[Paddlewise] EPIRBs

There have been a few questions raised off-line about Emergency Position
Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs) --- including a question on the meaning of
the acronym --- and some issues have been raised about the value of an EPIRB
to a kayaker.  For general interest, there are two available varieties --- the
121.5 MHz beacon and the 406 MHz beacon, with a 243 MHz beacon available only
to the military.  Biggest difference is that a "121" beacon, when activated,
sends out a signal which will be heard by a satellite within two hours that
says somebody may be in trouble in an area with a radius of 12 miles.  When a
"406" is activated, it says instantaneously that a specific vessel operated by
a specific person at a specific phone number is in trouble in an area within a
radius of two miles.  Unless it's one of the newest "406s" with GPS built in,
and then it provides all the above within a radius of 100 meters.

If I were to be kayaking in remote areas, I'd be very happy with the Cadilac
in my back hatch.  Ain't cheap, but how much value does survival have?

For more details, see these NOAA or Coast Guard websites:
<http:psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/SARSAT/emerbcns.html> and
<http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/marcomms/gmdss/epirb.htm>

I'm not advocating these things, just passing along the info.  But they do
work, and the newest 406 units with GPS are the best.

Jack Martin
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