You activated your EPIRB… now what?

[jfoster]

You activated your EPIRB… now what?

The Navagear site explores this question.

April 9th, 2009 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor

An excellent write-up by Ryan Erickson over at the Unofficial Coast Guard Blog. This is must-read material for anybody carrying an EPIRB aboard.

Have you ever wondered exactly how one actually gets rescued after they pull the trigger on their 406mhz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)? Or what about if you happen to be that unlucky soul who didn’t register their EPIRB?

Well I thought I would run down the quick and dirty of what happens when the Search and Rescue system is activated by the use of an EPIRB. Click through to read the entire thing. The Unofficial Coast Guard Blog is a tremendous resource, but I can’t emphasize enough how valuable pieces like this one, in particular, can be.

Mr. Erickson has the experience to know what he’s talking about, but since the blog remains “unofficial”, he isn’t obliged to stick to the official party line. You get the whole story. So read it.

As mentioned in a Longpac thread, it used to be hard to find a 406 EPIRB under $500, now they can be had at various places for under $300.

For example the MCMURDO FastFind 210 GPS Personal Location Beacon. Only $299.99 USD some places and $283. in another. Price matching usually includes shipping cost so it is nearly a wash for the local outlets to hand you one. This is a cell phone sized 406 EPIRB including a GPS that you tie on to each guy on deck at night.

Another, for me, must have night time item also on a lanyard is the GREATLAND LASER LLC Rescue Laser Light for $99.99 USD. You point it towards another boat and the result is a bright red line pointing straight back at you.

John Foster
http://nonsuch22blueberry.blogspot.com/

 

[tiger beetle]

Is a PLB suitable for LongPac?

As mentioned in a Longpac thread, it used to be hard to find a 406 EPIRB under $500, now they can be had at various places for under $300.

For example the MCMURDO FastFind 210 GPS Personal Location Beacon.

John raises a valid point; it used to be that a 406 EPIRB was implicitly a marine device with some fairly specific attributes - it floated, it ran for 48 hours, designed to work in the marine environment, and was registered with NOAA.

With the proliferation of smaller, non-marine beacons (e.g. the Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)), perhaps it is time to consider whether or not the smaller PLB 406 EPIRB's meet SSS race requirements.

My suggestion is that PLB's do not - for example the Fast Find unit mentioned by John does not float. It might make sense to further state the functional features an acceptable EPIRB should have, much as we do with life rafts, such as: waterproof, floats, operates for a minimum of 48 hours. We already require the EPIRB be registered.

- rob/beetle

 

[BobJ]

I posted my question about the response method and delay for a PLB signal vs. an EPIRB signal. Here's the author's response:

"The use of a PLB over an EPIRB may take longer for the Coast Guard to respond*. The reason for this is that all PBL's, in general, are the responsibility of the AFRCC (Air Force Rescue Coordination Center) as they were originally intended for those, as you mentioned, that ski or go hiking and general land activity. Land (dry earth) is the responsibility of the ARFCC over the Coast Guard. That could slow down the process of the Coast Guard responding, however, this is not always the case. If the signal emitting from the PLB is a good one and the satellites can easily determine that it is over water and not land we, the USCG, should get a call immediately from the AFRCC to take the case. We too will should also receive the signal where we can determine it to be over water or land.

My \"personal\" advice: if you know you're going on the water have an registered EPIRB with you; however, the use of a PLB, also registered, is a lot better than nothing (and usually cheaper).

I hope this helps." ~Ryan
____________________________________

Ryan Erickson's article also makes it clear that a unit with integrated GPS could drastically reduce the response time vs. one without integrated GPS. If they don't get your position on the first pass, he says it is two hours before they get another chance!

Note the distinction between integrated GPS (GPS in the PLB/EPIRB) vs. one with a GPS interface (it gets the coordinates from your separate GPS). I nearly bought the latter type because it was cheaper, but what happens if the EPIRB and GPS are separated before the coordinates get transferred?

