EPIRBs

I have a blinking waterproof led signal light attached to the bag itself
I think I may get a Plb and attach it to the wife’s life jacket I like the idea of redundancy. Thanks for the idea of snacks I also forgot about the airhorn in my bag.
 
Edit: I removed the procedure as some are different than others.

this is similar to my model though

 
Last edited:
I have a water proof bag with everything in it including the PLB400 but the ACR is mounted to the arch. by the helm I use the bag all of the time for the dinghy mounted on st. croix davits. It stores in the bow locker nicely. But the question arises if you can get a dinghy unhooked quick enough to be of any use.

Great thread, makes one think about the things we know could never happen to us, but do ...
 
As far as deploying the dingy fast enough it is definitely situation dependent. The life raft however, is not much different. You still have to remove it from the storage location and deploy it in a panic situation.

The quick release handles and tie downs Jeremygavin uses might be the best for this purpose.
 
Last edited:
ttmott said:
We have an ACR GlobalFix V4 mounted next to the transom door and have a ACR PLB400 on board.
The PLB400 goes with us on the dingy when in remote locations such as the Bahamas and stays in the ditch bag when on the boat...
Click to expand...

Do these ACR PLB400's or other similar units require a monthly subscription? I noticed some of them come with the first year free.
 
Needing the life raft, safe to say engines are not operational.

That means the boat is probably broadside in beam seas. Even in relatively calm 1-3 ft seas I can not imagine crawling down to the swim platform and unfastening the 3 tie down points to release the dinghy.

Additionally we cruise with the cover on. Will have to cut the tie downs holding the cover on. Also, cruise with the plug out, have to get that threaded in.

If it is a slow leisurely sinking event, may be able to get the dinghy loose.

So if all that happens and we were able to get in the dinghy, all is good. Can use the dinghy motor to keep the bow into the waves, until the gas runs out. Now we are in the dinghy in beam seas, in a small boat that is not designed for that.

We currently do not carry a life raft. Was about to buy one last spring, then covid hit. Knew that our cruising would be limited along the coast or the ICW until things open up.

Once it does open up, will definitely have a life raft. Not sure if it will be the hard case mounted or a suitcase model - but we will definitely have one.
 
rlynch03 said:
Do these ACR PLB400's or other similar units require a monthly subscription? I noticed some of them come with the first year free.
Click to expand...
No same requirements as an EPIRB. Needs to be sent in for battery changes however.
 
My opinion is forget the dinghy it has to be a near perfect scenario to get it loose and ready I don’t care what kind of fastners your using try doing it in a panic and see how you react. I never remove the plug I let the 2 bilge pumps pump out the dinghy if needed. We could argue points all day about cover the dinghy or not. I would leave mine uncovered in the event I do get to jump in it in a “slow” sinking (mechanical problem with the big boat) it’s one less thing I have to worry about.
We where also looking at life rafts last spring for the Bahamas I’m hoping to start looking again soon.
 
FootballFan said:
Needing the life raft, safe to say engines are not operational.

That means the boat is probably broadside in beam seas. Even in relatively calm 1-3 ft seas I can not imagine crawling down to the swim platform and unfastening the 3 tie down points to release the dinghy.

Additionally we cruise with the cover on. Will have to cut the tie downs holding the cover on. Also, cruise with the plug out, have to get that threaded in.

If it is a slow leisurely sinking event, may be able to get the dinghy loose.

So if all that happens and we were able to get in the dinghy, all is good. Can use the dinghy motor to keep the bow into the waves, until the gas runs out. Now we are in the dinghy in beam seas, in a small boat that is not designed for that.

We currently do not carry a life raft. Was about to buy one last spring, then covid hit. Knew that our cruising would be limited along the coast or the ICW until things open up.

Once it does open up, will definitely have a life raft. Not sure if it will be the hard case mounted or a suitcase model - but we will definitely have one.
Click to expand...

I am not sure I see the difference between deploying a life raft over a dinghy on davits. I have st. croix davits that the dinghy hangs from off the transom with a block and tackle style of deployment. But I agree, I could not imagine getting to three point tie downs. I also agree that what I have now may not be able to be deployed either, just an option possibly. Unless leisurely sinking of course ...

But to be honest, your in a situation that sunk your 15+ ton vessel, how do you really prepare for that.
 
SKybolt said:
I am not sure I see the difference between deploying a life raft over a dinghy on davits. I have st. croix davits that the dinghy hangs from off the transom with a block and tackle style of deployment. But I agree, I could not imagine getting to three point tie downs. I also agree that what I have now may not be able to be deployed either, just an option possibly. Unless leisurely sinking of course ...

But to be honest, your in a situation that sunk your 15+ ton vessel, how do you really prepare for that.
Click to expand...
You got a pic of the St Croix davits on your boat. I'd like to see how your dinghy hangs.
 
I have quick release snap shackles holding my dingy on and I can have it off in about 15 seconds but I need to be on the swim platform to do so. I cruise with the plug in and cover off so that I can jump in it if needed. I agree that if we had capsized that night we would not have been able to get the dingy loose. Also, it was so rough I don’t think I could have gotten on the swim platform even to pull the snap shackles to get it loose. We are not doing super long runs off shore yet as we have small kids and limited time off so odds of us getting stuck in something like we did before are slim to none. I learned a big lesson and will not put us in that position again. If I were making longer runs such as down to FL for the winter or to the Bahamas I would have a hard shell automatic deploying life raft for sure.
 
