Using 1 EPIRB on 2 boats

[StoneCrab]

I like Ocean Signal.https://oceansignal.com/products/plb1/

The unit is very small and has a 7 year battery life. Batteries are not user changeable. Cost is around $300 USD

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by MistyCat

Thanks everyone for their replies to my query. Clearly, the ideal is to have an EPIRB for each boat. Semi annual re-registering would be a major hassle. Just wondered if anybody actually does that, or could recommend it. PLBs for me and the loved one, as an 'instead of EPIRB' option also looks interesting.

I appreciate everybody's good natured input here.

I recommend having two. But, I "re-register" mine often to keep it up-to-date, and it is no big deal-takes only a couple minutes. It's just a web page you go to and change the information.

In fact, the registration expires every 2 years and you must update it at least that often anyway.

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by wholybee

EPIRBS are not programmed with an MMSI number. Instead, they have their own ID number.

The EPIRBS are registered (online in the US) To include information such as type of boat, boats MMSI, emergency contact information, and area of use. It is recommended to frequently visit the registration to keep it up to date, for example if you change your cruising area, or want to include emergency contact information for the crew.

As such, It should be no problem to update the registration twice per year. However, I am not sure you can fly with one. It would suck to lose it at the airport because the internal battery can't be taken on a plane.

They are not very expensive, buy one for each boat.

It is permissible to carry EPIRB on a flight.
Sure thing.
I have checked and done this many times.

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by StoneCrab

I like Ocean Signal.https://oceansignal.com/products/plb1/

The unit is very small and has a 7 year battery life. Batteries are not user changeable. Cost is around $300 USD

This is not an EPIRB and as such not registered to a boat
It is a PLB, registered to person.
it may serve the OP as a beacon on his person on any vessel he sails.

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by meirriba

This is not an EPIRB and as such not registered to a boat
It is a PLB, registered to person.
it may serve the OP as a beacon on his person on any vessel he sails.

I still include the MMSI on my PLB registration.

More importantly, is how many hours the PLB will last once activated. If you are inshore or coastal, a PLB is fine. If you go offshore where you are not likely to be reached very quickly, a PLB is not adequate. Since I sail offshore, I carry both.

[Grattaway]

Hi
I have an Epirb that frequently changes boats as I go sailing and fishing and sometimes out on other peoples boats.
Here is NZ I registered it to the boat used most often - after some discussion with the coast guard
But they will come rescue me regardless and will also call contact numbers provided for info when possible
I also have a BLP that goes with me when hunting in the wilderness and onboard when boating - same rules apply -if I activate a beacon then a rescue kicks into gear regardless of location
so I suggest use one and transfer as needed

[CarlF]

I carry two PLB's that cost the same as one EPIRB. I like redundancy. Why bet your life on an EPIRB that's sat in a bracket for years and has likely never been tested?

The PLB 24 hour battery provides more than enough time. SAR has tracked your location and drift rate in about an hour. They can find you even if the PLB stops transmitting. And except in the most remote waters, a plane or ship will arrive in far less than 24 hours.

A huge advantage of the PLB is that you can wear it around your neck on a lanyard. Too often a bulky EPIRB is left in its bracket inside the boat where it does no good. This happened to Cheeki Rafiki when it capsized and the EPRIB was found unactivated in the overturned boat. Fortunately the crew were wearing PLB's which were tracked.

Yes, a PLB is tied to a person not a vessel - but in the comment field of the PLB database I provide the boat's description, liferaft information, documentation and MMSI number, planned route, and number of people onboard. I update this before each offshore trip (you can do this for an EPIRB too)

Finally, my primary distress beacon is a Garmin InReach because it allows two way communication with SAR to provide details of the emergency and plan a rescue. It also results in a faster rescue since SAR doesn't have to spend several hours telephoning names in the EPIRB database trying to confirm that the signal is not a false alarm (95% are false alarms). My PLB's are a backup.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by StoneCrab

I like Ocean Signal.https://oceansignal.com/products/plb1/

The unit is very small and has a 7 year battery life. Batteries are not user changeable. Cost is around $300 USD

I had one I unregistered 15 yrs prior. I guess it was stolen out of my son's shed.
The CG called me at midnight asking about it going off off the Outer Banks of NC. I'll bet the batteries last. But i wouldn't stack my life on it.