Why Cruisers Should Have a 406 EPIRB Onboard. Sailboat Safety Gear

Should Cruisers Sail Without An EPIRB?

Some sailors who choose to sail far offshore or circumnavigate are of the opinion that they are responsible for their own lives, and do not feel that they should call for a rescue which could potentially cost taxpayers thousands of dollars, for a situation they placed themselves in. I respect their opinion, but there are cases where even your best seamanship and self reliance cannot protect you from disaster. Such a situation as being run down by a cargo ship on autopilot on the high seas may not be avoidable. All blue water sailors, especially those with family and loved ones back on land, should carry a category 1 406 EPIRB.

When my wife and I first started cruising on our boat Rising Star, a 32' sloop, we made a number of long passages across the Gulf Of Mexico and in the Caribbean without a 406 EPIRB or Emergency Position Indicating Beacon aboard

Instead of a more modern 406 EPIRB, which transmits a signal to orbiting satellites, we had an older Class A 121.5 Mhz model. Several years ago, aircraft around the world used to monitor this frequency, but this is less the case nowadays and a 121.5 Mhz distress beacon going off is more likely to be ignored by a pilot than reported.

In addition to often being ignored, there is no information sent by a 121.5 Mhz EPIRB that indicates what vessel the beacon belongs to.

Why Category 1 406 EPIRBS Are Best

A 406 EPIRB is different from older 121.5 models in that you must register it with NOAA (US) and keep your contact information up to date. Because the beacon will be associated with your name, boat name and registration, the Coast Guard can respond more swiftly.

Once a distress call has been initiated, a 406 EPIRB can be located within a few miles by overhead satellites. Some models, such as ours which is made by ACR, have a built in GPS chip that can narrow your location down to a few meters, anywhere on the planet.

Our EPIRB is a category 1, water deployment model. I think these are the only way to go, since in a sinking situation, or one in which you are run down by a ship, you may not be able to locate the EPIRB and deploy it. Also, if the EPIRB sinks along with your boat, no distress signal will never be picked up.

We placed or EPIRB on the side of the cockpit, next to the RADAR in a special deployment holder. It will float free of the holder, if God forbid, water ever gets that high in our boat.

406 EPIRB's don't require any special maintenance except for keeping them clean. They should receive a periodic inspection according to the manufacturers recommendations. Most manufacturers recommend that the battery in a 406 EPIRB be replaced about once every five years.

Most models of 406 EPIRB's also transmit a distress beacon on 121.5 as well, which the Coast Guard uses to locate vessels in distress with direction finding gear..

Having good life raft, as well as a Category 1, 406 EPIRB aboard your boat are the best protection you can have besides good seamanship.

You can read more about our sailing adventure here: How To Live Aboard A Sailboat