Personal locator beacons

[RJJ]

Hi folks. Following a recent thread about safety gear....and noting that Personal AIS beacons are £200-240 for something that lasts seven years.

1. Should I be confident they work? i.e.. they will deliver me a workable signal in waves and at risk of being submerged
2. Is this proportionate to the benefit? I know you can always make a case that "you can't put a price on saving a life" etc... but these gadgets didn't exist years ago and nobody did anything differently; I covered 25k miles in those days and never saw anyone fall overboard.
3. Is it necessary to have one for every crewmember / every lifejacket? or is it sufficient to have one or two for people on watch and hand them around? or can I depend on a VHF DSC handheld clipped on to a lifejacket?

Tell me I'm being ridiculously tight. Or that I have a point. thanks.

 

[boomerangben]

I think the main questions are: do you singlehand or sail with people who would not be able to rescue you if you fell over board? What sort of sailing do you do and where? There is no doubt in my mind they work and are the most effective way of raising the alarm at sea or in remote areas on land.

 

[Never Grumble]

@RJJ I have three, one in my lifejacket, one in my wife and one in another adult. I have the Ocean Signal ones and in addition to showing an AIS position if a wearer goes over the side as the lifejacket inflates it also alarms on the VHF radio. So if I'm having a snooze and wife or crew go over I will at least get woken up. I do keep thinking of getting another for my sons LJ. Admittedly it is difficult to know where to draw the line when buying safety kit.

 

[duncan99210]

Slight pedant mode, the term PLB is usually applied to a satellite beacon. The AIS variety are normally talked of MOB AIS beacons. Pedant mode off.....
I‘ve got the Ocean Safety ones: one each on my life jacket and the Admirals. I regard them as essential for making overnight trips where we are doing solo watches. If one of us goes over, there’s a reasonable chance of being found by the remaining crew member. The beacons are turned in by the inflation of the life jacket and are fixed on to the life jacket in such a way as to keep the antenna largely out of the water.

 

[RJJ]

Slight pedant mode, the term PLB is usually applied to a satellite beacon. The AIS variety are normally talked of MOB AIS beacons. Pedant mode off.....
I‘ve got the Ocean Safety ones: one each on my life jacket and the Admirals. I regard them as essential for making overnight trips where we are doing solo watches. If one of us goes over, there’s a reasonable chance of being found by the remaining crew member. The beacons are turned in by the inflation of the life jacket and are fixed on to the life jacket in such a way as to keep the antenna largely out of the water.

Useful, thanks. Is it easy to mount them to "auto-detonate" or is that for the pros?

I should have added they are on the "advisory" list for the ARC which we're hopefully doing this year. So I'm looking at 4 of them for the whole crew..nudging a grand.

 

[Never Grumble]

Useful, thanks. Is it easy to mount them to "auto-detonate" or is that for the pros?

I should have added they are on the "advisory" list for the ARC which we're hopefully doing this year. So I'm looking at 4 of them for the whole crew..nudging a grand.

relatively easy to fit. I found they were quite a tight fit in my lifejackets though. From memory they secure to the manual inflation tube and then a pice of line goes round the deflated lifejacket chamber, so that when it inflates it pulls one end out of the device. At least that was my memory of fitting them, I did three in a couple of hours, you also need to set up your VHF and do the tests. So best to put aside a whole afternoon.

 

[ithet]

I have PLBs. I'm not really sure how effective they really would be for a man overboard as to use you have to manually activate and extend the antenna. Additionally with mine you have to keep them from being immersed. Not sure how easy this would be in a real situation, especially if there was any sort of sea.

 

[MikeCC]

Still a bit of confusion here. A PLB has no automatic deployment option, so does rely on MOB being conscious. However, an AIS device can be activated on lifejacket inflation.

Ideally, there would be one combined device but none brought to market yet. There are technical and regulatory reasons why not.

If you are short-handed, the AIS type is possibly more useful if you don't have spare eyes to watch the MOB. Perhaps even more so if there might be other boats within useful distance.

 

[RJJ]

Still a bit of confusion here. A PLB has no automatic deployment option, so does rely on MOB being conscious. However, an AIS device can be activated on lifejacket inflation.

Ideally, there would be one combined device but none brought to market yet. There are technical and regulatory reasons why not.

If you are short-handed, the AIS type is possibly more useful if you don't have spare eyes to watch the MOB. Perhaps even more so if there might be other boats within useful distance.

Thanks, per OP I'm talking about AIS beacons not PLB. I'm more interested in alert and pickup by my (or another) boat than via satellite, Falmouth CG and the rest.

I like the combined AIS / DSC one. It's just ££££. Obviously if we want auto-trigger then it needs to be one per lifejacket.

 

[ip485]

As I mentioned in the previous thread I am a great fan and everyone gets one on board. Absolute rule is they get worn on deck at night, no discussion.

It is well worth activating one in a controlled way so you can check it displays on the chart plotter.

 

[MystyBlue2]

I was considering one until i seen the price!! Then ontop of that they need servicing every year to make sure they are in good working order and batteries are good too.

For me and a passenger it would be onwards and upwards of £500 + costs to have them both serviced every year.

For how often im out, Conditions i go out in and the distance from shore i go, I find them yet another massive cost for something i may never use.

Me personally i have not got that type of spare cash falling from my rear end so i looked at other safety gear instead.

