Which if these 3 PLB,s would you go for?

The Kannad is the only one that mentions a replaceable battery.
(5 years. Other 2 had 6 years)

I have had excellent cusomer service from ACR. Not experienced the other 2 manufacturers customer service.
 
Obviously (or at least I hope) you will not get answers as to how well they work so as prices are so similar I chose what I thought to be the most robust looking one at the time which was the McMurdo. Features and ease of operation are obviously important too and this is where a dummy that you can actually activate would be nice in a chandlers.
 
You dont need replaceable batteries. In 5 years it will obselete and worth upgrading to a more updated model.

I saw the mcmurdo last week and will be getting that one.
 
I got a 220.

Larger featureset. 6 yr battery so cost per £ is lower than a 5yr one.

Replacement battery costs can vary so make enquires.
 
The ACR shown is the one with its own built in buoyancy - the other rely on a floatation pouch. We opted for the ACR for this reason but to be honest there's little to choose between them. The user replaceable battery is a good point but I suspect that in 5 years they'll be even cheaper than they are at the moment and therefore it'll be a better idea to replace rather than service.
 
aslabend said:
I thought mcmurdo fastfind had replaceable batteries? (one of the reasons I got one)
Click to expand...

Same here "User" replaceable battery was important to me as, if I am shelling out £200 for a 'bit of kit' I don't throw it away just because the battery becomes out of date.
I would only consider replacement when the cost was more than half of the new 'bit of kit'
 
Well I am veering towards the ACR one as it's the smallest/lightest which is a consideration as it will be on your person all the time even in shorts/shirt and lifejacket in the summer so I suppose it would clip go onto your Lifejacket (it has hoops for this!) It's also buoyany on it's own so no extra pouches!

Cheapest I can find is £199 from Force 4 Chandlers
 
I believe Kannad and McMurdo are the same company, and their two units are basically the same thing in different boxes. Both the batteries are replaceable (by a service agent) - I don't think any of these three have user replaceable batteries. Building an openable compartment sealed from the rest of the case invariably adds bulk, and most designers seem (quite reasonably in my view) to have prioritised small size over user-serviceability. With a six year battery life in the new models, replacement is something that will probably happen once or not at all.

The ACR floats, which is a benefit (though if it's not tied on, you're still quite likely to lose it if you let it go) and if it's also the smallest (I haven't checked) then it seems like a good choice to me.

Pete
 
Force4 said you could send the ACR one away to have new batteries fitted but after 5 years I'm not bothered, it's such an important bit of kit I would rather get a new one after this length of time in the elements being knocked about on my life-jacket!
 
It's a good safety aid when single handed, especially off season in cold waters. Hopefully the lifeline will prevent the scenario before I need it.

I nearly got turfed out twice last year once when not wearing a life-jacket. Having read all those reports last year of people being lost over the side especially the lady rounding the Lizard and the guy that bought a boat and sailed it from Poole but only his boat was found somewhere near the Isle of Wight I have no problem carrying a PLB! It's leaving my 6 & 8year old that is the most disconcerting persuasive reason for saftey.
 
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I have been thinking about one for solo sailing, too, but presume floating is less useful than being able to attach the device to a life vest. Which is easiest and how?
 
The floating part is just another safety improvement, i.e. if you accidentally drop it in the drink you can retrieve it. The ACR one has loops that you can attach to a belt/jacket etc. The others will have the same I should think but you may need to buy a seperate pouch (for buoyancy also!).
 
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