Why are Epirbs so expensive?

[Medskipper]

Looking round SBS the other week at Epirbs, Why are they so expensive? I mean I know in relation to your life and all that! but you can get a half decent plotter for the same sort of money. Surely if they were cheaper any seagoing vessel would own one and if you were at sea and in trouble like the 60ft yacht that sank a few weeks ago off Cornwall, they would have been rescued in a day rather than two weeks in a life raft!

Is it just a case of the manufacturers making loads as usual from the boating community or are they really built with very expensive componants? after all they only have to send out a signal! Nothing else!

My DSC radio will do that, but that yacht I mentioned was well out of reach of a VHF Signal! are these Epirbs expensive because they have a very high powered signal?

Barry


<hr width=100% size=1>I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!

 

[Talbot]

if you think logically they are not that expensive:
radio £150
2nd radio £150 (works simultaneously on 2 frequencies)
GPS £150
48 hrs lithium battery £100
miniturise £75
waterproof £75

and that is about the price of a GPS EPIRB capable of continuous operation for 48 hrs
if you cant afford that consider a S/H one from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sartech.co.uk/products_list.asp?id=3&strLevel1=epirbs&strLevel2=epirbsreconditioned>Sartech</A>

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[tcm]

Re: oh, flippin talbot

a perfectly good and highly valid rant/moan thread TOTALLY RUINED by reasoned analysis!

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[britemp]

Re: oh, flippin talbot

Typical raggie. . . . . . . . /forums/images/icons/smile.gif


<hr width=100% size=1><< Sig removed at request from Kim Hollamby - he thought it might scare forumites! >>

 

[Althorne]

Re: oh, flippin talbot

Can't remember what your sig' was so please start printing again./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[Mike21]

Epirbs are designed to transmit their distress signals to a satellite as well as having GPS and a second lower powered radio signal used as a homing device

For more info try <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/MainPages/indexEnglish.htm> here</A>.
Believe this months PBO also has an article on Epirbs.

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[britemp]

Re: oh, flippin talbot

Have a look here:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.danasoft.com/>http://www.danasoft.com/</A>


<hr width=100% size=1><< Sig removed at request from Kim Hollamby - he thought it might scare forumites! >>

 

[MapisM]

Numbers

As for any other electronic component, making a low number of... anything, means that the absorption of fixed costs takes a higher toll on the final price.
Then again, it is also true that most boaters are willing to pay a premium price on boating stuff, and of course the suppliers are glad to meet such expectations!
Otherwise, why on earth shipyards like Pershing or Sunseeker would still be in the market?...


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[Ships_Cat]

Have a brochure here for an Australian 406 EPIRB (not GPS fitted) for the equivalent of approx GBP270. They give an NZ or Oz purchaser an approx GBP40 refund off that once it has been registered - end price about GBP230. Is that expensive?

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.