rapid sinking. Can you get to the EPRIB to set it off? If the boat is damaged, with the EPRIB float free and deploy--will it burn? Will it get stolen?

Having said all of that, I started using EPRIB in the 70's which was then the air craft distress frequency of 121.5 MHz. By the early 80's COSPAS-SARSAT, international satellite rescue with 406 Mhz came along, and was far better coverage. On our long distance cruising boats we had two EPRIBs. One was packed with the life raft, and survival gear. The other was just inside of the main companionway--where it could be reached from inside or outside, but locked up when in port.

Today we have DSC, with hand held enabled VHF radios at affordable prices. But a form of EPRIB is also important--if out of VHF range--and a back up life insurance any way.
 
Thanks, Bob! Great points!
An additional advantage of most PLBs over EPIRBs is lower initial cost. However, none of them that I can find have a user-replaceable battery, and ACR won’t sell you one. The cheapest online PLB battery service I see is $119 for the ACR Res-q/Res-q+, or $360 every 6 years for Bob’s 3 of them, vs $150 every 10 years for the ACR GlobalFix V4 EPIRB. I don’t mean to come across as implying the ACR and other battery replacement services are any rip-off, they perform a whole ‘battery’ (sorry) of tests that you can consider a recertification of your unit. Most things performed well by experts are not cheap, Surprise!

https://acr.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/ ... 3189a9fd17

From the ACR website:

https://www.acrartex.com/support/faqs/e ... qs/#q-2705

“A Category I beacon automatically deploys when a vessel sinks. The beacon floats free at a depth of 1.5 to 3.0m (4.9 to 13.1ft). The EPIRB can be manually activated while in its bracket or manually removed and activated.” (What Jason bought).
“A Category II beacon is manually deployed. The EPIRB will automatically activate when removed from its bracket and comes in contact with water, or when it is still in its bracket but a person has lifted the switch to the activation position.” (What I have, and keep in the ditch bag without its bracket, so it activates when water hits it without any other intervention on our part. Toss it out the window, it automatically floats upright, you don’t have to hold it above the water, the antenna is fixed and auto orients to the sky. Not all PLB’s float without an optional float jacket and NONE of them automatically activate in water, so I beg to differ with Bob on the minor point of which requires the least intervention by a conscious boater…I vote EPIRB…cheapo Cat II will do… over PLB. However, you all have no doubt already guessed that I’ll buy a PLB…or 2, or 3…eventually, and my birthday is in April).
After Katrina hit with a 34 foot vertical storm surge, innumerable beachfront homes of boaters were nothing but slabs, but I heard dozens of stories of EPIRBS found under tons of concrete debris that did not break, and many that were still pinging away for many days after the 48-hour standard. For what is essentially some delicate chips and circuits, EPIRBs are almost bulletproof compared to cell phones.

Any EPRIB is better than none, any PLB is better than none, and the easier it is to activate, and the more likely you are to have it with you when needed (like Bob posted), the better.

My impression is that under 10% of C-Brats carry a PLB or EPIRB. Sadly, less than 25% of those signed up for the Hontoon Gathering even listed a VHF MMSI number. Does that mean they don’t have a modern VHF radio, or none at all, or never bothered to obtain a free MMSI number from BoatUS and input it into their VHF, or what? Bob has previously posted that a senior local Coast Guard commander told him that 90% of boaters with DSC-capable VHF radios have never programmed in a free MMSI number, impeding the ability of the red covered ‘Distress’ button to function effectively. If you have one, get this done pronto.

These issues will no doubt generate questions regarding mega-monster Garmin’s acquisition of DeLorme’s In-Reach and it’s Iridium satellite based comm handhelds. I have been burned enough as an early adapter to say I’ll give it 5 years before even considering. Just look at the past 15-20 years of Iridium history. EPRIB/PLBs use standard GOES and other government satellites, and governmental SAR dispatch centers. I’ll only trust them for now.

Sorry to be so in the weeds on a rather arcane technical topic like this.
The name of this game is be educated on the pro’s and con’s of all your alternatives and decide what’s best for you and the ones you love and boat with. There is no single ‘right’ answer for all Brats or all boaters.

John
 
John and Bob, thanks for all the points on the Epirb and PLB. Think I'll just stick with my PLB. I don't mind replacing it every 5 years or reregistering it every 2 years. It's small and can go with me anywhere. And gives me some more peace of mind particularly when I'm boating solo. (Or for that matter driving somewhere desolate!) As for MMSI and DSC, as many have experienced, using the number and software to call up others isn't always straight forward. However, being able to open the safety cover and pushing one red button in an emergency is. Guests don't need to know all the proper hailing methods or how to use your radio, other than "if something happens to me and you need help, just push that little red button". All this neat equipment is only as good as the owner allows it to be. Colby
 
The point that must be carried away from all of this is that if you are in distress and do not have a rescue beacon--EPRIB, or PLB with you--it is useless.

