EPRIB ADVICE

[SASSY]

We are crossing from FL to Bahamas end of April. This will be our first crossing - mostly coastal sailor. Pulling together the Safety Gear and want to purchase an EPIRB.

I know I want a 406 with integrated GPS Cat II but don't know what the specific differences are between the ACR Satelite 406 and the ACR Globalfix 406.

What are the preferences on EPRIBs.

Also saw where Pains Wessex is offering free batteries for life. Would that be a consideration over the ACR?

Appreciate any advice.

Love reading the threads on this site.

Thanks

[Jon D]

Both manufactures make fine EPIRBS both have been tested by equiped to survive and both work just fine. The big difference between the two mentioned is one has a bult in GPS which gives rescuers a much faster and more accurate position. Free batteries for life is good as long as you'll keep it they are good for about 5 years and then manufacturer has to replace so costs money - few hundred or so.

[coot]

I have the Globalfix, which has the built-in GPS. When you activate it, it turns on the GPS receiver and in a few minutes it knows your position. It includes that position in the signal it transmits.

The other one plugs in to your ship's GPS and monitors your progress. When you activate the EPIRB, it includes your last known position in the transmitted signal. If you don't have the ship's GPS turned on, it doesn't get updated. On my boat, the fixed GPS is a chartplotter that I rarely use (I use a handheld at the helm), so the EPIRB probably wouldn't know where I was.

[capt lar]

Just replaced my battery - $250. There was a thread (here I think) on the value of the additional homing signal. Do a search. Extra $200.- for the homing beacon. The thread discussed whether rescue services were actually monitoring that band. Larry