[Paddlewise] EPIRB vs PLB; with and without GPS

Paul wrote:
>Peter, do your local PLB & EPIRB retailers hide behind the 'Local
>Registration' barrier to allow them to double the price on the devices - the
>way the NZ stores do ?

>(I've just checked on that McMurdo unit and it sells today in Auckland for
>just over 2x Westmarine's price - which could certainly be bettered online.
>That's outrageous.)

G'Day Paul,

Looks as if the McMurdo Fast Find PLB is also double the price in Whitworths
Australia compared with Westmarine; but Whitworth's range of EPIRB's seem to
be competitive or cheaper than Westmarine; so I think it must be a marketing
ploy relating to supply and demand for a new and desirable product, which may
well be on restricted supply to Australia. That happens quite a lot here.

Re EPIRBs vs PLBs. I'm considering whether to buy an EPIRB to meet the letter
of the law when paddling in waters where Maritime regulations require one.
However, simply meeting the letter of the law isn't enough, at Aus$700 to
Aus$1000 one would wish to buy something useful.

I wouldn't buy an EPIRB without a GPS and certainly wouldn't choose one
without a GPS instead of a PLB with a GPS. 100 metres resolution for 24 hours
(PLB with GPS) seems far more useful to a kayaker than two nautical miles
resolution for 48hrs (EPIRB without GPS).

If I buy an EPIRB with a GPS they mostly seem to come with an automatic water
activation feature that requires a docking station, so to prevent false alarms
I could not store it on the deck or in the cockpit, where their may not be
enough room and where it might accidentally be knocked out of its docking
station and activated. It would seem to be necessary to store it in the front
or rear of the kayak behind the bulkhead. However, getting access to the EPIRB
in an emergency is then very awkward and puts the flotation of the kayak at
risk.

It seems as if obeying the letter of the law in this instance risks my life or
increases the probability of false alarms. Can anyone describe a setup on a
sea kayak that might work safely with an EPIRB/GPS rather than a PLB/GPS.
Otherwise I might write to Maritime and point out the difficulties. I'm sure I
won't be the first to do this.

All the best, PeterO
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