Keith,
I think the "Rapid fix" is the model that attaches to your boat for a permanent installation or in a ditch bag. There are various models for automatic/manual operations.
The "Aquafix 406" is the "personal Epirb" I purchased. These you register to yourself, not your boat and you can put this on a life vest or on your belt or in a small bag and take it with you , anyplace, boating fishing, skiing, hiking etc.
They both do the exact same thing except the one you mount on your boat can be deployed automatically if the boat sinks and it sends a signal for 48 hours.
The personal model is manually deployed and the signal lasts for 24hours. It is recommended for fishermen in the near coastal areas where a 48hour signal is not warranted. (The average time to rescue with one of these is like 46 minutes and SAR starts (on average) with .06 hours after you set it off for the ones with internal gps, the non gps ones takes longer and can take several hours for help to arrive)
http://www.landfallnavigation.com/aquafix.html
I was not hinting that you break down and buy one, hey, if I go with you this year, I will always have mine! That is a good reason to invite me
(now that was a hint!
)
PS: managed to get some nice fish this AM on a new lead core set up with the trolling your secret weapon in the usual spots. Lots of fish just not huge...yet. OH there are some monster bluefish now and again...someone got a 38" bluefish this morning I think it is in the 19-20# range.