AlistairC
Well-Known Member
Buy an epirb to grab in an emergency? or issue the entire crew with half decent handheld VHF's for the same money. 5 miles offshore with the odd channel crossing.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Epirb or handheld vhf for inshore
- Thread starter AlistairC
- Start date
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
VHF
anubis
Well-Known Member
Both to be safe...esp if you x channel...getting very busy. Also if you favour night passages to arrive for petit dejeuner.
A
A
PeterGibbs
Well-Known Member
No question - the lifesaver is the EPIRB.
For the price of a night out for 4 you can easily afford at least one decent hand-held too. You deserve it!
PWG
For the price of a night out for 4 you can easily afford at least one decent hand-held too. You deserve it!
PWG
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
vhf, lots of other boats about that will hear and poss pick up according to thames coast guard
epirb can take up to 1hr to be noticed, water is cold
epirb can take up to 1hr to be noticed, water is cold
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
VHF, EPIRB takes too long, for coastal passages.
Channel Ribs
Well-Known Member
Not only will I say vhf but I would even go so far as to recommend a set of criteria...
You want:-
Submersible, not just splash proof,
Hard on/off swwitch, so the battery lasts until needed,
Affordable, no good if you are still saving up for it when you need it.
You want:-
Submersible, not just splash proof,
Hard on/off swwitch, so the battery lasts until needed,
Affordable, no good if you are still saving up for it when you need it.
Brierley
Well-Known Member
Definitely an EPIRB for cross-channel - even the coastguard might struggle with 2-way contact to a handheld VHF if you're in the middle of the crossing.
Also bear in mind that many yachts won't pick up a hand-held signal from any significant distance as you are unlikely to be more than 2-3m above the waterline. In our first season we discovered many marinas struggle to hear a hand-held when asking for a berth (i.e. within half a mile of the marina!) which is when we invested in a fixed VHF with an aerial at the top of an 8m mast!
Coastal - decent handhelds will give you some chance of someone hearing you so they're probably more effective than an EPIRB time-wise.
When considering cost, ask yourself "What price do I put on my life?". If you were lying in a hospital bed, or attending the funeral of one of your crew, how much would you be prepared to spend to turn back the clock? On that basis, £500 for a personal EPIRB for my other half when he made a solo channel crossing seemed like a small price to pay.
Also bear in mind that many yachts won't pick up a hand-held signal from any significant distance as you are unlikely to be more than 2-3m above the waterline. In our first season we discovered many marinas struggle to hear a hand-held when asking for a berth (i.e. within half a mile of the marina!) which is when we invested in a fixed VHF with an aerial at the top of an 8m mast!
Coastal - decent handhelds will give you some chance of someone hearing you so they're probably more effective than an EPIRB time-wise.
When considering cost, ask yourself "What price do I put on my life?". If you were lying in a hospital bed, or attending the funeral of one of your crew, how much would you be prepared to spend to turn back the clock? On that basis, £500 for a personal EPIRB for my other half when he made a solo channel crossing seemed like a small price to pay.
AlistairC
Well-Known Member
Thank you for your replies so far, I think a pattern is emerging (both).
Just to confirm that I have all the standard gear, fixed dsc vhf etc.
This is as an emergency abandon ship to the liferaft scenario.
Just to confirm that I have all the standard gear, fixed dsc vhf etc.
This is as an emergency abandon ship to the liferaft scenario.
Merlin29
Well-Known Member
I'm a newbie so please feel free to ignore my comments but if you were in an abandon ship scenario I'm willing to bet my next pint that you'll be kicking your own arse as you clamber into the raft if you don't have both to hand!
alant
Well-Known Member
Whats wrong with a decent DSC fixed radio?
bedouin
Well-Known Member
Unless you are really strapped for cash I'd say both. A HH VHF is a useful piece of equipment anyway but if I had to bet my life on just one it would be the EPIRB
AlistairC
Well-Known Member
I have one.
