I'm curious--How Many Have an EPIRB?

[team oldschool]

Don't have the epirb, but we use our spot all the time. When we fish offshore we usually have 2 or 3 on board and functional. We also use the spot with our local water search and rescue.

[SaltFisher]

I dont have one but I never go out past cell phone range. I fish the nearshore reefs ( 4-10 miles ) out and pick my days to do that. I do have VHF.

[Kerry]

A VHF is really a secondary support device, a cell phone should not be considered at all, they don't like water and can not be tracked.

[greylion]

I have one for Lake Michigan, our water is too cold to be in it very long and survive.

[Guest edgewater225]

I have an ACR EPIRB on the boat. I also have a Brietling Emergency Mission watch that has a built-in old style 121 mHz EPIRB. It is an extremely clunky, heavy watch but it is seriously cool.

[mrrobalo]

Has anyone used the SPOT and can tell me how it preforms (like you used it in the islands) . I have read articles about them but not first hand. I plan on getting something once the boat is done with her makeover. I really want it for my boys as the don't have the offshore experience that I do. It will be part of my ditch bag.

.

[cataholic]

Has anyone used the SPOT and can tell me how it preforms (like you used it in the islands) . I have read articles about them but not first hand. I plan on getting something once the boat is done with her makeover. I really want it for my boys as the don't have the offshore experience that I do. It will be part of my ditch bag.

.

I have the Spot, and it works as advertized. Mainly its for letting family and friends know where you are and that you are ok. It can also let them know where you are and that you need help in a non-life threatening situation. It has a 911 feature, and this prompts an actual phone call to the nearest emergency responder telling them where you were when the signal came in. But the responders do not have the ability to recieve the Spot signal and go directly to your real time location.

So for a real life threatening situation, the Spot is no substitute for the epirb, which sends a signal that can be directly honed in on by the coast guard.

Funny, I started this thread, and I am just now getting ready to order my first epirb tomorrow. Going on vacation and taking my whole family--no doubt we will all be out together. Just seems a relatively small expense for that much protection.

[fireboat]

It is rare that I am out of VHF distance so I plan to rent an EPIRB maybe once a year when I take a trip to the Tortugas.

But there is no substitute, that 16yo sailor, Abby Sunderland has apparently activated her manual EPIRB in the Indian Ocean with monstrous seas. Her problem is that she is so far away from any rescue assistance, that it is going to take some time so she will have to survive on her own until help arrives.

[mrrobalo]

Thanks for letting me know "the rest of the story" I am sure once I get my boats make over complete and ready to hit the open water she likes so well there will be one on board. I want to thank you for starting this thread not only for a safety standpoint but I will do some research so when working on my console I can build/glass in a holding area for one. Being a small CC making extra room is a premium.So honey I need to get Ba EPIR for the boat..yada yada yada

[jws]

No epirb. Had one at one time. Probably rather have a sat phone.