If you're in the water, that hand-held VHF is sounding pretty good!


* See updated information in Richard's article later in this thread, under the paragraph "Are the expected delays different for a PLB than for an EPIRB?"

 

[Alchera]

Interesting article. It would seem if you're going to buy an EPIRB, getting one with an integrated GPS is the way to go, and then don't forget to register it!

The other thing that seems obvious to me is that EPIRBS are not good solutions for someone who finds himself swimming in the cold waters of the San Francisco area. A swimmer will succumb to the cold long before any rescue assets arrive, even with a GPS position.

I'm now firmly in the waterproof handheld VHF camp - I'm going to make sure it's on my person at all times.

- Mark

 

[jfoster]

John raises a valid point; it used to be that a 406 EPIRB was implicitly a marine device with some fairly specific attributes - it floated, it ran for 48 hours, designed to work in the marine environment, and was registered with NOAA.

With the proliferation of smaller, non-marine beacons (e.g. the Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)), perhaps it is time to consider whether or not the smaller PLB 406 EPIRB's meet SSS race requirements.

My suggestion is that PLB's do not - for example the Fast Find unit mentioned by John does not float. It might make sense to further state the functional features an acceptable EPIRB should have, much as we do with life rafts, such as: waterproof, floats, operates for a minimum of 48 hours. We already require the EPIRB be registered.
- rob/beetle

Rob is correct. More detailed information can be seen in their downloadable PDF version of their manual. http://www.fastfindplb.com/en/what_is_fast_find/pdf/manual.pdf They clearly state:

A Fast Find PLB is not an ELT or an EPIRB and does not
meet the regulatory requirements for an ELT or an EPIRB.

For me, the PLB, on a tether attached to me, a rescue laser, and a hand held VHF also on tethers, all tucked into my Mustang Coverall Flotation & Worksuit :: MS2075 , allow me a certain sense of security when I race Blueberry in near coastal events such as the Half Moon Bay race. Just as my Nonsuch 22 Blueberry, with its small cockpit drains and huge cockpit is not as safe as the open cockpit design of the Wyliecat 30, so too a canister raft, a proper ditch bag and full sized EPIRB would be much safer for me than my suit and pouch of tethered safety gear.

As for race requirements, they are what they are for really good reasons.

John
Blueberry, Nonsuch 22, sail#48

 

[haulback]

[QUOTE...... For me, the PLB, on a tether attached to me, a rescue laser, and a hand held VHF also on tethers, all tucked into my Mustang Coverall Flotation & Worksuit [/QUOTE]


Sounds like a LOT of bits of string.......you may not drown....but you could get strangled.......


Jim/Haulback

 

[Alchera]

Sounds like a LOT of bits of string.......you may not drown....but you could get strangled.......
Jim/Haulback

Or worse and ironic, you could get hung up on all that string during some maneuver and trip and fall overboard as a result! ;-)

- Mark

 

[AlanH]

The beacon requirements for sailing to Hawaii, and sailing to the Farallones are different.

If I'm in the Gulf of the Farallones, I want the Coasties to know *exactly* where I am as fast as possible and if the beacon only broadcasts for 12 hours that's fine, 'cause if they (or another competitor) haven't gotten me in about 2-3 hours, I'm dead anyway. I want the fastest data transfer possible to the Coasties...and that means a PRB with integral GPS. It would sure be nice if that sucker floated.

If I'm 1200 miles into a race to Hawaii, then if it takes the Coasties 2 more hours to figure out exactly where I am, it really doesn't matter, since it will probably take many, many hours to divert a ship to come pick me up. What I want is an EPIRB that's pretty darned accurate, but broadcasts for a LONG, LONG time so that the Coast Guard knows where I'm drifting to. In other words, I want a full fledged, floating EPIRB, with or without GPS that pumps out signal for two bleedin days..

