Disposing of an old EPIRB

dulcibella

dulcibella

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Joined
26 Jun 2003
Messages
1,157
Location
Portsmouth, UK
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I want to get rid of my 13-year old Kannad EPIRB, long replaced on the boat by a more modern model. How can I do this safely without any risk of an accidental triggering (there is still life in the battery)? Advice appreciated.
 
dulcibella said:
I want to get rid of my 13-year old Kannad EPIRB, long replaced on the boat by a more modern model. How can I do this safely without any risk of an accidental triggering (there is still life in the battery)? Advice appreciated.
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As you are in Portsmouth, would McMurdo take it?
I think they are all part of the same group now.
Otherwise, take it apart and take the battery out.
 
I'm almost tempted to buy it as I may do a delivery soon and I don't have an epirb and the boat doesn't. We also may do a trip in an open cat to the Scillies some time from Plymouth and as we're out of vhf range with hand helds at sea level an epirb might be good for that. I'm in Titchfield this week (exhibiting at Seaworks boat show so not far from Pompey)
 
Neil_Y said:
I'm almost tempted to buy it as I may do a delivery soon and I don't have an epirb and the boat doesn't. We also may do a trip in an open cat to the Scillies some time from Plymouth and as we're out of vhf range with hand helds at sea level an epirb might be good for that. I'm in Titchfield this week (exhibiting at Seaworks boat show so not far from Pompey)
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Pretty sure that you'll be in range of the coastguard for all of that trip even with just a hand held VHF. GMDSS sea areas for VHF are based on an ariel at sea level and the whole UK is A1.
 
I suspect you'd be in Vodafone range come to that.
Epirbs have to be registered to the vessel, or at least should be.

I suspect there might be blind spots with both, close to the cliffs.
 
Woodlouse said:
Pretty sure that you'll be in range of the coastguard for all of that trip even with just a hand held VHF. GMDSS sea areas for VHF are based on an ariel at sea level and the whole UK is A1.
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Nice to think so but last trip (Plymouth to Falmouth) we were more than 15 miles offshore (gybe angles downwind) and if swimming the hand held aerial would be at sea level, with a 2m sea running I don't fancy my chances with just a vhf, last trip helm had a personal epirb we attached to the boat so if one person is lost the other sets off epirb, or if we had a breakage it would be accessible.
 
Woodlouse said:
Pretty sure that you'll be in range of the coastguard for all of that trip even with just a hand held VHF. GMDSS sea areas for VHF are based on an ariel at sea level and the whole UK is A1.
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Yes and no!!!!! Yes you may be in range of a VHF transmitter but that transmitter can be 120 miles or more from the man with the mike! Could involve a 200 mile round trip.
 
Bilgediver said:
Yes and no!!!!! Yes you may be in range of a VHF transmitter but that transmitter can be 120 miles or more from the man with the mike! Could involve a 200 mile round trip.
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Yes, but since radio waves travel at the speed of light I don't think that such distances are an issue. After all, you won't be asking the coast guard man on the radio to come and rescue you in person.
 
The battery on the EPIRB that came with my boats expired....so is there a market for Epirbs with expired batteries then? (currently its sat in my wardrobe collecting dust. I have a PLB so don't intend to buy a new one for a while)
 
If it's a 406MHz beacon then fitting a new battery is worth it and is all it should need; it would be nice if the maker offered a testing service although that seems unlikely, but as long as it hasn't had any water ingress or internal corrosion it should be fine. Some have a self-test facility although beyond lighting up an LED there's no sign of anything happening. 121.5MHz beacons are of less use as a general distress signal but allow easier terminal homing, so may also be worth having new batteries for too.
 
penfold said:
If it's a 406MHz beacon then fitting a new battery is worth it and is all it should need; it would be nice if the maker offered a testing service although that seems unlikely, but as long as it hasn't had any water ingress or internal corrosion it should be fine. Some have a self-test facility although beyond lighting up an LED there's no sign of anything happening. 121.5MHz beacons are of less use as a general distress signal but allow easier terminal homing, so may also be worth having new batteries for too.
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To be honest I would rather buy a new Epirb with GPS for increased accuracy and peace of mind, as you say there's no real way of testing the Epirb apart from seeing some flashy lights :)

After reading this thread though I'll throw it in the For Sale section and see what response I get (its a McMurdo 406Mhz and looks ok)
 
timmygobang said:
To be honest I would rather buy a new Epirb with GPS for increased accuracy and peace of mind, as you say there's no real way of testing the Epirb apart from seeing some flashy lights :)

After reading this thread though I'll throw it in the For Sale section and see what response I get (its a McMurdo 406Mhz and looks ok)
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If its any help in selling it I have just acquired one, battery expires in 6 days. Just been quoted 120 for new battery programming and registration...

Seems to me 120 for unused checked EPIRB was not to be sniffed at...
 
onesea said:
If its any help in selling it I have just acquired one, battery expires in 6 days. Just been quoted 120 for new battery programming and registration...

Seems to me 120 for unused checked EPIRB was not to be sniffed at...
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I had mine tested, serviced and battery changed by Sartech last year for £150. Good for another 5 years. Still cheaper than a new one.
 
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