As far as i can gather its all personal preference, financial preference, and suited to your boating uses and PRACTICAL needs.

If you go way off shore and lose sight of land on a regular basis then i would probably have one.

Like ALOT of things boating you could easily spend £1M on your boat and kit,

I like to view it as boating is not just for the rich and famous. And EPIRBS and PLB'S are another way of roping you in to spend even more money....like boating isn't expensive enough.

 

[prv]

Nothing wrong at all with that assessment. They were invented for racing yachts doing 20knots in 40’ seas in the Southern Ocean. Some people here who do slightly lesser sailing than that can also usefully use them. For some others of us, they’re overkill. Nothing at all says you must or ought to have one, we can all make our own decisions.

Personally I’m quite taken by the tech, and the money is doable if I bought them one by one over a period of time, but realistically they just don’t really fit with my normal style of sailing. So I’ve always left them on the shelf.

Pete

 

[ashtead]

I would be more tempted if a combined version existed but I guess the PLB might be more helpful if you don’t have anEPIRB

 

[MoodySabre]

When I bought mine 6 or 7 years ago it was the same price as an offshore flare pack.

 

[William_H]

The authorities here (west Oz) require that you carry an EPIRB if you venture beyond 3km from shore. Along with flares etc. This requirement has been in for many years and has saved many lives and of course much SAR cost. Now interesting they do not regard a PLB as being acceptable. Quoting shorter operating time. However some people in small boats have found in a capsize that it is difficult to find and get out the EPIRB. Leaving one to think that a PLB might be a better thing if it is carried on the (a) person. Ceck but I think usual new battery shelf life is 3 years. I think after radio EPIRB/PLB is a major improvement in safety and well worth the cost if you venture beyond shore. ol'will

 

[Boathook]

My PLB1 by ocean signal has a 7 year battery life and due for replacement at the end of next year. Not to sure whether it will be a new battery or new unit. I will wait to see what the costs are next year.

 

[MystyBlue2]

My PLB1 by ocean signal has a 7 year battery life and due for replacement at the end of next year. Not to sure whether it will be a new battery or new unit. I will wait to see what the costs are next year.

As far as I'm aware (speaking to local Chandlery) they have a battery life of 3years but its best to have them serviced and checked "annually" to keep them in good working order.

Last thing you want to do is need to use it after 2 years of it sitting idle in a locker somewhere on the boat subjected to cold temperatures only to find the batteries have discharged themselves and are now rendered useless when you actually need it.

Maybe him trying to entice me to spend even more money but logically thinking Look at a car batteries over the winter if they dont get used or charged, head torch batteries, Handheld VHF batteries etc. If they aren't periodically charged/discharged it will ruin the battery and break the whole unit.

Unfortunately you cant just pick up a spare PLB battery off the shelf and carry a few spares onboard.

Unless it was annually checked i honestly wouldnt want to trust it to save my life after 2 years of discharging. (As all batteries self discharge over time) But thats just MHO and from the info from my local rip of merchant.

 

[Juan Twothree]

As far as I'm aware (speaking to local Chandlery) they have a battery life of 3years but its best to have them serviced and checked "annually" to keep them in good working order.

Last thing you want to do is need to use it after 2 years of it sitting idle in a locker somewhere on the boat subjected to cold temperatures only to find the batteries have discharged themselves and are now rendered useless when you actually need it.

Maybe him trying to entice me to spend even more money but logically thinking Look at a car batteries over the winter if they dont get used or charged, head torch batteries, Handheld VHF batteries etc. If they aren't periodically charged/discharged it will ruin the battery and break the whole unit.

Unfortunately you cant just pick up a spare PLB battery off the shelf and carry a few spares onboard.

Unless it was annually checked i honestly wouldnt want to trust it to save my life after 2 years of discharging. (As all batteries self discharge over time) But thats just MHO and from the info from my local rip of merchant.

The ACR PLBs we use in the RNLI have a 5 year battery life.

Only maintenance required is a monthly battery self-test, and a full GPS test every six months. We do this on station, just have to push the test button for the right length of time.

In event of emergency, not only do they transmit the location to the satellite, but they also broadcast a homing signal on 121.5.

Very useful in case we ever lose a crew member out of the boat, as we can find them ourselves using the boat's DF set.

 

[duncan99210]

All beacons that I’m aware of (EPRIB, PLB, AIS/MOB) are sealed units with no user access beyond push buttons. Battery life was originally 5 years, now extended up to 10 years in some instances. No maintenance required beyond periodic user checks which ensure the beacon is functioning correctly: any fault requires the beacon being sent to a service centre.
The kit is designed to be left in fairly harsh conditions on a pretty permanent basis, so if someone is trying to sell you annual checks and a 3 year battery life, go elsewhere.

 

[MystyBlue2]

The ACR PLBs we use in the RNLI have a 5 year battery life.

Only maintenance required is a monthly battery self-test, and a full GPS test every six months. We do this on station, just have to push the test button for the right length of time.

In event of emergency, not only do they transmit the location to the satellite, but they also broadcast a homing signal on 121.5.

Very useful in case we ever lose a crew member out of the boat, as we can find them ourselves using the boat's DF set.

But in all fairness all the kit the RNLI use are HIGHLY MAINTAINED on a regular basis for obvious reasons.

As far as the recreational boater...I dont think we maintain and look after our kit as often as we should do or like to admit.