 

[Jonathan Gutoff]

I also thought the Standard Horizon VHF with GPS and DSC would be a good choice. 6 watts would reach the Coast Guard wouldn't it? It seems a local distress signal would be faster than bouncing off satellites and such.
http://www.standardhorizon.com/inde...7B5C8942B922E30709C&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

 

[tiger beetle]

I also thought the Standard Horizon VHF with GPS and DSC would be a good choice. 6 watts would reach the Coast Guard wouldn't it?

In a word, no. A 6" rubber antenna in your hand, attached to a 5 watt radio, has perhaps 4 miles of range (somtimes 6), assuming that you're standing on the deck. This is insufficient to get picked up by the USCG antennae unless they are quite close to you. From a bit of personal experience, that antenna doesn't do much for you 6 miles out the Gate.

If you wish to be really heard, you want to maximize your line of sight range - which means putting an antenna as high as you possibly can. This would usually be the top of the mast - much better line of sight range.

- rob/beetle

 

[tiger beetle]

I want the fastest data transfer possible to the Coasties...and that means a PRB with integral GPS.

I disagree. A 'PRB' (never heard of it, I assume you meant PLB) has a tiny little antenna that may or may not be above the water at any given moment; by way of comparison, consider this selection chart of ACR EPIRB's and ask yourself, which one has the tallest antenna and the most robust battery?

http://www.pyacht.com/ACR-EPIRB-Selection.pdf

- rob/beetle

 

[BobJ]

I also thought the Standard Horizon VHF with GPS and DSC would be a good choice. 6 watts would reach the Coast Guard wouldn't it? It seems a local distress signal would be faster than bouncing off satellites and such.

Jonathan, that looks ideal for what we're talking about (to keep attached to you or in a ditch bag). $212 (at Defender) seems a bargain for what you're getting. I've had a HX460S for 8 years and it has done everything I needed it to - they're great radios.


Rob, that chart at PYacht is helpful. It looks like the AquaFix PLB has an integral GPS and it floats. I would still prefer a true EPIRB for the boat but if someone was intent on having a PLB in addition, that looks like a possibility. I'll try to find a downloadable brochure to see how the antenna works. I borrowed (re-registered) a McMurdo "FastFind Plus" 3-4 years ago. It had a flimsy, folding antenna that had to be kept upright, and it was supposed to be "set level, preferably elevated on a rock" when transmitting - a bit disconcerting in a MOB scenario.

 

[Critter]

It looks like the AquaFix PLB has an integral GPS and it floats. I would still prefer a true EPIRB for the boat but if someone was intent on having a PLB in addition, that looks like a possibility. I'll try to find a downloadable brochure to see how the antenna works.

Bob, I have an AquaFix PLB. I think it has a decent antenna - it's a cupped ribbon (like a tape measure) that wraps around the perimeter of the case. As I recall (haven't looked at it since last season), when you take the unit out of its carrier the antenna springs free, then you have to rotate it so it's pointing upward.
On the other hand, they advise holding the unit face up so that the GPS antenna (internal) gets a good view. That could be a bit awkward if you're bobbing in the water.

Max

 

[Libations Too]

I disagree. A 'PRB' (never heard of it, I assume you meant PLB) has a tiny little antenna that may or may not be above the water at any given moment; by way of comparison, consider this selection chart of ACR EPIRB's and ask yourself, which one has the tallest antenna and the most robust battery?

http://www.pyacht.com/ACR-EPIRB-Selection.pdf

- rob/beetle

It seems like there are a couple of situations to consider: (1) I'm on the boat and it's sinking (or I'm in the life raft after gathering my gear in an orderly fashion), and (2) I'm in the water and the boat is sailing away on its own.

In the first situation the EPIRB is obviously the right solution offshore, and perhaps the EPIRB with handheld VHF if near shore. In the second situation I think I'd opt for the PLB. Rob, given your estimate of the range of a handheld VHF wouldn't the PLB be the better choice for "on my person" gear for the second scenario? (all assuming singlehanded sailing). True, the VHF might raise another passing boat, but that only works if the other boat is monitoring the radio and can then find you. The Coasties seem like the safe bet.

