I carry a 406 mhz Personal Locator Beacon. It also has an EPIRB built-in. It weighs 9 oz. and has its own waist pack.

How much does something like that cost hobiegary?
Trey

PLB's cost about three or four times as much as a vhf radio. There are more expeniive ones that broadcast your gps position and cost as much as 5-7 radios.

Let your kid get a hold of this thing and send a false alarm; get a $10,000 fine! No "crying wolf" tollerated!!!


GARY

Gary,

After reading this review of the different Epirbs I'm not sure I would trust a McMurdo epirb. They had a problem transmitting when the slot where the antenna comes out gets wet.

Here is the review: http://www.equipped.com/406_beacon_test_toc.htm

McMurdo has an update for thier Epirbs available. You might want to contact them.

Mike Hill
www.stlouiscats.com

Maybe it's just me, but I'd probably ask the manufacturer what kind of PRODUCT LIABILITY limits they carry on that!

If that freakin' thing craps out and I'm fish bait, I'd like to think my relatives will give Johnny Cochran something to do...

The full story can be found here:
http://www.equipped.com/406_beacon_test_toc.htm

The Fastfind that has the gps in it was found faulty by some tests. The manufacturer was unable to duplicate the errors. I'm told that the Coast Guard, who purchased about 12,000 units, did their own tests to be sure they wanted to keep them. After that, the CG bought more.

The non gps units present your location within an approximate 3 mile accuracy. Subsequent satellite passes will drastically improve this reading as triangulation becomes possible. Meanwhile, the unit is pumping out a simultaneous 128 Mhz epirb signal that is easily spotted by anyone searching for it.

The GPS models have been recalled for upgrading. The non gps models have nothing wrong with them. That's the one I use.

I am very happy with my McMurdo Fastfind 406, particularly the size and weight of it. It is small enough that I will actually use it and keep it on my person.

I figure that if I am not willing to carry a few days worth of drinking water on my body when out in the open ocean, then I had better have a few ways to be found before I dehydrate or more likely, become hypothermic. (55º-66º water) So I carry a 406 Mhz PLB on me, a signal mirror, a whistle (for fog), an omni-directional light, a waterproof vhf radio, a gps, a sky flare, a life jacket, a bottle of water, and a piece of line that I can use to tether myself to the first floating object that I find.

GARY