PLB Battery Replacement - worth it?

[gotchiguy]

So this happened:

[willk]

What is it and what happened?

[gotchiguy]

Well that's our replacement MaxG battery. Has given service for two seasons now, always in an old style McMurdo neoprene case. It hasn't been subjected to anything out of the usual but whilst giving it and the LJs a quick once over last week found it had split like that - definitely not waterproof anymore! Will see what they say.

Was having a look at it as Gotchidad is doing a floatplane rating in a couple of weeks and wanted to take it with him for that, fortunately it gives us a few weeks to sort it before the boating season starts. Will see what McMurdo have to say about it, their customer service has been excellent in the past.

[willk]

Originally Posted by willk

All good now until October 2021, I'll get back to yiz then about my next move

Crikey, I completely forgot to update this thread:

It's now February 2024 and I still have the PLB in question. I was using a fresher EPIRB on the willkcraft and the PLB kinda ran on a bit. It still tests out as having a full battery. The cost to replace this is now in excess of €200 and I purchased an Ocean Safety PLB for €299 instead. My plan is to fit the new unit to my lifejacket and retain the old unit for hillwalking (while the battery holds up). I have fewer concerns about water ingress and hopefully won't drown while hillwalking.

Costs aside, there's no way I'd swap the battery in a 2009 electronic device. I'm oddly sanguine about NOT replacing the battery and letting matters decide themselves. Just not at sea...