Re: [Paddlewise] EPIRB vs PLB; with and without GPS

Apart from the legal questions concerning the issue of EPIRB vs PLB the
practical questions about keeping the PLB antenna free of the water are
interesting to me.

I acquired an ACR ResQFix a year ago and keep it in a pocket on my PFD.
It floats but only when kept in its neoprene cover. To activate it you
need to take it out of the cover. The neoprene cover doesn't keep the
antenna pointed upwards and prevents the PLB from being stored in the
delivered bracket. My choice is to pull the PLB out from the pocket and
afterwards attach the PLB to a bracket that I can fasten to the patch on
my PFD which means leaving the neoprene cover to it self. 

It's a pretty awkward procedure but I have practiced a drill to use when
floating in my dry suit. I'm considering just fastening the PLB with a
leash and discard the neoprene cover completely.

I wrote ACR for advice but never got an answer.

I don't want to bring a regular EPIRB along because of its size but in
Denmark my PBL is registered by the authorities as an EPIRB belong to
the same boat (kayak) as my handheld VHF.

In Scandinavian waters I expect a response within the 24 hours of
activity offered by a PLB. I expect the chances of survival in cold
water to become small if I have to wait longer for a rescue.

My question is whether there really is a need for more than 24 hours
(such as possible with the McMurdo PLB) and whether anyone has a
practical solution for the antenna problem.

Jens Viggo Moesmand
Denmark
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