SPOT or InReach, are not official Personal Locator Beacons. A PLB is the same as an EPRIB, but the battery is only certified to last for 24 hours, most have to be manually deployed, and held out of the water, vs an EPRIB, which may deploy automatically, will float, with the antenna in a transmitting position. Both use the Sar Sat system, and official governmental agencies are notified, and an emergency state is declared, with mobilization of resources to find and rescue the persons. SPOT and InReach use a private organization to notify various agencies of a "distress call". Unfortunately lives have been lost due to failure of this system, which would have been saved if a proper ERPIB or PLB was used. I feel it is a great idea to use a device like SPOT or InReach to track and give messages, but not to risk your lives on some agency which does not use official channels, and may not have credence at times. (we carry PLB on each of our persons, as well as VHF portable radios on our person when offshore). On real passages, we carry 2 EPRIB's; one in the life raft, and the other by the companionway. Be safe..and prudent. Bob Austin

Excellent advice, Bob. I, too, carry a PLB and a portable radio on my belt (and wear an inflatable PFD) when boating alone. Never know when you might find yourself in the water unexpectedly... When not on my belt, it's in the ditch bag. Just renewed my PLB registration last week... On 12/21/2014 9:14 PM, Robert Austin via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote: > [snipped] > (we carry PLB on each of our persons, as well as VHF portable radios on our person when offshore). On real passages, we carry 2 EPRIB's; one in the life raft, and the other by the companionway. > > Be safe..and prudent. > > Bob Austin >

As we all get older... Something to also consider carrying onboard is a AED (Automated External Defibrillator). I don't have statistics, but, I suspect more people die of a heart attack when cruising than they do sinking... and the cost of an AED is similar to a EPIRB. On 12/21/2014 9:14 PM, Robert Austin via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote: > [snipped] > (we carry PLB on each of our persons, as well as VHF portable radios on our person when offshore). On real passages, we carry 2 EPRIB's; one in the life raft, and the other by the companionway.