PLB Personal Location Beacon
I think this is adequate for what I do as opposed to an EPIRB. What do you have? Recommendations? ACR is a name that seems to keep coming up.

Phone, VHF's, MMSI #, flares and a whistle:-)
I should do something this year myself,,, I'll look into it also...

Kitchen done hey? Good for u... :-)

PLB Personal Location Beacon
I think this is adequate for what I do as opposed to an EPIRB. What do you have? Recommendations? ACR is a name that seems to keep coming up.

I don't know how much a PLB costs and i know the EPIRB can get pricey but an option might be to purchase something like the High Standard Hand held VHF radio model HX870. It has GPS so you can navigate to waypoints (still need your charts so you don't kiss bottom) and it has the DSC function. It is one of the few handhelds that has GPS also.
It has a red button on the side you press (it's under a protected cover flap so you don't depress it accidentally) and when you do I automatically send your GPS position to mother. It sends out your MMSI info (all your personal info, name, boat, all that good stuff) so the Coast Guard knows what to look for. It's batteries last a long time (all day) and it has a replacement pack you can swap in just a few seconds. When it hits water it automatically starts beaconing a white flashing light and best of all .... it floats. If you went this route you get both a VHF ship to shore, a second GPS on your boat as I'm sure you have one already and a great distress function in the case of an emergency. The thing that I like most about it is that fact that you can tell anyone and everyone on the boat, if i fall down and have a heart attach and you don't know how to get home, just hit the damn button and in 15 minutes or so you'll have more flashing lights than a christmas tree. If the electronics go out in your boat you always have the handheld to get you home.

I have the ACR ResQLink+, usually goes on sale about this time of year, maybe $100 off.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/acr-electronics--resqlink-buoyant-personal-locator-beacon--13381207?cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-Shopping_PLAs-_-13381207&product_id=13381207&adpos=1o1&creative=108421552804&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQiA56_FBRDYpqGa2p_e1MgBEiQAVEZ6-xyJAk-D5992uVygU2ICwWi2J95CFQaspZrhSwSY2N0aAi4H8P8HAQ

I guess it depends how far off shore you plan to go and how often I have a Spot its 149.00 a year Just SOS no text .. and still have never activated or gotten a subscription.. because of what i thought I would do and what I can do ... never matched up

but for 249.. if theres no additional yearly service fee I need to re think about getting one

Here is the Spring sale:

http://info.acrartex.com/spring-epirb-and-plb-promotion

I have the ACR ResQLink+, usually goes on sale about this time of year, maybe $100 off.

I've had this model for several years now. They have a test mode of course, and so far mine has tested fine a couple times per year. Hopefully never have to use it for real, but nice to have on board.

You have to register them with the Feds, free and easy process and believe it or not they actually pro-actively contact you when you'r due to re-up.

I have the ACR too. I keep it on my center console, but bring it with me whenever I'm running another boat.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I pulled the trigger on a PLB this weekend. $200 after rebate. I fish alone at night a lot. Hell I'll drop $200 on a reel w/o batting an eye... Just seemed to make sense.

There was a post here a long time ago that affected me in a way that no other post had. You can't put a price on safety and you should give yourself the best chance possible to come home to your family.. and.. if you are so lucky to do this for a living.... bringing paying customers home to theirs.

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=72679 (its worth the time to read)

Getting a sale on some life saving equipment is great.. however, at the end of the day, if you value your life, less than saving 200 bucks, some self reflection might be in order.. Seems like a no brainer to me.. now... in my younger years risks were a plenty and this conversation would be different.. Today.. wife.. a 4 year old.. and a life worth living.. eh.. some precautions are prudent I suppose :p

My ditch bag now gives my crew and myself the best chance in a catastrophic scenario. I pray, it will never be used.
(nf -- i know you didnt say you were looking for a deal.. just saw it coming up a bunch in the thread..and thought that past link was worth a read)

MrHunters,

You are by all means correct! But in reality it all comes down to money and what he thinks is 'affordable' at the time.

I work on a 30 year old ship, with 30 year old open lifeboats that were 'outlawed' about 29 years ago and now grandfathered. IMO when it comes to SOLAS nothing should be grandfathered. BUT it really all comes down to spending $$$ on new lifeboats, and the owners of the ships whether private or government owned don't want to spend the $$$. How do you think I feel having to put up with that BS.....