Which PLB if any?

[pendlecats]

I considered one last year but for £300'ish and the little sailing at sea I did, I decided it was not worth it for me.

Most of the time I sail inland (lake or lakes), but I've been going on more and more relative and friends boats both UK (always SW) and Atlantic coast, this year would be say 6/7 short to medium cruises (2 to 7 day) and a remotely poss +900mile one.

From some comments on here and a couple of the skippers that if you go over it likely is all over! this has made me think I should carry my own means of being found.

What I want to know/discuss is am I panicking or would you get one if you were me and if you have one what is the main reason for this.

I thought that as they are now at £200'ish the McMurdo seemed a good one with GPS, is that a good choice or would you recommend I looked/compared a different one.

 

[Gludy]

I went for the GME one in the end with a seven year battery life - I think it is a much sturdier and more buoyant plb than the McMurdo one.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have just bought the McMurdo 210(GPS) because it is nice and small and will fit easily in my pocket.It was available at LIBS for £199.95.However I paid £215 for a package incuding a neck lanyard and the buoyancy kit.

 

[LadyInBed]

Which ever one you opt for, get one with user replaceable battery.

 

[bbg]

I went for a McMurdo 210 with GPS because that was the only one I knew about at the time. I like the small size and that it will fit into a pocket.

Probably next to useless unless you are wearing a lifejacket, though.

 

[Adonnante]

I've owned a McMurdo PLB for five years +; I've just realised the the battery needs replacing. The main reason I bought mine was that when they are needed they can be needed in a hurry, if its in my pocket I know where it is and I can reach it. The only worrying thing about them is how reliable are they? Richard Woods triggered his a couple of years back off Mexico and it managed one squark which was noted but not acted upon as it was not repeated by the next satellite. His call for assistence was made via satphone to a friend in Cornwall who contacted Falmouth Coastguard.
Does anybody know if the specifcation of a PLB is to the same standard as a EPIRB?

Peter.

 

[Gludy]

They only last 24 hours as opposed to 48.

 

[Adonnante]

Yes I spotted that, I reckoned it might be worth having two so that both crew members have one, I usually sail two handed. This could give the an individual protection when alone say on night watch or using in series in a major cock up. Wouldn't cost much more than one EPIRB.

Peter.

 

[pendlecats]

I went for the GME one in the end with a seven year battery life - I think it is a much sturdier and more buoyant plb than the McMurdo one.

With their battery life of seven years do they still guarantee 12hrs of life after that long.

Just seen a mcmurdo 210 for £165, sounds good but new batteries are pricy

 

[Channel Ribs]

With their battery life of seven years do they still guarantee 12hrs of life after that long.

Just seen a mcmurdo 210 for £165, sounds good but new batteries are pricy

The guys on RIB.net have just been through this same process. They found a seller on eBay who is doing the McMurdo 210 for 140 I think, which is cheaper than a small chandler like I can get them for. (No idea how he is doing it, but he insists they have UK serial numbers for registering and have a warranty.)

They are a really excellent piece of kit, very highly recommended.

 

[Channel Ribs]

I see one for £165 plus 10 quid postage.

Do you have a link or username for the £140 ones?

That sounds like the one, perhaps offer him 140 and see?

Please bear in mind that I in no way endorse the seller, I do not know him and I have concerns about how he can sell something for much less than most retailers buy them.

Edit: You can search RIB.net for McMurdo PLB to get the full story.

 

[pteron]

I see one for £165 plus 10 quid postage.

Do you have a link or username for the £140 ones?

 

[pteron]

That sounds like the one, perhaps offer him 140 and see?

Please bear in mind that I in no way endorse the seller, I do not know him and I have concerns about how he can sell something for much less than most retailers buy them.

Edit: You can search RIB.net for McMurdo PLB to get the full story.

Thanks Malthouse, at that price I've just grabbed one!

 

[pendlecats]

Thanks for the recommendations, I have the McMurdo 210 now - Just hope its a waste of money and I never have to use it

 

[mcframe]

I'm not going to get into a flares Vs PLB discussion, but I keep a divers day/night flare/smoke in a pocket on my LJ...

Overnight bow-duty on a JOG race made me think that was a useful addition to a 3-ended safety line.

 

[V1701]

Which ever one you opt for, get one with user replaceable battery.

Good point, same principle as with dive computers/watches...

 

[pteron]

My Fastfind 210 arrived today - looks fine, UK stock, battery good 'til 2015, will register it and see how I get on.

 

[Watson47]

Thanks for the recommendations, I have the McMurdo 210 now - Just hope its a waste of money and I never have to use it

Here's hoping that you dont ... !

I opted for a 210 GPS version last year as I also do a bit of Backcountry/Ski touring. They are seriously compact & a great comfort in the wilds in the event of a 'Doomsday' situation. Great piece of kit generally. If I'm sailing single-handed I keep it on my lifejacket harness.

 

[tugboat]

Do the 200/210 have user replaceable batteries? I went for the Max G for that very reason, and according to the manual changing the battery is a doddle. The fresh battery comes with all necessary replacement O-rings. I was once quoted several hundred quid to have an EPIRB battery replaced. It's a major expense/consideration.

 

[pteron]

No they don't but in 5 years time there will be a version the size of a watch running from solar/body movement/nuclear fusion so I'm not particularly worried.

The 210 is the size of a chunky mobile phone and will slip into my pocket. The Max-G only has a 12 channel GPS receiver vs the 50 channel in the 210.

Read the review on the equipped site - he recommends upgrading from the Max to the 210.

Having said that, if you don’t ever expect to use your PLB under difficult GPS reception conditions, such as under heavy overhead cover, in deep canyons, or at sea in a raging storm, etc., then it may not be as compelling an upgrade if you have the PLB generation immediately prior (such as ACR MicrOFix/ResQFix or McMurdo MAX), which have adequate, if not stellar, GPS performance.