| Recently, the U.S. Coast Guard found a group of | | | | A modern EPIRB is a sophisticated device that |
| family and friends floating in the Atlantic Ocean. They | | | | contains: |
| weren't looking for them, they just happened to spot | | | | - A 5-watt radio transmitter operating at 406 MHz |
| them all hanging onto an ice chest. Their boat had sank | | | | - A 0.25-watt radio transmitter operating at 121.5 MHz |
| and luckily for them, the USCG was out on patrol. | | | | - A GPS receiver |
| How many things are wrong with this picture? | | | | Once activated, both of the radios start transmitting. |
| They didn't radio in because the boat went down too | | | | Approximately 24,000 miles up in space, a GOES |
| fast. They didn't have a flare container set up in the | | | | weather satellite in a geosynchronous orbit can detect |
| right place to pull out quickly, if they had one at all and, | | | | the 406-MHz signal. Embedded in the signal is a unique |
| finally, they didn't have an EPIRB on board. Luckily for | | | | serial number, and, if the unit is equipped with a GPS |
| them, they were able to access their Life Jackets | | | | receiver, the exact location of the radio is conveyed in |
| (PFD's) in time. Most boats have their PFD's buried | | | | the signal as well. If the EPIRB is properly registered, |
| somewhere that would keep them from getting to | | | | the serial number lets the Coast Guard know who |
| them quickly and they are usually wrapped in plastic. | | | | owns the EPIRB. Rescuers in planes or boats can |
| What comes to mind? "What were they thinking!!" | | | | home in on the EPIRB using either the 406-MHz or |
| You just never know when you go out, and it doesn't | | | | 121.5-MHz signal. |
| matter what kind of boat or yacht, what is going to | | | | Older EPIRBs did not contain the GPS receiver, so the |
| happen. You could be one mile offshore with no other | | | | GOES satellite received only a serial number. To |
| boats around and you hit a log or pipe or pallet or | | | | locate the EPIRB, another set of satellites orbiting the |
| barrel or even a container (Yes, containers, those big | | | | planet in a low polar orbit could pick up the signal as it |
| steel 18 wheeler trailers that they have on huge | | | | passed overhead. This would give a rough fix on the |
| container ships) can float and usually float right below | | | | location, but it can take several hours for a satellite to |
| the surface). You could run over a bunch of rope that | | | | come into range. |
| could tear out your shaft. You could lose a hose off a | | | | So, no matter if you are 1 mile offshore or 50 miles |
| through hull and you can't get to it and your bilge | | | | offshore, and in South Florida that means a swift |
| pumps can't keep up with it. Be sure to read my | | | | moving Northern Gulf Stream that can sweep you out |
| section on Bilge Pumps to find out why a 500 gallon | | | | to sea in no time and for what ever reason, the Coast |
| per minute pump can't keep up with 10 gallons per | | | | Guard and other rescuers' have historically had a hard |
| minute. | | | | time determining where you would actually float off to |
| Again, you just don't know what is going to happen so | | | | in the Gulf Stream, you need to have an EPIRB |
| you have to be prepared. | | | | onboard and have it in view where it can either deploy |
| I keep a bright Yellow Pelican case with me whenever | | | | itself or you can get it within 30 seconds of an |
| I travel. For safety equipment, it has a set of flares, | | | | emergency. Even if you are on a lake or in the |
| flare gun, mirror, dye pack, waterproof vhf radio, | | | | Everglades where civilization is far away and people |
| waterproof GPS and, if the boat/yacht doesn't have | | | | do not know where you are, you should have one. |
| one, an EPIRB. I also carry my own inflatable PFD. | | | | Without one, once out there you have a good chance |
| But lets talk EPIRB's. | | | | of being lost for good. Do not think that your cell phone |
| An EPIRB is your ticket home in an emergency. The | | | | is going to help you when you are in the water, same |
| one 'MUST HAVE' on any boat. | | | | with a hard mounted VHF. It is not worth the risk for |
| EPIRB stands for Emergency Position Indicating Radio | | | | the amount of money that it costs to buy a good |
| Beacon. An EPIRB is meant to help rescuers locate | | | | EPIRB. |
| you in an emergency situation, and these radios have | | | | Be safe, Be aware. Have an EPIRB onboard and I'll |
| saved many lives since their creation in the 1970s. | | | | see you at the Helm. |
| Boaters are the main users of EPIRBs. | | | | |