#20387
LatitudeAdjustment - 12/15/2010 3:17 PM


From MarkA: This device is no replacement for a properly registered EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) which will really bring the cavalry and save your but when needed.



An EPIRB does not notify the boat you are lost from, it sends a signal up to a satalite that beams it to a ground station that calls your home, you did send in the product registration didn’t you? And is anybody home to verify you should be near the gps position they are getting a signal from before notifying the cavalry? IF you are diving off some third world country that doesn’t have a cavalry you are SOL! If you are in the US you will still be bobbing in the ocean hours before they rule out some kid triggered the EPIRB and send the USCG looking for you.


 A pair of kayakers got blown away from Utila, the Honduran Armada wasn’t interested in doing a search so the kayak rental agency hired a local pilot to find his kayaks, he didn’t. An illegal radio or one of these in the drybag would have been nice. In Eucador I was told help was a day or two away.


Smitty, 10’ with the cap open, 400’ with it stowed.