406 MHz EPIRB Usage

[Robin]

It does in fact reflect the reality of cruising not too long ago. I think it was around 1974 when I bought my first VHF and I had very few others to talk to on it! Very few people had liferafts and 'electronics' were not allowed racing (though you could carry them and retire if they were used).

I'm not saying we should adopt the hair shirt routine, but self sufficiency should be the very first priority, not calling out the marine equivalent of the AA. How many lifeboat launches have you listened too that could have been avoidable? Being late for work on a Monday is not a reason for a lifeboat tow in (on a sailboat obviously) on Sunday night because someone ran out of diesel! Nowadays quite a few LB launches are precautionary, ie better earlier than later and so the MCA cannot be liable, as a result the number of reported rescues goes up as does the call for more regulations, registration, licensing etc.

EPIRBs are excellent but they are like flares, they only speak one language which is MAYDAY. VHF or MF/HF even mobilephones at least give some opportunity for added explanation but only if in range.




<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[MainlySteam]

I can recall many times when I was no more than 6-7 yrs old or so going many times 15 - 20 miles down a rugged uninhabited coast with my grandfather fishing in an open around 16 foot clinker boat, Seagull on back. No lifejackets, no radio, nothing except oars and an anchor (which was often just some cast off piece of ironmongary from the scrap heap on the end of a manila rope). That was back in the 1950's (eeeeek, reminiscing again /forums/images/icons/frown.gif).

Not something I would ever condone but it did breed self sufficiency and alot of lectures from my mother as to how to stay afloat if the boat sunk!

John

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[Vasco]

Maybe so

Call it macho if you choose, it doesn't bother me at all... as to the paralel with the ambulance , well, not many ambulance drivers risk their lives picking up casualties , if you exclude war zones. And yes , Epirb is part of Solas and the all the professional sailors ( including yachtsmen ) will pull the pin. The question is when. Surely not because they ran out of fuel , the rudder fell off ,they can't start their bleeding GPS or other calls very far from "grave and iminent danger" like we see all the time.The problem for me is too many people afloat with no preparation , no training , no knowledge , no experience and a false sense of security they get from the gadgets. All newcomers to sailing know everything about Epirbs , chart plotters and other stuff , but few of them will consider carefully an adequate bilge pump or proper ground tackle. Call it a macho attitude again if you like , but I get the same feeling everytime I see a picture ( or the real thing) of someone sailing in 15 kts of wind in a beautifull sea wearing clipped on harnesses and lifejackets.If one can't be trusted not to fall off in those conditions one shouldn't be sailing, simple as that. I don't believe everyone is fit to go to sea .I know it's not a very popular opinion...but it's mine.
Safe sailing

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[ranga]

Re: Maybe so

Reminds me of a conversation I had with an American couple who were cruising around the world for the nth time. They said that around the USA, it has got to the point where the authorities would not set off an emergency if a 406 went off without some other distress type call to back it up (e.g. telephone call, radio, flares etc).

Sounded a bit far-fetched to me but if 406s are being used because of non-mayday situations then that is where it is headed I guess. I cannot imagine a 406 being ignored around Europe or Australia though.

Perhaps the 406 needs a "Mayday/PanPan" switch!

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[stiknstring]

Hi, Yes we carry an Epirb (406 only) and liferaft plus VHF DSC, two handhelds and also a satellite phone (currently in Lagos, Portugal making our way down to Las Palmas for the ARC). The satfone is used more to tell the folks back home where we are at any time to avoid them taking our details to CG Falmouth if they don't hear from us within a prescribed time interval. But also lives in the grab bag so that in the event of having to take to the liferaft we can have it with us to speak direct to CG, catch up on the football scores etc etc. EPIRB is also kept in the grab bag so we don't leave it on board whilst we are in the liferaft!

Know the EPIRB works as it went off accidentally last year after toppling over into standing water in the boat (long story!) - harbourmaster's launch followed me up the Medina river to ask if we were alright - we were but mightily embarassed!

Bought my boat under the French flag so it was required to be registered under the French merchant shipping register which sets minimum requirements similar to our DOT coded requirements for charter boats. My boat is not chartered however - the French just take a more robust and legislative view of minimum requirements.

Good luck with the survey and all the best to you

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