EPIRBs

[Shaps]

Merry Christmas to the entire CSR community! Hope Santa made everyone happy.

Planning a few trips next year and it is time for an EPIRB. Would love to hear your opinions on which one you bought and why.
Cat 1 or 2? Hydrostatic release or manual?
Lastly, where do you have it installed.

Thanks and again a merry XMas!
Shaps

 

[ocgrant]

I went with this a V4 Cat II because of the 10 year battery life. It was the most recommended when I was shopping. As far as deployment I went with the Sea Sucker mount so it is portable. I store the whole thing in the cabin unless we are off shore then I bring it up and mount it cockpit.

 

[mquiet]

I have the ARC 406 V2 as well. I would also suggest a real life raft. We spend so much money on electronics and everything else, but at the end of the day, if you have to go in the water survival becomes much more difficult even with an EPIRB if you don't have a life raft. When I bought a new Life Raft, they knocked off $50 from the EPIRB cost.

 

[ocgrant]

I have the ARC 406 V2 as well. I would also suggest a real life raft. We spend so much money on electronics and everything else, but at the end of the day, if you have to go in the water survival becomes much more difficult even with an EPIRB if you don't have a life raft. When I bought a new Life Raft, they knocked off $50 from the EPIRB cost.

I don't disagree and have a 6 person raft but... space is always a problm with it. Was thinking of getting a rack for it and mounting it on the roof but it destroys the look of my boat. I know can't put a price on safety..... But I figure I always have a Jet Ski or small dingy on the back of the boat plus I boat in 80 degree+ water so if I am in it for awhile I won't secum to hypo that quick.

 

[Shaps]

Thanks @ocgrant and @mquiet

That was the model my research led me to. Appreciate it.
Grant, like the idea of that mount.
Thanks Gents!

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Also 406 which the battery is coming up on end of life (5) years it’s cheaper to buy a new 10 year unit then replace the battery. I have it in its mount on the bridge unless we’re offshore then it goes into the ditch bag and sits in the cockpit so we can grab and jump. My reasoning is if the boat goes down I want the epirb with me not the boat. Other guys also have onspot locators that can send text messages to loved ones on a schedule that’s a useful tool.
As far as a life raft you can rent them for trips if you don’t want to buy and maintain one we’ll probably do that for our Bahamas trips.
The equipment you have onboard depends on your cruising we where 50 miles offshore just me and the wife cruising from Charleston to Jacksonville.
So think about your trips and purchase what you need..

 

[Havana Shamrock]

I don't disagree and have a 6 person raft but... space is always a problm with it. Was thinking of getting a rack for it and mounting it on the roof but it destroys the look of my boat. I know can't put a price on safety..... But I figure I always have a Jet Ski or small dingy on the back of the boat plus I boat in 80 degree+ water so if I am in it for awhile I won't secum to hypo that quick.

I was told by an old salty guy Never depend on using your dinghy as a life raft your boat may go down so fast you’ll never deploy the dinghy
I always planned on cutting the straps so it doesn’t get sucked down with the boat.
“Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face” Mike Tyson

 

[ocgrant]

I was told by an old salty guy Never depend on using your dinghy as a life raft your boat may go down so fast you’ll never deploy the dinghy
I always planned on cutting the straps so it doesn’t get sucked down with the boat.
“Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face” Mike Tyson

Best Tyson quote ever!!!!

 

[Jeremygavin]

I have an ACR Category 1 Hydrostatic mounted in the cockpit. I am a big fan of having it mounted in a hydrostatic mount in a place that isn’t closed to the outside when running. When my wife and I where bringing our 520DB from NY we were in the dark and got caught in 9-10ft following seas just south of Martha’s Vineyard. The 50,000lb bought got spun sideways a number of times when the waves caught up with the stern. I was in a boat I didn’t know very well at all (we took possession of it that morning), in the dark. I did know the waters very well so I had landmarks to follow but was a scary 2-3hrs till we got back to Falmouth. In that time we got thrown around the boat quite a bit up on the bridge. I had my ditch bag with me on the bridge with a PLB in it but we got tossed around so much when we go back to the dock it took me a few minutes to locate it. It had rolled down the bridge stairs and was in the cockpit. If we had gone down that night there was no way I would have found the ditch bag and take it off the boat with me. If the Epirb was up on the bridge in a hydrostatic mount it would have gone down with the boat because we had all the plastic down so it would have had no way out.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Jeremy that’s why the bag is Velcro’d to the railing at the bottom of the strairs so it won’t roll around. I don’t like the idea of it on the bridge offshore at all.
I wouldn’t even want it in a hydro mount in the cockpit I’m not a great swimmer so I need that helo ASAP!

 

[Jeremygavin]

Jeremy that’s why the bag is Velcro’d to the railing at the bottom of the strairs so it won’t roll around. I don’t like the idea of it on the bridge offshore at all.
I wouldn’t even want it in a hydro mount in the cockpit I’m not a great swimmer so I need that helo ASAP!

That’s a good idea. I still have the ditch bag with us but I like the idea of Velcroing it to the rail.

 

[Shaps]

Thanks guys.

What else do you keep in your ditch bag?

 

[Havana Shamrock]

ICOM HANDHELD RADIO, sunscreen, water, batteries, flashlights, old flares, line cutter, polypropylene line. all I can remember right now

 

[rlynch03]

This is a great thread, Safety, ditch bags and EPIRB are all things I have been thinking about lately.

Which ditch bag does everyone like? I have seen the ones that float (weight limited of course). ACR has two different sizes the larger is 24"x10"x14" and will float with 25lb of gear.

 

[ttmott]

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...

 

[Havana Shamrock]

ACR rapid ditch bag also have glow sticks in it.
https://images.app.goo.gl/HvVUyJX6MpG49CQKA

 

[Ididntdoit]

anytime I leave an inlet, I have an ACR PLB hooked to my life jacket - I always wear a PFD when in the ocean, and after an accident, upgraded to offshore automatic vests. l boat in the same (warm) waters as Grant, and pick my days, but per Joe's post I will likely rent, or possibly buy, a 4 man valise raft before venturing too far offshore in a small boat...

 

[ocgrant]

You know this was a great thread... It made me think as I have all my safety gear in an easy to grab spot but it is in a plastic bin and not a "ditch" bag and sealed properly. I just ordered a ditch bag and will organzie it once and for all. Thank you

 

[Shaps]

Thanks! I am ordering a ditch bag and a handheld VHF along with a few goodies for it. You guys have been great!(as usual)

 

[Jeremygavin]

ACR rapid ditch bag also have glow sticks in it.
https://images.app.goo.gl/HvVUyJX6MpG49CQKA
View attachment 96848

This is a nice bag, thanks for posting. I just use an open type water tight bag but this will keep everything much more organized. I have the PLB that I had for my 340da in there was well. It usually stays in the dingy as we tend to do some longer runs in that during stops. I like the sunscreen, that is a good addition I am going to make. The only other thing I keep in mine is some granola bars for snacks.