I find it informative that the recent Heatwave crew ended up losing both their handheld and their light before final rescue. Perhap's John's strings and tethers are worth considering. What type of response would have resulted if the guys were both in the water and were unable to use the capsized boat as a platform to get the radio antenna up above the waves?

 

[tiger beetle]

It seems like there are a couple of situations to consider: (1) I'm on the boat and it's sinking (or I'm in the life raft after gathering my gear in an orderly fashion), and (2) I'm in the water and the boat is sailing away on its own.

Hi Richard -

To paraphrase Haulback, the only reason to wear a life jacket while singlehanding is to have something to strap the pistol to - cause that's what you'll want after falling over board in the middle of the Pacific. Much better to have a harness & tether.

If a singlehander did go overboard in the Gulf of the Farallones and watched the boat sail away, I'd want a life jacket and a VHF radio. There's at least a slim chance that someone could find you before hypothermia sets in.

A PLB doesn't have a good antenna for use from low in the water, and most likely your competitors won't have a PLB homing antenna onboard. You might get lucky and raise somebody on the radio, and that's probably your best shot. A PLB may be a good tool, and I would look into how well it works when operated by a person floating offshore in the swell and waves.

Better yet, be tethered in as you go overboard. At least we'll know where to look to find you!

- rob

 

[Libations Too]

A PLB doesn't have a good antenna for use from low in the water, and most likely your competitors won't have a PLB homing antenna onboard.

- rob

Rob,

Does anyone except SAR types have a receiver for the PLB homing signals?

I figured the best I could do with the VHF radio is get the antenna a few inches above my head if I wanted to hear and respond...and that means only a few inches above the water. But with the PLB I could hold the whole thing at arms length...at least for a little while. So if VHF is line of sight to shore and the PLB is line of sight to a satellite wouldn't the PLB have a better chance of connecting?

I suppose the best scenario is to have both VHF and PLB.

I agree about the tether, and I'll admit that the Heatwave incident has driven the importance of jack lines and tethers home very nicely. My tethers have quick release shackles, and I wouldn't want any other type.

As for Haulback and the mid-Pacific alternative...well, Jim has sailed more ocean miles just to get to the starting line for his SHTPs than I will probably ever sail, so who am I to comment. Besides, his option seems to be working quite well for him.

 

[tiger beetle]

Rob,

Does anyone except SAR types have a receiver for the PLB homing signals?

Yes, there are. SeaMarshall has a system, as do others. The usages I am aware of are some of the Volvo racers, where the time available to recover is short and there are no nearby assets to help in recovering a crew member.

PLB's seems to utilize two radio signals - a 406MHz signal going to the satellite, and a 121.5MHz signal used for localized direction finding. The boat carries the 121.5MHz receiver and a directional antenna. I haven't done much more reading on the PLB as I haven't found much indication of effectiveness from the water's surface.

My main concern with all these PLB posts is that a skipper might think that a PLB is sufficiently good to forego an EPIRB and instead equip the boat solely with a PLB; and there's nothing I've seen to suggest this is a good idea.

I'm also not convinced that a PLB (or an EPIRB, for that matter) can summon rescue quickly enough in the Gulf of the Farallones to save the skipper before hypothermia sets in and the skipper dies. Is an hour sufficient time for a signal to travel to the satellite, thru the SAR system, to have an asset arrive on scene?

My personal take on safety offshore is the skipper needs to buy time in the event the yacht is lost, and this means staying warm enough to stave off hypothermia. Once hypothermia is solved, then it's time to summon aid. I've read reports of fish boat crews surviving many hours up in Alaska wearing a survival suite (gumby suit) and clutching the EPIRB in their hands. To this end I carry a liferaft, an EPIRB, a waterproof handheld VHF radio, and flares. The liferaft and EPIRB are rather expensive, and none of the local ocean races (OYRA, SSS) require either of these items.

