Garmin Inreach cheap satphone + EPIRB ?

[webcraft]

.
Been considering getting an InReach for an upcoming trip for weather at sea plus as an alternative to an EPIRB. Anyone here used one?

The OCENS premium marine weather service at £1.25 a pop seems reasonable on top of the Freedom Safety package. Say four or five forecasts in a month for a Biscay crossing, leaving 5 free texts (plus free preset messages). Tracking on that package costs money, but the preeset messages send a position and are free.

The SOS function . . . is this likely to trigger as rapid/functional a response as an EPIRB transmitting to MRCC Falmouth?

Any thoughts/experience?

- W

 

[Pye_End]

The big advantage of a PLB or EPIRB is that after you have bought it, it is free (apart from new batteries), wheras the Inreach will cost you just to keep the SOS function active.

For a Biscay crossing, then medium range forecast before you go will be useful for the decision to go, and after that you just need to deal worth whatever it gives you. You can get a free 5 day forecast for your position for the price of a text, otherwise worth considering NAVTEX as not expensive these days. As an alternative to a Sat phone - you can always make a case for neither, both, or either. Depends on how much you want to spend, and how sophisticated you want your information.

 

[webcraft]

The big advantage of a PLB or EPIRB is that after you have bought it, it is free (apart from new batteries), wheras the Inreach will cost you just to keep the SOS function active.

For a Biscay crossing, then medium range forecast before you go will be useful for the decision to go, and after that you just need to deal worth whatever it gives you. You can get a free 5 day forecast for your position for the price of a text, otherwise worth considering NAVTEX as not expensive these days. As an alternative to a Sat phone - you can always make a case for neither, both, or either. Depends on how much you want to spend, and how sophisticated you want your information.

I like weather at sea on a long passage because I am a worrier. If the wind starts to increase I prefer to have a forecast that predicts it rather than imagining the worst. Daft I know, though some routing is possible... when using GRIBs previously I have slowed the boat down to avoid running into bad weather ahead.

Iridium airtime these days is prohibitive though.

- W

 

[Pye_End]

I went -

PLB - InReach on last Jester Azores and for the money didn't regret it. Those ashore could see that my boat still existed, which was reassuring. They could also give me some advice on routing and up and longer term weather, though I would have loved to have had GRIBS as well. However, 3 days out 'there' is a very different proposition to 14 to 21 days in terms of forecast.

 

[Heckler]

.
Been considering getting an InReach for an upcoming trip for weather at sea plus as an alternative to an EPIRB. Anyone here used one?

The OCENS premium marine weather service at £1.25 a pop seems reasonable on top of the Freedom Safety package. Say four or five forecasts in a month for a Biscay crossing, leaving 5 free texts (plus free preset messages). Tracking on that package costs money, but the preeset messages send a position and are free.

The SOS function . . . is this likely to trigger as rapid/functional a response as an EPIRB transmitting to MRCC Falmouth?

Any thoughts/experience?

- W

Ive got one of the first models, bought brand new off ebay for £100. Cost me $60 dollars for two months inc the setup fee for my trip south nearly 4 years ago. Unlimited 164 character emails. I had friends emailing me weather on demand.
I set up the sos button with a message to call Falmouth CG including their tel number at the time in case of emergency. It dropped a crumb every ten minutes when I was moving. One of our forumites has the latest model, now in the Carib. I email him on demand with weather off windy.com. I am more than impressed and will activate on the next big journey. Its on the boat at the mo. When do you need one?

 

[Heckler]

The big advantage of a PLB or EPIRB is that after you have bought it, it is free (apart from new batteries), wheras the Inreach will cost you just to keep the SOS function active.

For a Biscay crossing, then medium range forecast before you go will be useful for the decision to go, and after that you just need to deal worth whatever it gives you. You can get a free 5 day forecast for your position for the price of a text, otherwise worth considering NAVTEX as not expensive these days. As an alternative to a Sat phone - you can always make a case for neither, both, or either. Depends on how much you want to spend, and how sophisticated you want your information.

The issue with Epirbs is the battery thing. 5 years? so that cost hast to be figured in. With the Inreach, which I would argue does the same thing if set up like I did, just change the AA batteries.

 

[William_H]

I think for any long trip you really need that EPIRB with built in GPS. It is an essential part of a safety system designed to keep sailors safe. Indeed it is mandatory around here if you venture more than 3 miles from shore. And indeed they have saved many lives. Sometimes with safety gear it is essential to appear to be doing the right thing if laws don't make it mandatory. If you did disappear your family would have to live with the concept that you were foolish not carrying an EPIRB but worse if you survived but lost someone, imagine explaining to a coroner's court how you thought you had a better idea. EPIRB is not so expensive in the big picture olewill

 

[Heckler]

I think for any long trip you really need that EPIRB with built in GPS. It is an essential part of a safety system designed to keep sailors safe. Indeed it is mandatory around here if you venture more than 3 miles from shore. And indeed they have saved many lives. Sometimes with safety gear it is essential to appear to be doing the right thing if laws don't make it mandatory. If you did disappear your family would have to live with the concept that you were foolish not carrying an EPIRB but worse if you survived but lost someone, imagine explaining to a coroner's court how you thought you had a better idea. EPIRB is not so expensive in the big picture olewill

Having actually got an Inreach I know it works, we know our family can see where we are every 10 mins from the bed crumbs dropped, Garmin is not a fly by night company so why wouldnt it work the same as an epirb does?