There are far more people who fall overboard, are lost in dinghies, etc than boats up and just sink--where the EPRIB self deploys. If you do much boating, it is a very in-expensive life insurance policy to have a PLB and DSC enabled submersible radio. The reality is that not all EPRIB self deploy--some get tangled in the boat's rigging (fishing boat/sailboat), are stuck in the harness, or are consumed in the fire. I have heard of examples of all of these in the last year on forums I frequent.

John, there is a flaw in your math--Yes 3 x 120 is $360, but if you have 3 EPRIB that will be 3 x 150 = $450. The reality is that most likely technology will change in 10 years, many will have moved on to different boats/necessary safety devices, or either locator beacon will not be necessary in Heaven,

An example of changing technology is that AIS enabled Man Overboard, DSC beacons are required on many offshore races--That way, not only the vessel, where a MOB has occurred, but all nearby vessels are notified. Not dependent on SATSAR. There is good reason to consider that this technology will be used in non racing and single handed vessels.

Agree that very few of our C Dorys have the MMSI properly put in their radios...Hard to understand, since the cost is virtually zero. (Ok a year's membership in BOAT US--the rag is worth the $25, along with other benefits, such as lobbing for boating causes.) For the DSC to work properly it has to have the GPS input (either from chart plotter, or internal GPS) and have the MMSI number programed into it.)
 
The main safety concern I have is those two 20 gallon fuel tanks several ft away from the cabin. We're in the process of upgrading our VHF to a DSC enabled unit. The scenario that I don't see that working well is if you have a catastrophic explosion. So in thinking what would be the safest option it seems a PLB would do the trick. Plus we can use this while camping and hiking, I was thinking of getting an EPIRB, but after reading through this thread and thinking about it I think a few PLB's may be a better starting point. Plus a DSC handheld VHF.
 
You can get a MMSI number for free from SeaTow or US Power Squadrons. Mine was free, but I can't remember where I got it from.

However, If you want a MMSI number that is legal in Canada (or other countries) you have to get one from the FCC. Last time I checked it was US$160.

That said, apparently if you don't have a proper MMSI number in Canadian waters, the Canadian authorities can still get the distress call, they just may not have the supplemental information (like your contact info). Also, If you are across, but near the border, your distress signal may be received by US authorities anyway.
 
Yes, theoretically you need the official DSC number given by the FCC to the Ship's radio Station (also necessary for SSB radio, AIS transmitter, satellite communications)

To determine if you require an FCC Ship Radio Station License, answer the following questions:

1- Are you required by law or treaty to carry a radio on your vessel?

2- Does your vessel travel to foreign ports? (Canada, Mexico, Bahamas and BVI included)

3- Do you have marine radio equipment on board your vessel other than marine VHF radios, EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), or radar? (Such as SSB or Satellite communications)
Click to expand...

Recreational vessels are not required to have VHF radio. In the main, the requirement to have a radio license if you go to Bahamas, Canada and Mexico is often ignored--but it still is the law. We had the Ship's Radio License on our large vessels, but in clearing in and out of customs in over 50 countries, we were never asked for a copy of our ship's radio station license. It could have been a point if we had gotten in trouble of some kind. (One of our friends transmitted in a military security zone in Yugoslavia, his vessel was seized, all electronics were confiscated, he had to go to court, pay a fine, and he got his vessel back, but not the electronics. He didn't do his homework, or obey signs along the river!)
 
Barry, I believe the first MOB was on leg 4, this recent one (Monday) was on leg 7. John Fisher, who appears lost, supposedly was wearing "full survival gear". The boat was traveling over 25 knots when he went overboard. The boat (which was 300 miles behind the other boats, spent 5 hours looking for the MOB in 35 knot winds, heavy seas, and water temp of 9*C. The boat resumed its course at that point. A merchant vessel was diverted.

Here is a page from Sailing Anarchy which deals with the conditions and some videos In most of the boats the crews are wearing foul weather gear, have inflatable PFD, and tethers on--but rarely used.

These guys and gals are what you would call "extreme athletes" They stand 4 hour watches, get little rest off watch, because then they are repairing gear, getting a little food, etc. Each leg is at least several weeks, even at 500 miles a day...

There is a video of the retrieval of the earlier MOB where the crew was rescued within 15 minutes--not sure if MOB locator was used or not, but at one point one of the crew has a tablet, and appears to have his position. From the time that "MOB" is called, until the boat could be turned, under the best of conditions (in this case the boat was flying an asymmetrical spinnaker inner jib and reefed main), even starting the engine, the boat would have traveled several miles!
 
Bob,

Sadly the crew-member (John Fisher) was just declared "lost at sea"! The satellite message was received just hours ago here at New Zealand from crew aboard "Scallywag". The extreme remote Southern Ocean location of the boat along with weather conditions prevented any SAR action. Indications were to get the boat to Chile, rather than continue the race, and get the crew off the boat.

Lesson here is, even if you are equipped with "full survival gear" (as you indicated the crew-member was), you can not depend on electronics at sea, especially aboard small vessels!
 
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