iBoat Skipper Doug
Active Member
- Aug 8, 2018
- 140
- Boat Info
- 2003 225 Weekender w/Bravo III drive
2019 Venture trailer
- Engines
- 5.7 MPI Mercruiser w/Bravo III drive
I need your take.
Redundant safety - PLB vs handheld VHF?
Short question: For safety, should I get a personal locator beacon (PLB) or handheld VHF that floats with built in GPS / DSC? This would be in addition to already new, built in VHF with operational and registered DSC.
Background: I have 15 years of instate boating experience such as Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago which is about 30 miles x 10 miles. Now, with a smaller trailer boat, I will be adding larger waters such as circling Wisconsin’s Door County and hopefully crossing Lake Michigan maybe once a year. I have confirmed with the local Coast Guard that 100% of this area of intended boating is covered via the VHF GPS combined “Rescue 21” distress location system as well as monitored for VHF distress calls. Of course, the area is also covered with the satellite based PLB system. I’m also a PADI scuba diver, have experience with multi-hour duration cold water exposure, and if I was forced to make a “only one” decision, I’d grab my wetsuit before I’d grab a life jacket. For Lake Michigan crossings, I would follow reasonable precautions such as checking the weather forecast, have a float plan with someone I trust, bring my wetsuit, etc.
As safety redundancy, in addition to my built in VHF with registered and operational DSC GPS distress system, I’d like to add a handheld system. I’d wear it on me. This is where I am asking for your expertise, and reasoning.
You must pick only one. I don’t need to read “Get both” or that I should add a 12 person self-inflating life raft, automatically deploying commercial EPIRB, potable water-maker, enough food for a dozen days floating, and more, all in a boat that could not even carry all that stuff for inland boating.
What would you choose, a floating GPS based PLB or a floating VHF with built in GPS, DSC and distress system?
Why would you go the way you are recommending?
Redundant safety - PLB vs handheld VHF?
Short question: For safety, should I get a personal locator beacon (PLB) or handheld VHF that floats with built in GPS / DSC? This would be in addition to already new, built in VHF with operational and registered DSC.Background: I have 15 years of instate boating experience such as Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago which is about 30 miles x 10 miles. Now, with a smaller trailer boat, I will be adding larger waters such as circling Wisconsin’s Door County and hopefully crossing Lake Michigan maybe once a year. I have confirmed with the local Coast Guard that 100% of this area of intended boating is covered via the VHF GPS combined “Rescue 21” distress location system as well as monitored for VHF distress calls. Of course, the area is also covered with the satellite based PLB system. I’m also a PADI scuba diver, have experience with multi-hour duration cold water exposure, and if I was forced to make a “only one” decision, I’d grab my wetsuit before I’d grab a life jacket. For Lake Michigan crossings, I would follow reasonable precautions such as checking the weather forecast, have a float plan with someone I trust, bring my wetsuit, etc.
As safety redundancy, in addition to my built in VHF with registered and operational DSC GPS distress system, I’d like to add a handheld system. I’d wear it on me. This is where I am asking for your expertise, and reasoning.
You must pick only one. I don’t need to read “Get both” or that I should add a 12 person self-inflating life raft, automatically deploying commercial EPIRB, potable water-maker, enough food for a dozen days floating, and more, all in a boat that could not even carry all that stuff for inland boating. What would you choose, a floating GPS based PLB or a floating VHF with built in GPS, DSC and distress system?
Why would you go the way you are recommending?
