epirb vs plb?? What do you use?

mitchc

mitchc

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It's nearly xmas time, and we are thinking of treating us and the boat to an epirb or plb's... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
For the next year we are not planning to do silly long off shore stuff, just occasinal trips to france/belguim/holland etc plus the local uk waters...
So my question to the panel is epirb or a gps equipped plb each?
My thinking is plb attached to life jacket....if it goes pear shaped it's one less thing to remember as it's already attached to you?
As usual help and guidance appreciated!!
 
You are considering two different systems that are designed to do two different things. Personally I'd go with the EPIRB and tell the crew that should anybody fall overboard they can assume they are dead.
 
Depends what you mean by "PLB". I assume you mean on that operates on 406MHz - in which case it does (almost) everything an EPIRB does in a portable packet.

I'd go for those - the loss of the automatic activation you can get with an EPIRB is a small price to pay for the additional protection in a man overboard situation.
 
PLB for coastal stuff makes sense. The EPIRB comes into its own for long distance sailing when the battery life is far longer when activated.
The PLB's on offer now have GPS and operate on 406MHz - so very simalar to an EPIRB, but the smaller size and price are in the battery (so I am led to believe!)

Jonny
 
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Depends what you mean by "PLB". I assume you mean on that operates on 406MHz -....


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My EPIRB is due for a new battery and it's as cheap to simply get a new EPIRB.
However I shall probably get a PLB (as defined above) on that grounds that, if I'm single-handed and fall overboard, it will be more use in my pocket than an EPIRB still on the boat.
Also: I can imagine getting into the liferaft as the ship sinks and thinking "bother (or words to that effect), I really meant to remember to get the EPIRB".
So it's 406 MHz PLB, unless someone can persuade me otherwise ...
 
If the boat goes down, then an EPIRB will activate- or will it? Does it have a hydrostatic release and will it escape into the water?

Hopefully a sinking is the most unlikely event.

More likely in my opinion- and I confess my paranoia- is a crewmember going overboard, especially at night. So I've opted for a PLB with GPS and 121.5 frequency homing beacon which the rescue services can locate( yes. I know the Coastguard doesn't respond to that beacon on its own).

Personally I am happier with this set up and anyone going on deck at night, for example, is expected to carry the device.

We sail three-up, so what is expensive is the fact that I have three PLB's all racked up in the saloon. If lifejackets go on in extreme weather then the PLB's are clipped on too.

The additional advantage is that if I go on board another's boat I can take my personal beacon with me- I've yet to meet another owner who looks after me better than I can look after myself

OTT? you betcha, having seen a crewmate die in a storm, I couldn't face not doing my best for all on board
 
I would go for the PLB, if you sail alone a lot and go overboard and your boat is in autopilot the EPIRB is not a lot of use to you, as you are just never going to swim that fast!.
 
I'm also not so worried about the boat sinking, that's what the life raft is for....but we often cruise with just the 2 of us on board so I was thinking the same:
PLB with gps in case we go overboard. I don't consider the reduced battery life an issue; if you are not found with-in a hour or so you are not going to be very well anyway.
We also carry a h/h vhf each attached to life jackets.
It's starting to feel a bit like batman's utility belt.....but I'd rather have than have not when it hits the fan!!!

Thanks for the input
 
I suppose that you also need to consider how often you wear your lifejackets. A PLB is not far off an EPIRB if you keep your lifejackets below most of the time.

Also what sort of boating you do - eg dinghy rides alone in the dark of half a mile or tied up to a marina every night. There are bigger benefits of having a PLB if the former.
 
Just seen your post-The PLB battery is good for 24 hours (ACR) and in coastal/cross channel or North Sea waters that's plenty. I like to know I still have some degree of control over my fate, crew likewise- rather than hope someone on the boat I've just left has the skill ( at night) to come and get me!!
 
I think that there is a terminology problem here. I have a McMurdo "PLB" that is a 406 EPIRB with GPS and ? 121.5 and I have a McMurdo "GPS EPIRB". The PLB may be worn on the person but the EPIRB is a lot bigger. I imagine the battery life is much longer on the EPIRB.

As you know, the GPS EPIRB is the main thing, with the 121.5 acting as a final homing aid for SAR craft in bad viz.
 
I have a PLB that operates on 121.5. I can hang it round my neck if I wish and it automatically fires up if it gets to wet (pressure trigger).

For general coastal work in the southern North Sea I find it best because if I or some else goes over board at least the CG will react to a Mayday where they are told the casualty is wearing one i.e. they will inform the RNLI and SAR helicopter to search on 121.5.

BUT if I was going offshore then an EPIRB is essential.

Peter.
 
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i spoke to the coastguard about this. they suggested a water proof vhf for local / busy areas. thinking is that there is likely to be a local ship to come to your aid & the coast guard would here you too.

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i can see their point but i do not believe that if you found your self bobbing around in the sea in a force 6 that the radio would be usuable due to noise waves slohing into it and the general panic of the situation.
plb is on my chrimbo list.
 
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