PLB vs. EPIRB

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potterhead2002

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Mar 27, 2004
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13090
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This subject may have been beaten to death but I thought given the constantly changing status of PLB's maybe we could visit it again.

I'm getting ready for some long range cruising in the Inside Passage neighborhood and want either an EPIRB or PLB. Seems like the PLB's are cheaper.
Have they evolved into a legitimate replacement for the EPIRB ?
 
Haven't heard the status of PLB's have changed, the design sepc's are still the same.

No contest between a PLB & Epirb (based on price or other), in a marine situation the Epirb is the only choice and in most countries there is legislation to enforce this.
 
I don’t agree with the broad statements posted, but I will defer to what BillyIII may post if he replies, since he is very knowledgeable on this subject
FYI:
From the McMurdo web site:
The Fast Find range of Personal Location Beacons has all the benefits of the 406MHz EPIRB except that they are registered to an individual as opposed to a vessel. The PLB won't activate automatically in the water and has a shorter battery life once it starts to transmit.
 
Well, Andy, you listed a few of the very real differences there. Let me add a few more: once manually deployed, a PLB must also be manually held so that the antenna stays upright and out of the water. This implies there is a conscious and uninjured person to operate it. An EPIRB has a strobe whose life matches that of the battery, few PLBs (I can think of only one) even have a strobe.

I think PLBs are great for hikers/hunters/shallow water and non-open water boaters. I may get one for when I am using my Whaler and attach it to my PFD. Right now I take the EPIRB if I am really venturing into the boonies, not kosher, I know, but I'll sort that out after I'm rescued if need be. The "boonies" I boat in on the Whaler are typically shallow or narrow channeled.

But it is absolutely not a replacement for a modern GPS based EPIRB for open water cruising. I suppose if you value your life and those of your crew to be less, you could save money in proportion and go to PLB-only. Somehow, when the need arises, God forbid, I doubt you'll be there in the water, trying to deploy and hold up your PLB, saying to yourself "Gee I sure am glad I saved that 400 Bucks!".

George
Hatteras 56MY, ACR GlobalFix
Boston Whaler 130 Sport.
 
different products for different applications. there is not a one size fits all anymore when it comes to SAR. either is better than none, for hiking in mountains a PLB is a better choice than an EPRB. in a transoceanic passage an EPRB is hands down the right choice. anything in between is open to subjective perspectives.
 
George, we have 2 full blown 406 EPIRBs in addition my wife and I have the PLB’s on our Mustang vests as a backup or if we get separated. When I registered the PLB’s I believe there was a comments section I mentioned that the devices were used on a boat and gave the boats information.
Great point about needing to position to activate and make the PLB useful.
The EPIRBs on the other hand have a very comprehensive page that needs to be filled out and updated.
Bill
 
in our neck of the woods almost all drownings are caused by single boater falling overboard. a plb in a fanny pack solves this issue, whereas a bulky EPIRB in a nice mounting will continue to cruise along with the vessel.
 
quote:
Originally posted by potterhead2002

Click to expand...


I'm a guy who was forced to abandon a sinking 60 ft ship 40 miles out in the middle of nowhere. There is no choice involved "Long range cruising" YOU NEED an EPIRB!
 
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