Personal EPIRB

gibbo500 · 14 December 2009, 18:25

Most of you are probably aware of my recent escapade and i consider myself fortunate but it could have had a different outcome. This has now got me thinking more importantly about my personal and crew safety.
Does anyone have or can comment on the following:

http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/EPIRB...htm?P3332-S84-

Cheers

chewy · 14 December 2009, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibbo500

Most of you are probably aware of my recent escapade and i consider myself fortunate but it could have had a different outcome. This has now got me thinking more importantly about my personal and crew safety.
Does anyone have or can comment on the following:

http://www.safety-marine.co.uk/EPIRB...htm?P3332-S84-

Cheers

It'll go off when I swim across the harbour!

Channel Ribs · 14 December 2009, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibbo500

Does anyone have or can comment on the following:

McMurdo Fastfind PLB 200 with GPS

They are a cracking piece of kit, small and light - really easy to carry and use.

You should be able to get one for about 215.00 inc vat and delivery.

gibbo500 · 14 December 2009, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

It'll go off when I swim across the harbour!

Why, does it go automatically in water?

Channel Ribs · 14 December 2009, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibbo500

Why, does it go automatically in water?

Nope, nor do they float.

I think he was referring to the stick he got for using a manual lifejacket

bogib · 14 December 2009, 18:39

Also a good option is from Sea Marshall www.seamarshall.com we did testing in early 1990´s and they where the first to be approved for use both on sea and land over here.

Bogi

chewy · 14 December 2009, 18:47

An auto one may be better?

gibbo500 · 14 December 2009, 18:58

What does the free RNLI membership entitle me to.....Chewy?

gibbo500 · 14 December 2009, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

They are a cracking piece of kit, small and light - really easy to carry and use.

You should be able to get one for about 215.00 inc vat and delivery.

Thanks MaltHouse

willk · 14 December 2009, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

An auto one may be better?

Methinks, me auld flower, given the safety nature of this one, one might do well to recall the Infamous Titanic Thread....

Gibbo500, I have one of these, it seems to be the mutt's nuts. I have yet to use it though! It's small enough to fit in a top pocket and light enough to forget you have it there. I take mine solo-hillwalking (I know I shouldn't

). A friend in the Coastguard has just purchased the same model.

The no-float thing doesn't bother me as I keep it on a lanyard. If it was bulky enough to float, I probably wouldn't have it in my pocket all the time. In your locality, I think a handheld VHF might be more useful though. I'd certainly carry the VHF and then possibly the PLB as well.

C2 RIBS · 14 December 2009, 19:09

Great bit of kit, this is the upgraded and smaller item I have. It has to be registered when you get it so if you activate it the CG start with some knowledge and then the position gives the RNLI etc a bearing and GPS fix to come to your aid.

If I was replacing mine I would buy that one you posted

Mollers · 14 December 2009, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Methinks, me auld flower, given the safety nature of this one, one might do well to recall the Infamous Titanic Thread....

Gibbo500, I have one of these, it seems to be the mutt's nuts. I have yet to use it though! It's small enough to fit in a top pocket and light enough to forget you have it there. I take mine solo-hillwalking (I know I shouldn't

). A friend in the Coastguard has just purchased the same model.

The no-float thing doesn't bother me as I keep it on a lanyard. If it was bulky enough to float, I probably wouldn't have it in my pocket all the time. In your locality, I think a handheld VHF might be more useful though. I'd certainly carry the VHF and then possibly the PLB as well.

Does it go off automatically on submersion or does it require a clout of some description?

willk · 14 December 2009, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

It has to be registered when you get it so if you activate it the CG start with some knowledge

A surprisingly simple process. I faxed my details to the CG in Falmouth and within a couple of days I was on the system

BruceB · 14 December 2009, 19:14

I carry an older one of these on my lifejacket waist strap all the time.
Its a nice feeling knowing that if you get turfed out the boat you can still call for help beyond the range of a VHF.

chewy · 14 December 2009, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Methinks, me auld flower, given the safety nature of this one, one might do well to recall the Infamous Titanic Thread....

Enlighten me?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibbo500

What does the free RNLI membership entitle me to.....Chewy?

Looks like it might be offshore membership from the price:

http://www.rnli.org.uk/assets/docume...shore%20UK.pdf

I'll buy you a pint too if your ever up this neck of the woods.

Channel Ribs · 14 December 2009, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Does it go off automatically on submersion or does it require a clout of some description?

"Why, does it go automatically in water?

Nope, nor do they float."

Clout.

There are boat based systems that tell people you have gone missing though.

gibbo500 · 14 December 2009, 19:21

Thanks guys, i think i will definitely look at purchasing, it probably seems expensive especially this time of year but then like they say "how much is your life worth?"

I often go out on my own i think it is worth it for the reassurance.

willk · 14 December 2009, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

does it require a clout of some description?

lol - most of the kit on my barquey requires a swift knock to activate it. I'm assuming you are 'Aving a Larf, but for the benefit of others, I haven't encountered an automatic PLB and I'm not sure they'd be a good idea (other than as simple MOB kit). However, deployment is a POP, just wig the (sealed) top off, the antenna deploys and you hold the Big Red Button down until she starts flashing the LED. The LED flash sequence indicates GPS lock and Location Transmission. However, I'd guess that there must be a lead time of 30-60 minutes before an actual rescue would be initiated, granted they'll know where you are and have a 121 signal to home in on - if yer frozen mitts can hold the unit that long.

chewy · 14 December 2009, 19:28

Surely if an auto lifejacket is the best suited to normal users then an auto PLB would be best too?

Can you get a killcord for them that would activate the PLB on your person if you leave the boat?

gibbo500 · 14 December 2009, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

lol - most of the kit on my barquey requires a swift knock to activate it. I'm assuming you are 'Aving a Larf, but for the benefit of others, I haven't encountered an automatic PLB and I'm not sure they'd be a good idea (other than as simple MOB kit). However, deployment is a POP, just wig the (sealed) top off, the antenna deploys and you hold the Big Red Button down until she starts flashing the LED. The LED flash sequence indicates GPS lock and Location Transmission. However, I'd guess that there must be a lead time of 30-60 minutes before an actual rescue would be initiated, granted they'll know where you are and have a 121 signal to home in on - if yer frozen mitts can hold the unit that long.

Willk, i take it that once activated they can be used again? Not that i want to have to use it once...cheers