 

[Pye_End]

Having actually got an Inreach I know it works, we know our family can see where we are every 10 mins from the bed crumbs dropped, Garmin is not a fly by night company so why wouldnt it work the same as an epirb does?

So do you keep your InReach plan active throughout the sailing season, even if you are doing 'normal short hop sailing' rather than bigger trips', and if so how much does that cost you?

I use the InReach purely for the occasional big trip, and the rest of the time the subscription is inactive, and therefore so is the SOS feature on it. However I do have a PLB which is always active, and the replacement battery is an awful lot cheaper than the subscription on the InReach. I can't see the point in running the InReach purely for the SOS feature.

 

[Heckler]

So do you keep your InReach plan active throughout the sailing season, even if you are doing 'normal short hop sailing' rather than bigger trips', and if so how much does that cost you?

I use the InReach purely for the occasional big trip, and the rest of the time the subscription is inactive, and therefore so is the SOS feature on it. However I do have a PLB which is always active, and the replacement battery is an awful lot cheaper than the subscription on the InReach. I can't see the point in running the InReach purely for the SOS feature.

I do as you do. PLB just in case but the only big trip has been across the bay of cadiz the other week, easy vhf range

 

[William_H]

Having actually got an Inreach I know it works, we know our family can see where we are every 10 mins from the bed crumbs dropped, Garmin is not a fly by night company so why wouldnt it work the same as an epirb does?

Ah you missed the point that for appearance sake or respectability (not quite the word) or being seen to follow established wisdom you should carry an EPIRB even if Garmin is just as good or better. Further the EPIRB signal will trigger an established routine of search and rescue where a call from relatives that you are in trouble might just be a more convoluted process towards getting SAR going. olewill

 

[black hole]

In reach will not work as efficiently with coastguard as an epirb will do - epirbs are part of the GMDSS which is set up to give a quick and efficient repose for people in trouble. In reach relies on someone relaying your signal to Falmouth plus all the deatils they need, and as far as I can see it wont then send a continuous position to Falmotuh or even to your pal. As a Yorkshireman I will cut costs on most things but this is one area where I reckon its best to shell out and get the pukka kit.

On a related subject, weather forecasts get less accurate the further ahead they go and arent much use when you are half way across biscay anyway. Whatever is coming, you are going to get. So I recommend the more prudent 36 hour crossing of the more didgy bit ie going from the Gironde to Bilbao. Its much more macho to go direct from Falmouth to Lisbon or wherevere but its also much more likely to result in a pasting.

 

[Heckler]

In reach will not work as efficiently with coastguard as an epirb will do - epirbs are part of the GMDSS which is set up to give a quick and efficient repose for people in trouble. In reach relies on someone relaying your signal to Falmouth plus all the deatils they need, and as far as I can see it wont then send a continuous position to Falmotuh or even to your pal. As a Yorkshireman I will cut costs on most things but this is one area where I reckon its best to shell out and get the pukka kit.

On a related subject, weather forecasts get less accurate the further ahead they go and arent much use when you are half way across biscay anyway. Whatever is coming, you are going to get. So I recommend the more prudent 36 hour crossing of the more didgy bit ie going from the Gironde to Bilbao. Its much more macho to go direct from Falmouth to Lisbon or wherevere but its also much more likely to result in a pasting.

Garmin relays the signal to Falmouth, the Inreach drops a point every ten minutes so anyone can see where you are as long as it is transmitting, I get realtime forecasts by email to the Inreach, nowadays, the three days it took to go from Loctudy to La Coruna is well within the accurate forecasting window with real time updates. Anything coming the trend would have been seen before setting off. As a Welshman I have both on board, a PLB and the Inreach. Done more long distance sailing than a lot of people on here and am risk averse BUT my setup suits me.
PS the emergency button on the Inreach, I see as a bonus!

 

[lonederanger]

I bought a Delorme/ now Garmin in reach for an Atlantic circuit, I loved it i got all my weather routing through it, although your limited in characters and you can get no gribs its basic but better than nothing. I also have an Eprib and 3 GPS systems but it was still another back up. It let people at home know where i was and kept the wife happy when we ran out of time and i single handed back across the Atlantic. For 9 dollars a month it was the best investment i did. Now i am back doing a refit for a couple of years i have switched of my plan, i think its 20 dollars a year. In boating terms its cheap. Would i like an iridium that i can down load gribs from, well yes but i cant afford the phone or the subscription or the spare computer when the other one gives up due to the damp. I hope the OP gains some benefit from the occasional informative post.
I don`t find sailing from Falmouth to Lisbon to be macho or helpful information, i usually sail strait to Lagos or Portimao, thats my sailing style. 3 day trips are about the worst length after 4-5 you are far more alert and at one with the conditions.

