EPIRBs

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.

Thanks Patrick!
You make great points, and yes, truly thread drift...

90% of our boating is in the great south bay, always in sight of land. The other 10% is in the ocean, near shore (we tend to run 1-2 miles off shore) to Montauk Point or heading west to NYC.

This coming summer, we are looking to head further north to Newport, Rhode Island and maybe as far out as Nantucket.

In all of our plans, we will be traveling with at least one other boat, however, I am trying to be as prepared as I can be.
Thanks!
Shaps
 
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?

Sorry, although I commented on your question I didn't really answer it. The SH HX890 is a great handheld for all of the reasons listed already, but I would get the blue one instead of the black, but that's me.

Also, don't take trips to Block Island and Newport lightly. I have made those trips yearly for a very long time, until moving here to the Chesapeake. You are right to want to be prepared, those are very dangerous waters at times and out there storms kick up quickly and are no joke. Sorry for the thread drift ...
 
Sorry, although I commented on your question I didn't really answer it. The SH HX890 is a great handheld for all of the reasons listed already, but I would get the blue one instead of the black, but that's me.

Also, don't take trips to Block Island and Newport lightly. I have made those trips yearly for a very long time, until moving here to the Chesapeake. You are right to want to be prepared, those are very dangerous waters at times and out there storms kick up quickly and are no joke. Sorry for the thread drift ...

@SKybolt,
That's how I read your previous comment. I prefer the blue one too :)

I totally appreciate the thread drift, it's been phenomenally helpful and educational! I think I may have even started the drift! LOL!
Seriously, thank you all for the input and opinions!
 
I am a huge fan of ICOM radios the build quality is awesome I have 5 the larger Handheld is in the ditch bag and fully charged prior to leaving on the trip. I’d hope I would remember to punch the onboard radio dsc button before I leave the big boat it’s the tallest antenna to get the signal out.
 
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.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...ing-to-a-beacon-at-sea/ar-BB1clP52?li=BBnb7Kz
 
I am a huge fan of ICOM radios the build quality is awesome I have 5 the larger Handheld is in the ditch bag and fully charged prior to leaving on the trip. I’d hope I would remember to punch the onboard radio dsc button before I leave the big boat it’s the tallest antenna to get the signal out.
I agree, all my radios are Icom except the main radio on the bridge I stick with Raymarine so it interfaces with my MFD.
 
My black box ICOM on the bridge is wired nmea0183 to my Furunos I think they all do nowadays.
 
Well this thread so got me thinking and moving. Got my ACR ditch bag and filled it up with all we talked about and is now ready to go. Also started thinking about the crossings to the Bahamas and decided to look for a deal on a life raft. Guess it was my lucky day... Found a 8 passenger offshore Revere locally for a deal I couldn’t pass up...
757F6B8D-586E-4659-AFE3-DCADD80974FE.jpeg
 
Awesome! Good for you! Great piece of mind.
 
Special thanks to Jim @ BOE Marine for the supplies.
Question, (maybe dumb), for my new handheld VHF, do I use the same MMSI as the one hardwired on my boat?
PXL_20210122_021259675.jpg
 
Special thanks to Jim @ BOE Marine for the supplies.
Question, (maybe dumb), for my new handheld VHF, do I use the same MMSI as the one hardwired on my boat?
View attachment 98140
Just curious, did you find the ditch bag you purchased to be large enough for all your equipment to take overboard if needed? I see BOE has a larger bag available but the smaller the better for storing purposes. Tim
 
Just curious, did you find the ditch bag you purchased to be large enough for all your equipment to take overboard if needed? I see BOE has a larger bag available but the smaller the better for storing purposes. Tim
While i haven't put anything in it yet, I think it will serve my needs just fine. The outside pocket for the epirb takes the bulkiest item out of the way.
 

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