North Carolina Fishing Reports

seawalker57 · Ol'Salt Joined: Jan 19, 2006 Posts: 118

I am in the process of buying a new EPIRB. Don't know if any advice is out there but sure want to make the right choice. Thanking you in advice for the help in this area. Seawalker57

landlockedseahawk · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject:

Do some research on EPIRBs vs... man I wanna say GPIRBS or something like that. There are a lot of different kinds and I think some run off of analog signals and some on GPS. Some are automatic and some are manual only.
Great investment if you ask me. I can't afford one just yet so I rent one fom the first link below. Its manual and automatic activation and runs $50 for a week which includes whippingto and fro..... not bad in my opinion.....

http://www.boatus.com/foundation/epirb/

http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emerbcns.html

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/epirb.htmn

blue moon · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:59 pm Post subject:

Try:

http://www.powerboat-reports.com/

I've subscribed since about 1991 and really like this pub because there are no ads and it's unbiased toward the sponsors.

fishinbumnc · Ol'Salt Joined: Oct 03, 2005 Posts: 351

I have a PLB with gps, interface and in the unit. Frm what I read the interface could take a while to load, not good in an uh oh situation. PLB runs 24 hrs at some low temp, epirbs run longer. PLB is registered to you not the boat, you can carry it on sombody else's boat if you want or even take it hunting. mine is ACR model and I gave around $525 for it on ebay. I don't think they can advertise that low but I had to make an offer to get it. Good luck, hope you never need it.
_________________
Donnie (Reel Affliction II)

Connie_Gail · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:02 pm Post subject:

I have an ACR EPIRB...I THINK it is a model 2742. but don'thave it here with me right now. I guess I'd say that I really like it, but have never used it and hope that I never have to. It has a built in GPS and transmits on 406 MHz. It is one of the models that will automatically deploy if you can't get to it in time and your boat sinks more than 11 feet. It will also automatically activate if it is not in it's mounting bracket and is placed in the water.

When I first purchased this unit, I wanted to mount it on the tower of my boat , but after I got it, I realized that I didn't really have a good place to mount it, and it's in my "abandon ship bag". I say that because it's significant. Make sure that if you plan to buy one like mine that you have a place to mount it. If you don't, save yourself some money and space in your abandon ship bag and don't get one that automatically activates. The benefits of such an EPIRB are obvious if you have a place to mount it, but if you do not plan on permanently mounting it, you will need to keep the EPIRB in the mounting bracket to keep it from being accidentally activated. There are magnets in the mounting bracket that keep the unit turned off. If you remove it from the bracket and the sensors on it get wet, it will activate. I was told by someone at ACR that in theory, it would have to be submersed in water, but in reality, it could get damp and activate.

So, with that being said, I'd recommend a 406 MHz unit with an integral GPS, but would weigh out the mounting options for an automatic VS manual activation unit. I purchased my unit on eBay as well, and paid something like 500 bucks for it. It retils for something like 1000. Mine was brand new and in the box and I registered it with ACR and NOAA with no problems.

Good luck with your purchase!
_________________
Gary Dixon

"Connie Gail" 1995 Albemarle 320 Express Fisherman...Little River, SC

seawalker57 · Ol'Salt Joined: Jan 19, 2006 Posts: 118

To all, Thanks for the time and effort on your advice. I am leaning towards the ACR Epirb manual with gps. The automatic worries me with the 11 foot activation on a boat that is not suppose to sink. The PLB with GPS sounds very good but i feel that the extra time could be priceless. I thank you all so much and if anyone has ever had one to activate i would sure like to hear the response time and manner of rescue for i know that when a car alarm or a house alarm goes off today they are not taken very serious. I hope that a EPIRB is not looked upon as another false alarm to the coastal rescue. Great fishing to all Seawalker57

Connie_Gail · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:18 am Post subject:

I remembered this post from a while back. I found it in the forums. This might give you some idea of the response time and also what I was talking about with the EPIRB being deactivated by the magnets in the mounting bracket.