Channel Ribs
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
... many yachts won't pick up a hand-held signal from any significant distance as you are unlikely to be more than 2-3m above the waterline. In our first season we discovered many marinas struggle to hear a hand-held when asking for a berth (i.e. within half a mile of the marina!)...
[/ QUOTE ]
Did you have line of sight with the handheld? I would be surprised if a yacht/ship/shore station would have trouble picking up a call on 16, I have used a handheld a lot off the Kent coast (at sea level) and have no trouble calling the Coastguard.
Not that a good mast-head installation is not worth it's weight in gold.
... many yachts won't pick up a hand-held signal from any significant distance as you are unlikely to be more than 2-3m above the waterline. In our first season we discovered many marinas struggle to hear a hand-held when asking for a berth (i.e. within half a mile of the marina!)...
[/ QUOTE ]
Did you have line of sight with the handheld? I would be surprised if a yacht/ship/shore station would have trouble picking up a call on 16, I have used a handheld a lot off the Kent coast (at sea level) and have no trouble calling the Coastguard.
Not that a good mast-head installation is not worth it's weight in gold.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Unless it's a DSC HH with integral GPS then you are not comparing like with like. You or your non-sailor partner can set off the EPIRB (or have an auto one) in an instant when half conscious, trying to save a life with CPR, pumping, kedging, or what-have-you. There are times when you can't spare the time to do all the 'Mayday, ........" even if you DO know exactly where you are which, in a life-or-death emergency, you might well not have the presence of mind to establish.
As someone else points out....at around £500 to £1000 for a GPS EPIRB, would you ever forgive yourself if someone died because you didn't have one? On the other hand, where do you draw the line? It isn't an easy balance but you cannot compare a non-DSC HH with a GPS EPIRB.
As someone else points out....at around £500 to £1000 for a GPS EPIRB, would you ever forgive yourself if someone died because you didn't have one? On the other hand, where do you draw the line? It isn't an easy balance but you cannot compare a non-DSC HH with a GPS EPIRB.
shmoo
Well-Known Member
Most usual reason for folks not hearing me on my handheld it that it can get turned on to US rather than INT channels if its buttons get trod on or sat on. Now I know I check but it caused lots of faff for a season or two.
alant
Well-Known Member
"Most usual reason for folks not hearing me on my handheld it that it can get turned on to US rather than INT channels if its buttons get trod on or sat on. Now I know I check but it caused lots of faff for a season or two."
CH 16 is the same on US & Int.
CH 16 is the same on US & Int.
Channel Ribs
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
It isn't an easy balance but you cannot compare a non-DSC HH with a GPS EPIRB.
[/ QUOTE ]
At 80.00 quid for a decent radio or 430.00 for a GPS EPIRB there are some people for whom the latter is out of reach, surely it is not a comparison but a "both is nice but one is better than neither"?
If I didn't have a handheld I would not put off getting one to make saving up for an EPIRB quicker.
It isn't an easy balance but you cannot compare a non-DSC HH with a GPS EPIRB.
[/ QUOTE ]
At 80.00 quid for a decent radio or 430.00 for a GPS EPIRB there are some people for whom the latter is out of reach, surely it is not a comparison but a "both is nice but one is better than neither"?
If I didn't have a handheld I would not put off getting one to make saving up for an EPIRB quicker.
A
Anonymous
Guest
I mean that they are different animals. Like comparing bananas with eggs. You need to know where you are and have the time to make a distress call - and be line of sight - whereas with an EPIRB all the relevant information is sent within minutes automatically (if you have an automatic one). There is no comparison. Not everyone can afford an EPIRB, of course, and they aren't 'essential' especially if you don't get yourself into a distress situation /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Channel Ribs
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
... they aren't 'essential' especially if you don't get yourself into a distress situation /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Alas, I try to evade distress but she always knows where I am. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
... they aren't 'essential' especially if you don't get yourself into a distress situation /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Alas, I try to evade distress but she always knows where I am. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif