What is an EPIRB? How do you dial 911 when you are mid-ocean? Cell phones don’t work. Message in a bottle seems a bit slow. The answer is an EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radio beacon). It has only one switch and when you turn it to the MAYDAY position it starts getting you help. Step one: it uses the onboard GPS to figure out where you are. Step two: it sends your location and name to one of many satellites floating in space, along with the message “Two Fish needs help and is off the coast of Brazil”. Then the Coast Guard takes the message to see if it is a false alarm. To figure this out, it calls your loved ones to check in if you should be at sea. Your loved ones at this point will panic. The call will go something like this, “Hello this is the Coast Guard, we got a MAYDAY message from Two Fish. Do you think we should respond?” It is very very unlikely we will ever use the EPIRB, but it is nice to know that we have one. The EPIRB is waterproof and has a tether so you can tie it to your arm or a life raft if the situation calls for abandoning ship.
So what were the choices we made in selecting the ACR GlobalFix iPro 406 MHz EPIRB?
Pro for the ACR: When testing, there is a small digital screen that shows the results of the tests. So no guessing if three green flashing lights followed by a long pause means your EPIRB is up to snuff. Imagine the tension in the life raft: “I think it is transmitting. Did you bring the manual?”.
Con for the ACR: The battery must be changed by a professional. So in 6 years time we will need a new battery and changing it is half the cost of buying a new one. Kannad makes a unit which has a replaceable battery. The Kannad unit is also cheaper and better looking, but we were swayed by the small digital screen. Not the first time we fell for more gizmos.
CAT I vs CAT II: On Alaskan fish boats the EPIRB must deploy automatically when sensing water (CAT I). We thought this would create false alarms and went with the simple CAT II which is switch activated.
Where to Install: Our plan is to install the EPIRB inside the salon, right by the door, which is two steps from the helm. Nice combination of easy access but protected from the natural elements and the unwanted element.
GPS connection: The unit can refresh its GPS from the NMEA network so the EPIRB can send a message faster and not wait to find its location. After the first message the EPIRB uses its internal GPS. We are not going to take advantage of this feature for a few reasons. We like keeping the EPIRB simple and independent. Could lightning damage the EPRIB if connected to the NMEA network? Also this connection would be an ugly wire in the salon. We can always change our mind later.
After you buy and EPIRB, you still have work to do. You need to register the beacon so that when the Coast Gaurd receives your MAYDAY they can quickly obtain your details and send resources to your rescue. It is free to register. Save your password because you need to update the numbers of your shore contacts when they change phone numbers. You do not want the Coasties to be greeted by “Aunt Edna does not live here anymore” while you are inside the whale’s stomach. Even if your family has strong roots and never moves, the database folks ask that every two years you confirm your contact list. That is all, not so tough, right? In a later post I will describe the complex process of having a legal SSB.(Single Side Band radio).
For those of you who have EPIRBs, we would love to know which one you chose and why.
The following video is an ad for our EPIRB.
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