Woody said:
You got a pic of the St Croix davits on your boat. I'd like to see how your dinghy hangs.
Click to expand...

Bad shot from the cockpit cam and of the old dinghy ...
 

Attachments

  • 0_2019-10-25-10-42-29.jpg
    0_2019-10-25-10-42-29.jpg
    94 KB · Views: 120
So here is my offshore set up. I have ERIRP with me in ditch bag which is in aft cockpit ready to go overboard. Valise 6 personlife raft is also there and the painter is attached to a cleat (painter also serves as weak link). The Life raft has strobe on top, knife on inside pocket at the door, emergency rations, sea anchor (so you stay with the boat and not drift to far away). Seasickness tablets. THen I also have offshore life jackets at the ready. I have seen boats go down in under 2 minutes when they lose an intake line. It happens really fast. A buddy of mine had an electrical fire that allowed then just over 2 minutes to get off the boat, no extinguishers were able to stop it. I would not even want to mess with a dingy or take the time to find anything. Have it ready and just make sure you get everyone off and away.
 
While we are at it, which do you think is the better set up?

Portable VHF with GPS, something like the STANDARD HORIZON–HX890BK
or just a handheld VHF AND a locator beacon like the ACR ResQLink?
 
Shaps said:
While we are at it, which do you think is the better set up?

Portable VHF with GPS, something like the STANDARD HORIZON–HX890BK
or just a handheld VHF AND a locator beacon like the ACR ResQLink?
Click to expand...

In this case, too much isn't enough if you want to get found quickly. Most EPIRB recoveries are not quick to actually get organized and find you, if they can. If that happens in 24hrs you are among the very lucky few.

But think of this, if your stranded and have a vhf and can contact someone, what are you going to tell them if you don't know where you are exactly? 3-4 mile an hour current x 24-48 hours put's you exactly where you have know idea where you are. Definitely GPS and DSC if possible, assuming your friends know your stranded. Something like InReach may also be needed and get the job done quicker. JMO.
 
SKybolt said:
In this case, too much isn't enough if you want to get found quickly. Most EPIRB recoveries are not quick to actually get organized and find you, if they can. If that happens in 24hrs you are among the very lucky few.

But think of this, if your stranded and have a vhf and can contact someone, what are you going to tell them if you don't know where you are exactly? 3-4 mile an hour current x 24-48 hours put's you exactly where you have know idea where you are. Definitely GPS and DSC if possible, assuming your friends know your stranded. Something like InReach may also be needed and get the job done quicker. JMO.
Click to expand...
+1 with a bullet

You may be "offshore" and outside of Coast Guard shore range VHF. But today merchant ships no longer stand manned "radio watches". That has been replaced by automated VHF DSC and HF-SSB DSC monitoring recievers. So a voice call on VHF might go unanswered. But a VHF-DSC distress alert will trigger all DSC radios within range.

So even if you're at sea level with a hand held VHF-DSC a merchant ship with a sixty foot mast ASL will hear you at 10 miles, 100 foot ASL 15 miles in any direction. That's upwards of 175 square miles of coverage.

Check any AIS website there are a lot of merchant vessels in the coastal regions.
 
Shaps said:
While we are at it, which do you think is the better set up?

Portable VHF with GPS, something like the STANDARD HORIZON–HX890BK
or just a handheld VHF AND a locator beacon like the ACR ResQLink?
Click to expand...

Been quietly following the thread until now but you started on EPIRBs and the thread veered off to rafts, ditch kits, etc.
I see you're in Long Island area but you didn't mention where you intend to take trips, how far offshore (if at all) and what season you plan to embark. These are all important factors into how extensively you need to prepare.

I'm in the Carolina mid Atlantic area. I cruise inland, Charleston area and Florida for the most part. I too intend to do the Bahamas next summer situation permitting. I went the full route, FCC station license, FCC MMSI, EPIRB in hydro-static release on the arch just behind the helm. I also have a secondary ICOM VHF and ICOM HF SSB mounted in the cabin. I have a considerable damage control kit which could be a thread all by itself. Electronic and pyrotechnic flares, every life jacket has a whistle and a 12 hour high intensity chem light. The jackets we wear are type III with whistle, chem light, stainless mirror and pocket flares.

The raft in my case is low on the list. It's still 72 degrees off the Carolina's and 76 in the Bahamas and even warming in the summer of course. So being in the water is not life threatening where I sail.

Where you are it's down to 43 already. And even in the mid summer can be a chilly 60, doesn't hit 50 until April.
Above 70 no real threat to life, 60 five hours, 50 three hours, 40 two hours. And that's till you could die. At 40 you will be incapacitated in 30 minutes.

Not trying to scare you, just remember electronics is to ALERT, with GPS it helps LOCATE, you need to be alive when help gets there. Check and cover the basics.
I've been as far north as Portland ME, if I were still cruising Cape Ann or Cape Cod anytime other then mid summer I would have exposure suits offshore.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,183
Messages
1,428,101
Members
61,091
Latest member
dionb
Back
Top