 

[geem]

We have two EPIRBS and a PLB mounted on our life jackets. We have a Garmin Inreach for longer passages. The next leg is 800nm from Bahamas to Panama. The Inreach provides us a link to friends and family on the £65/month option. We get unlimited texts and we ask a friend to provide weather updates on route. The annual subscription for the Garmin is £24.
In my view if you are going offshore you should carry both devices. If you ever have to jump in the liferaft you activate both devices. If anybody receiving an activation signal had a doubt about the authenticity of an emergency then two activations from the same vessel should remove that doubt. If one device was faulty then the other provides a back up.
We only activate the Inreach for longer offshore passages so only pay £65 everytime we do so. In the last five years we have sent and recieved over 4000messages via the Inreach

 

[Q4YB]

Hi, for what it's worth I've just purchased the new Garmin InReach Mini plus a freedom airtime plan. Very impressed so far. Connects to my phone, does SOS, tracking down to 10 mins (overkill on a long passage: 2hrs track interval is plenty for me in benign conditions, perhaps up it to 1hr or less of things become slightly more entertaining).

Was going to buy an extra new 406 PLB / EPIRB, and although the IR is not a substitute and works differently, I emailed GEOS (who are behind the SOS button response) to check out exactly what the story is behind how it works. I'm a cynical sort and wanted to be sure it was something of substance.

I asked the precisely what happens when a SOS is reviewed, and specifically who they contact if it were used in UK waters, and asked if it was Falmouth.

I copy their (swift and helpful) response below:

"Hi,

My name is Emily, I am the Operations Manager for the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) - We monitor the SOS for the inReach devices. Our Customer Experience team forwarded me your questions regarding who we would contact in the event we receive an SOS from your inReach device off the coast of the UK.

In the event the IERCC receives an SOS activation from a device showing to be off the coast of the UK, we would notify our designated contact for the UK - which is the United Kingdom MCC. This agency coordinates on land rescues, as well as rescues at sea.

To help you better understand our call-handling process, here is the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that we follow here in the IERCC:

In the event that we receive an SOS activation from an inReach device, we will immediately bring up the location of the incident on our mapping software, identifying the location of the incident and the agency responsible for that particular area. Meanwhile, a member of the IERCC will send the device a message in attempt to gather information regarding the situation that has occurred. If there are not any special instructions provided in the profile, we immediately begin contacting emergency services based on the location that was provided with the activation and relay all known information. This includes the Latitude/Longitude, registered owner information, emergency contact information (if requested), and any additional information that we receive. While someone is notifying the agency, another member of the IERCC is attempting to contact the registered owner, by chance we are able to reach them by phone and they can provide information regarding their emergency. A member of the IERCC will also attempt to contact the emergency contacts (at the phone numbers provided in the profile) to gather any additional information that they may have, such as: what the device user is out doing, the number of people in the party, ages of the individuals in the party, medical history, itinerary, vessel description, and provisions. Any information that is obtained will be relayed to the responding agency. Throughout the entire process, the IERCC will continue to stay in communication with the device user to keep them updated on the rescue (even if they are unable to respond). We continue to request updates from the responding agency and also update emergency contacts until a final disposition is obtained.

If you are interested in purchasing a membership, I would be happy to let our Customer Experience team know so that they could assist you with that!

If you have any further questions, feel free to respond to this email or contact me at the number listed below. I would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

Best regards,

Emily Thompson
Emergency Operations Manager
GEOS IERCC"


I will be using this at sea in the UK & Europe, and wanted to know if they contacted government agencies or some private contractors, hence their offering paid plans to recoup any SAR expenses incurred.

My reading is that they do contact government agencies, which makes me feel better. I can also add, say, Falmouth, as one of my two emergency contacts via the Garmin online portal.

As for the device, a PLB doesn't allow people to track me live, have a two way conversation, get up to date marine weather, give me speed, position, heading, waypoints etc etc so I'm very happy with what it does so far.

Would still have a PLB, at this stage, but lore than willing to pay the £38 a month for all these benefits.

Now I just need Garmin or someone to invent my dream all-in-one boaty-persons device that has combined:

406 EPIRB-PLB
Personal AIS-MOB
2-Way Satellite Texting
GEOS SOS Button
VHF Radio with DSC
4G Android-powered touchscreen mobile phone
Navionics / iSailor
WiFi
Bluetooth
12hr+ battery life
Pull-out cheese grater

?️?