"MONDAY 12-5-05; Today we were fishing with our good friend John Smith from Tennessee and his two sons John and Matthew. We were expecting to get some king mackeral before we went bottom fishing, but, the water had cooled 4* from saturday and everything was gone that was there then. The weather was not the best and with rougher conditions predicted for later that day I elected not to go any farther offshore. So, we decided to go to the bottom and light line for kings. The bottom fish were biting fair, we caught some of the biggest joltheads (knobbedhead porgys) I have ever seen. Nice triggerfish too! Several grouper and 3 limits of grey snapper. Now this sounds like a normal fishing trip, nothing could be farther from that!!!!! We were heading back to the dock and was about 18 miles out when we saw the USCG SEARCH & RESCUE HELICOPTER!!!! Capt. Chris and I said to each other, someone must be in trouble, I had the radio turned down earlier due to a bunch of noise and had forgotten to turn it back up, I noticed they were turning towards us so I turned it up, thinking they were searching for someone that looked like us and I could let them know that I had not seen anyone. Turns out they were looking for us!!!! I know now that those EPIRB units do work, mabey too good!!! This is what I and the service dept. at ACR has determined happened: On your bracket there is a magnet that holds the activation sensor in an open position, well my bracket had cracked, allowing the magnet to pull away about 1/8 inch. We came off a wave pretty hard and that triggered the unit, the unit itself was not activated, this caused it to malfunction. You may want to check you bracket on yours and make sure the magnet is AGAINST your unit with no gaps. If that magnet pulls away and your unit gets wet, it will malfunction and send a signal, and according to the service tech. at ACR, it may even go off in a high humidity situation, just be sure the magnet is still contacting your unit!!!Other than that, we had a normal good day of fishing with some GREAT GUYS!!! Ronda, you were right, they kept Capt. Chris and I laughing all day!!! By the way Ronda, your dad said he wanted us to "wear them down" catching fish, just ask them if we succeded!!! SEE PIC'S ON MY SITE!! Till next time, FISH ON!!! Capt. Butch Foster, Capt. Chris Foster, and "Private Bodie" the fish dog says HI!!!. YEAH RIGHT SPORTFISHING CHARTERS, SOUTHPORT,NC. (910)845-2004. www.yeahrightcharters.com"
_________________
Gary Dixon

"Connie Gail" 1995 Albemarle 320 Express Fisherman...Little River, SC

seawalker57 · Ol'Salt Joined: Jan 19, 2006 Posts: 118

Thanks Connie_Gail, That post is exactly what i was thinking about and even though it was a real accident with capt. not knowing i wonder how many times this does happen. False alarms in homes and cars have made them almost useless. Thats why i really do want to purchase the right unit that will be responded to. Thanks for the reply.

divnnc · Ol'Salt Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 290

I hate to bring up the name, but Tred Barta did an episode on his boat sinking.

From the time they jumped into the life raft till they were picked up was around 6hrs. They had a sat phone, epirb, and life raft. Epirbs / plb's are nice, but they still have long response times no matter which you choose.

I'm starting to look again at a device for our "new" boat. I'm looking at the ACR PLB. That way when we go play in the snow we can take it with us.

Matt

megabytes · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject:

I have an ACR and highly recommend this brand. I also concur that the manual deployment is likely best for smaller recreational boats. Mine is mounted right at the helm for QUICK access in an emergency. Be sure and test on schedule and to replace the battery when recommended.

Pretty foolish to have an EPIRB with an expired battery. Sad

JollyGreen · 2nd Mate Joined: Jul 01, 2006 Posts: 37

I was thinking about getting a satellite phone instead of a GPIRB. You can get a refurbished phone from globalstar for $395. Then pay $350 a year for emergency service. If you have engine trouble, hull trouble, or something that isn't a dire emergency you can at least call and get help/a tow.

I also thought about getting a marine HF radio, but I think for the radio, antenna and antenna tuner it would be between $1500 and $2000.

Anyone thought about these options?

divnnc · Ol'Salt Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 290

Are you talking about a Single Side Band radio? Yep on the Sat phone. There are two major companies out there that sell the service. From the research that I've done (and I sell phones for a living) you want to go with the company from Texas. I think their name is Global Star. They seem to have the best coverage and deals.

Good luck.

Matt


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