I see no harm in carrying a PLB on board, and I see the VHF radio as more likely to obtain immediate help from somebody nearby (within 4-5 miles). If a sailboat is 10 miles away it's probably too far to get to you in time. A PLB can attract a much faster asset, such as a helicopter, and I do not know the launch times of a helicopter.

My suggestion is if you really want to run down the value of the PLB, have a conversation with the USCG SAR group and find out what their experience has been. That would be really helpful to the folks here on the board.

- rob

 

[Libations Too]

Rob,


My suggestion is if you really want to run down the value of the PLB, have a conversation with the USCG SAR group and find out what their experience has been. That would be really helpful to the folks here on the board.

- rob

Good suggestion! Give me a few days and I'll see what I can come up with. I took a tour of the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service station a couple of years ago and they were extremely cordial and informative. I'll see if I can get similar information or results from the San Francisco USCG SAR group.

You make another good point about skippers who might believe that a PLB can substitute for a boat EPIRB. I probably fall into that category since I did the 2007 LongPac with only a PLB (an ACR AquaFix 406 with GPS). I just checked the 2009 minimum equipment requirements for the LongPac and an EPIRB is required. I did not check the 2007 requirements but presume they were the same. In 2007 my PLB registration did not raise any objections from the RC.

This might be a sticky issue...I checked the manual for my AquaFix 406 and the manual calls it a Personal Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, or a P-EPIRB. So is it an EPIRB or a PLB??? Does the Aquafix (or other PLB) meet the intent of the SSS minimum equipment requirements???

 

[tiger beetle]

Good suggestion! Give me a few days and I'll see what I can come up with. I took a tour of the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service station a couple of years ago and they were extremely cordial and informative. I'll see if I can get similar information or results from the San Francisco USCG SAR group.

That would be really good information - let us know what you find out!

Does the Aquafix (or other PLB) meet the intent of the SSS minimum equipment requirements???

I'm not running the 2009 LongPac, so I cannot speak for Ruben. I did write the draft form of the 2009 LongPac equipment requirements, and the PLB is not intended to meet the rule. Interestingly enough I did run the 2007 LongPac, and was unaware that Libations Too was carrying a PLB.

My suggestion is that the term 'EPIRB' has become a generic device, and the SSS LongPac requirement should be updated to stipulate the EPIRB functionality (much like the liferaft requirement), such as: a 406MHz EPIRB that is self-contained, waterpoof, operates for 48 hours, floats upright unattended, and possibly 'is intended for marine use'. One could also stipulate the EPIRB manufacturer recommends the unit for use as the primary EPIRB for ocean-going recreational craft (much like the anchor requirement). This would eliminate the PLBs that I am aware of, as the PLB has a 24 hour battery life.

- rob

 

[Libations Too]

My suggestion is that the term 'EPIRB' has become a generic device, and the SSS LongPac requirement should be updated to stipulate the EPIRB functionality (much like the liferaft requirement), such as: a 406MHz EPIRB that is self-contained, waterpoof, operates for 48 hours, floats upright unattended, and possibly 'is intended for marine use'. One could also stipulate the EPIRB manufacturer recommends the unit for use as the primary EPIRB for ocean-going recreational craft (much like the anchor requirement). This would eliminate the PLBs that I am aware of, as the PLB has a 24 hour battery life.

- rob

If SSS heads in this direction I think it would be good to also cover other features common to most EPIRBs: Strobe required? Manual or automatic deployment? Manual or automatic activation? Internal GPS required? Tether required? Length of tether? Registered to the boat or to the individual (this will probably eliminate the PLBs).

I think the intended length of operation (48 vs 24 hours), internal GPS, and the ability to float upright and transmit are most important...but that is just my opinion.

I'll post an update if and when I hear from USCG SAR here in San Francisco.