Buying an EPIRB in Australia for use in the UK

[CraigB]

Hi folks,

I'm just doing some research into which EPIRB to buy and was considering the GME MT400 or MT401. I have found these advertised in the UK at around £295 and £350 respectively.

However I see an Australian Chandlery (BIAS Boating) sell these at AU $449.00 (around £181) and $549 (around £221) respectively.

That's over £100 cheaper.

Is there any reason I couldn't buy one while I'm there and register it when home in the UK?

I realise I'd need to confirm that it could be taken aboard a QANTAS flight and would need to check on import duties, but it still sounds a lot cheaper.

 

[Talbot]

VAT and Import Tax will take a chunk out of that £100.

 

[CraigB]

Yes, I suspected so. However, I assume the prices quoted include GST which I may be able to claim back . Perhaps it's a bit too much hassle.

 

[Norman_E]

I thought the duty free allowance from outside the EU had just been increased, if so you might get away with one of those.
EDIT. Increased allowance from £145 to £290 per traveller announced last November, not sure if implemented yet.

 

[alant]

Check with Falmouth CG first, in case there is a problem with registration.

Had a US EPIRB on a delivery (not registered) & Falmouth GG advised it could only be registered in US. They did have the decent commonsense to offer to log it in for the passage however (I was passing Eddystone Light at the time, en-route to Gib). Very useful/helpful guys - 01326 211569

 

[Daedelus]

Just remember to turn it the other way up for over here /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bejasus]

can't see why it should be a problem to re-register it, or register it as new on first purchase. They all work on the same frequency surely? I have one on board the boat I just purchased in the USA and I need to re-register it there. surely as long as the authority is aware of your cruising area then it shouldnt matter. What do ships and planes do, when travelling aroung the planet?

 

[TonyS]

£ 253 here in UK - First line of Google search
http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/mar...rs-strong-font/

 

[Lizzie_B]

I have US one purchased one. The registration recommendation is that they are registered within the country where your emergency contact in case of activation is resident.
After all, a UK registered vessel and epirb wouldn't be expected to re register when cuising US Pacific coast.

Because I keep my boat in Chesapeake Bay I registered it with US authority. (which you can do on line) even though my boat is UK registered.

They sent me the registration sticker in the post with a nice covering letter suggesting I may prefer to register it in UK as my home address was UK.
When I informed them the boat's cruising area was US East Coast they were fine.

My emergency contact is my marina - as they are the most likely to know where I am if the boat is not in the dock.

You should also check out US prices. Boatbandit.com, defenderus.com and sailnet will all ship to the UK, or I'm happy to bring it across on my next trip in April. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[swanson37]

I looked at this at a boat show over here (Melbourne) and asked the safety peeps that were in attendance about using an Oz EPIRB in the UK. They seemed to think that some EPIRBS needed reprogramming by the manufacturer if you wanted to use them in the Europe.

They also suggested that it shouldn't be a problem carrying an EPIRB on board an aircraft, but that some airlines do not like it.

You should take a look at www.whitworths.com.au it's the place I got to (they have stores all around Oz) for my chandelry needs

They have a MT400 up at $399

 

[StugeronSteve]

When I bought my EPIRB, last year, I was advised that there was a delay in deliveries, possibly due to increased interest in SAR equipment post Ouzo. However, McMurdo found that a unit that they were preparing for despatch overseas was coded as UK/EU origin and would not be registerable by the buyer, so they were able to let me have it immediately.

No idea if it was bullshit, but it may be worth checking out.

 

[CraigB]

Having phoned around a bit and spoken to GME back in Oz, the UK CG, and SARTech here, I can report that SARTech will recode an EPIRB purchased overseas for £15. Then it can be registered with the UK CG. So, it may still be worth buying one overseas if it doesn't cost anything to import it, but the prices are getting so low here now that I don't think I'll bother - SARTech said they will be selling the MT401 (with water activation) for almost as little as the basic MT400 when they get more stock in.