Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

Messages In This Thread

• Mandatory EPIRB anyone?
  • As a commentator has pointed out
  • I think it should be optional, BUT
    • Good point about false alarms...
  • It just a way to increase sales
  • Sounds vaguely similar to the discussion about mandatory PFD's
  • It adds a lot of cost for people with limited means
  • Why not a simple satellite linked mini-camera
  • what ever happened to 'personal accountability'?
  • If the goal is to save lives...
    • or even concentrate more on highway DUI and stupid auto driving
      • Seems to me the biggest risk on the water is not wearing your life jacket.
        • Life jacket would not even be in my top 10
          • You're kidding... what would your top ten items be exactly?
            • Big Freighter driven by the captain that had 20 people on his 20 foot boat that sank
              • The quote was directly from the Coast Guard annual report.
                • Another thing you could say is.
                  • lol- yep- that would do it. Just like it gets rid of all the nuts
                    • Boating licenses make no sense unless there is an actual on the water test...
                      • The same way that becoming an electrician, welder, engineer depends solely on practical experience. Do nothing is better
                  • donno about that...
              • People wearing PFDs don't generally die of drowning
    • Bean counters. It's probably more to reduce cost of search & rescue
      • Link to Webb's site with original commentary
    • Lives Saved and Reponse Times
      • Can you buy a car a modern without airbags?
        • Depends
        • An EPIRB is hardly what I'd call basic
          • ACR GPS unit is now abou $600
  • My take, for what it's worth
  • Anybody have a good read on VHF DSC and AIS?
    • I chose a new floating VHF over PLB
      • We just bought one of those also
        • Mark can you explain more?
          • Yes, the vhf output needs to be networked to the chartplotter
            • See this is the thing that confuses me RE DSC and AIS...
              • Not the same thing Gene
                • Right, but it was the requirement for GPS for DSC that was making me say...
                  • AIS does not "talk"
                    • I'd like an AIS that did talk, though. "Look to starboard, there's a small boat there."
                      • I wish for an LED SIGN for my rear car window
                        • How about
                          • 'I brake for tailgaters'
                            • Makes one wonder what ever happened to "safe following distances."
                              • Max- I often just very gradually slow down
                            • I used this technique in the past.
                              • A funny and true story
      • I purchased an Icom but think the Standard Horizon is better.
        • That "strobe" is just an LED
          • LED? Forget what I said. I thought it was brighter.
          • Yes, it is not a SAR strobe
    • AIS is great to have
      • DSC
        • We do that all the time
          • Features
        • So essentially DSC is a direct dial... if you know the number.
          • Yes that red MAYDAY button is good for that
            • I am guessing, but I believe that a "panic button..."
  • BTW why take an EPIRB... when fish box will do...