EPIRB will it save me

[Guest]

I sail single handed and whilst I take reasonable precautions not to fall overboard, I'm always a bit concerned. If I was to buy a small EPIRB 121.5 MHz (SAR frequency) would it help? Assuming it is triggered what is the maximum time 'till a satellite will see me?

 

[duke]

nic,

there is a useful article ( Buyer's Guide - Which Epirb?) in this month's Yachting Monthly - August 2002-( out now ).

regards,

Duke.

 

[Guest]

thanks Duke

Nic

 

[VMALLOWS]

I also sail single-handed most of the time, and the one device I would really like is one that would (if I fall in the water!) stop the engine (if running) and disengage the autohelm. Nice extras would be an automatic release of a long floating line , and a release of the sheets.

None of this is technically difficult, and I could design it myself. I'm just wondering if the demand would be there? ... probably not or the big-players would have done it by now. I guess single-handers constitute a small percentage of boat owners and probably are the least inclined to spend on 'extras'. The mags don't seem to think single-handers exist........when did you last read an article on coming-alongside/picking-up-a-mooring/whatever whilst single-handed?

 

[dickh]

I believe the best ones are 406 Mhz - much quicker response tha 121.5 Mhz, as previous post see Yachting Monthly article which explains it all.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Paragon]

One of the old suggestions for single handers is to trail a light (but strong) bouyant line behind the boat and if you do end up in the drink, the theory is you grab the line and pull. This is attached (somehow!) to said engine / autohelm and disengages both!

A switch on a solenoid controlling power to autohelm and release for engine shutoff would do it. May need a little experimentation to get right though.

As you say, it is surprising that noone has come up with a simple method of "emergency" shutdown if skipper goes overboard. It doesn't just apply to single handers either as mum/dad with small children or even a novice family may well be sent into a panic by the loss of the only person that may know how to control the boat!

 

[Gunfleet]

or you could wear a harness. Unless I'm very close to the coast I do. You soon get used to it.

 

[dickh]

Yes, I forgot about harnesses, I always wear one when singlehanding - particularly if not dead calm.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Twister_Ken]

Depends on relative size of EPIRB and shark. nm

`

 

[ccscott49]

Why don't you just get an outboard kill switch or two, wired to the supply of the auto helm and/or engine ignition, with the cord around your wrist, if you go over, the engine/autohelm would automatically switch off.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Somewhat of a nuisance when you want to leave the cockpit though (which is when you are most likely to part company with the lugger)

 

[ccscott49]

Looooong lead! or simple model aeroplane/boat/car type radio control, not too difficult to waterproof either, just a suggestion, sorry if it wasn't acceptable.

 

[jimi]

You could probably refine it to drop the anchor & flood the bilges to lower the freeboard thus enabling you to climb back on board easier ... or even program it to find you if you had some sort of location device .... like an epirb!

Jim

 

[Trevethan]

Take long line, tie one end to throttle lever, other end to you. You go in, line tightens, boat goes full into reverse and heads back towards you.

This is when the plan falls down however. There are a few bugs to iron out. The first is avoiding death as several tonnes of wood/grp/metal comes hurtling towards you at full pelt liquidizer blade first.

The second is that if death is avoided how does one climb back on board the boat without the aid of various arms and legs that the prop has removed.

Third relates to cleaning bloodstains off nice teak decks so your widow can sell the bl**dy boat to cover funeral expenses after you have bleed to death..

But I do think you will agree that once these minor teething troubles are resolved its a very usuable plan.

Or he could wear a harness..

 

[ccscott49]

Now your talking!! But as one other guy said, maybe wearing a harness, that would not let you go over the side in the first place might be advisable!

 

[VMALLOWS]

I agree with Twister-Ken that a kill-cord would be impractical when leaving the cockpit .....the very time you need it. Could also be dangerous if you snag it and boat takes on a mind of its own. Thats why my thinking is along the radio-link line.
However, I think it should be fail-safe along the line "boat: are-you-there; transducer attached to you: yes-I-am". You could then activate it (switch it off) if you fell over, or it would self activate when out of (a short) range. This should now be permissible under the relaxed regulations that govern very short range communications (wireless door chimes, etc).

Yes, I wear a harness when offshore, in a blow, etc. But I'm much more likely to slip and fall in on a calm day in the Solent. (Don't know if I can swim 6miles to Beaulieu like that Labrador the other day).

 

[ccscott49]

Oh! its was a Labrador! Didn't know what type of dog it was, stands to reason though, but my old lab could swim like a seal, in fact I think she was part seal! wouldn't stay in the dinghy, would rather swim beside it, poor old girl used to get thwacked on the head regular with the oars when she got too close! never seemed to bother her though, still loved me! and it never stopped her swimming.

 

[alant]

121.5 is the emergency frequency for Civil Aircraft, not satallite - this is 406. Therefore just hope that an airliner is 'nearby' .

 

[ccscott49]

Not true, sattelites used to listen to 121.5 aswell, I don't know if they still do.

 

[chippie]

Re: Labrador

CC, Your post about your labrador reminds me of the village dog swimming race we used to have on what we called regatta day. All the entrant dogs were rowed out about 100 metres and thrown overboard. My mutt which had a fair bit of lab in him just swam around the boat because I was rowing it. The sad thing was that I had a couple of bucks riding on him as the best swimmer. Mans best friend and all that!