Well that just cost me £200

Bigplumbs

Bigplumbs

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Me and her indoors just watched Saving Lives at sea where sadly a Sea Kayaker died (Despite 8 Life boats and 3 aircraft looking for him. They could not find him). I was looking at PLB's last year but never got round to buying one. This episode made me think and I have just logged onto Seamark Nunns website and ordered one.

I kind of thought what is £200 if it could save your life and also prevent the RNLI from searching all over when this can locate you

Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 Personal EPIRB

Go on splash out a few quid
 
Concerto said:
As I sail singlehanded most of the time, I have a PLB. I recon it increases my chances of being rescued to 50% rather than 0% if I went overboard. It is fitted to my lifejacket which I wear all the time. My only comment is you should have one for each member of the crew and ensure they know how to activate them.
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Totally agree, I too sail mostly singlehanded and bought my PLB 4 years ago. Recommend it be clipped to the oral inflation tube of the lifejacket. Anywhere else, once the lifejacket has inflated, it is extremely difficult to locate the PLB if it's in a pocket or in a pouch on the waist harness.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Bigplumbs said:
Me and her indoors just watched Saving Lives at sea where sadly a Sea Kayaker died (Despite 8 Life boats and 3 aircraft looking for him. They could not find him). I was looking at PLB's last year but never got round to buying one. This episode made me think and I have just logged onto Seamark Nunns website and ordered one.

I kind of thought what is £200 if it could save your life and also prevent the RNLI from searching all over when this can locate you

Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 Personal EPIRB

Go on splash out a few quid
Click to expand...

A very sound idea.

I've been involved with (from memory) 10 fatalities during my lifeboating career, and in all but one of those cases the casualty had been dead for at least a couple of hours before the alarm was even raised.
 
The only trouble with those Ocean PLB's is that they do not float. I made the mistake of buying one when my Mc Murdo one became too old to replace economically.
If you imagine operating it you have to always hold it above the water. It may be tied to you but as soon as you let go it will sink & not work.
So if you are laying exhausted in the water with your hands at your side with the PLB in your hand it will not work. With my old one I could have let it go It was tied to me & it would float along side & still work. it is not inconceivable that for the last 20 mins I could become unconcious but supported by a LJ. But the rescue services would not find me because the PLB would have sunk instead of floating alongside me
Not only is it difficult to attach to the inflation tube it will constantly get knocked whilst sailing & as likely as not get damaged. So a pouch is the best option for carrying it.I did note that my old Spinnlock pouch zip became stuck but the latest version pouch has a plastic zip. In any event I operate the zip every couple of weeks so i know that I will be able to undo it in an emergency. I also carry mini flares in the pouch
A failure to float is big failing of the Ocean PLB that prospective purchasers should be aware
 
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The floating pouch does not add much to the size of the PLB.

I sail singlehanded and carry a McMurdo PLB on me. However, I do wonder if after falling overboard in freezing water, I will be able to activate the PLB. But I guess, if I did not carry it, I could certainly not activate it at all.
 
Bigplumbs said:
Me and her indoors just watched Saving Lives at sea where sadly a Sea Kayaker died (Despite 8 Life boats and 3 aircraft looking for him. They could not find him). I was looking at PLB's last year but never got round to buying one. This episode made me think and I have just logged onto Seamark Nunns website and ordered one.

I kind of thought what is £200 if it could save your life and also prevent the RNLI from searching all over when this can locate you

Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 Personal EPIRB

Go on splash out a few quid
Click to expand...
I eventake mine in my shooting bag when out after bunnies sfter dark on me todon a 200acre golf course
 
sailorman said:
I eventake mine in my shooting bag when out after bunnies sfter dark on me todon a 200acre golf course
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Thanks for resurrecting this thread, you reminded me that mine was out of service and so needed replacing, oh and that we planned to get AIS ones as well

£650 later... you're buying the drinks as I'm now skint :oops:
 
I've the same model Dennis, got it when I went straight across Lyme Bay. Good insurance policy along with all the other necessary kit ...
 
I only registered mine this year online which was easy rather than use the piece of paper it was supplied with. It is now attached to my life jacket full time
 
Bigplumbs said:
Me and her indoors just watched Saving Lives at sea where sadly a Sea Kayaker died (Despite 8 Life boats and 3 aircraft looking for him. They could not find him). I was looking at PLB's last year but never got round to buying one. This episode made me think and I have just logged onto Seamark Nunns website and ordered one.

I kind of thought what is £200 if it could save your life and also prevent the RNLI from searching all over when this can locate you

Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 Personal EPIRB

Go on splash out a few quid
Click to expand...
Just realised mine now requires a new battery?
 
Have they released a version that not only notifies the coastguard SAR teams, but can also display MOB position on the yachts AIS plotter?
 
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