Personal Locator Beacons and PFD's
Submitted by Coastrunner on Wed, 2016-06-15 15:36
What PLB's have members used and can recommend, I see ACR ResQlink Plus, GME MT410G and the McMurdo Fast Find all seem readily available, any forum experince with these or others, the smaller the better without affecting performance. While I'm on the topic of safety any experience or recommendations on self inflating PFD's, I spoke to a local sales guy and he said he had concerns about water splashing on the PFD causing inflation so I stopped the conversation there and didnt bother asking about the PLD, again the less intrusive when worn while fishing the better. Any help appreciated cheers.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8144
Date Joined: 07/05/12
I’ve got the ACR ResQlink
I’ve got the ACR ResQlink Plus and it is light and small enough to put in my pocket and I have it on my body at all times. I am however going to fashion up a clip to clip it to my pants just in case it comes out of my pocket.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Krusty
Posts: 714
Date Joined: 27/11/15
I have the GME410G and like
I have the GME410G and like the ACR it's small enough to put in your pocket.
My GME also came with a soft protective case (made out of thin wetsuit material) which you can wear on your belt and a decent length lanyard attached to the unit itself.
Can't really comment on it's performance as I have been lucky enough so far to not need it.
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!
Moking
Posts: 1252
Date Joined: 30/05/12
Just received the ACR
Just received the ACR ResQlink this morning(Online Order) I have been thinking about a PLB for sometime, just as a backup to my Epirb. Especially if I end up in the water and can't get back to the Jetski.
This is what came with the "Package"- Waterproof Pouch and Landard attachment.
I'll be clipping mine onto my lifejacket.
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
Fathom
Posts: 619
Date Joined: 18/04/08
ACR ResQLink
I have mine on a lanyard connected to a MTI Calcutta PFD tucked away in a pocket. Also have a waterproof torch on lanyard as well as a whistle. The reason for having a PFD that doesnt need inflating manually or saltwater activated is something worth thinking about.
Although bulky to wear I reckon a PFD that is already bouyant will help if for some reason you have been knocked out and also it cant be accidently inflated from a splash of water. It cant be deflated from a puncture either.
Wore mine for 2 days crossing between Lizard island (AUS) to Port Morseby (PNG) in a major storm dodging floating logs earlier this year....luckily I didnt have to activate it. Was reasonably comfortable gear to wear. I would suggest also having a divers safety suasage to be spotted easy.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Risk with a self-inflating PFD
Certainly good if you are disabled in the process of hitting the water, but they have been responsible for a few deaths, IMO, in that they have inflated when someone was trapped under the boat, stopping them from getting out. This is why they tell you in the aircraft safety brief on every flight NOT to inflate your life vest before you leave the aircraft. The 767 ditching off the Comorros Islands near shore was a sad illustration of this, people were trapped up against the ceiling as the aircraft sank, couldn't get to the door.
I do fish by myself a bit offshore, should really have a personal beacon as well as the EPIRB.
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
yeah I agree, the self
yeah I agree, the self inflating ones are ok for deck work up north etc but fishing, its a personal risk of one hazard or the other-trapped in boat or knocked unconscious overboard require opposite types,no right or wrong answer.
I used a manual one on my solo trip, for anywhere further than I thought I could reasonably swim and because the epirb is too clumsy clipped my small waterproof VHF onto it.
Would like to get one of the cordless kill switch units but they are quite expensive.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8144
Date Joined: 07/05/12
Didn't even know they
Didn't even know they existed.
Something like this?
https://www.boemarine.com/products/autotether-a-lanyard-free-wireless-boat-kill-switchOfficially off the Pies bandwagon
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
yeah there are several
yeah there are several makes, about $500 plus
remote shutoffs for a little quad bike are about $30, but these enable when you go out of range
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8144
Date Joined: 07/05/12
I see the more expensive ones
I see the more expensive ones are water activated kill swtiches for all passengers with a manual override to rescue them. Looks like a great idea but yeah... not cheap.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
$500 is a cheap one...
$500 is a cheap one...
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Coastrunner
Posts: 440
Date Joined: 25/10/14
Thanks for the input, some
Thanks for the input, some things to consider regarding self inflating/manual PFD's, my orders placed, stepping up the safety measures.