New EPIRB's ???? what do you think?

[Think Tweiss]

ACR Aquafix 406 406/121 with built in GPS 649.99

Fastfind PLB with GPS 406/121 with built in GPS 765.00

I think the Fastfind has a GPS that you can see and the aquafix just uses the GPS to send lat/lon signal.

Seems like these are logical replacement for the other larger units...at least for those of us who are pleasure boaters where 24 hours of signal should be enough to find us (if anyone cares).

The aquafix sure looks like a "must have" Any opinions

Hmmm....looks like you can get an aquafix with built in GPS for about $575. If I am reading this correctly, that's a very signficant price cut from the previous $999 offerings.

[Think Tweiss]

Apparently there is much interest, but little knowledge....I see lots of readers, but no posters. Here's what I've been able to find.

First, I was wrong about the fastfind having a visible GPS....it is the same as the ACR (not AOR) unit...built in and only for adding lat/long to the signal.

Both are actually available for about $575 from the usual discount sources.

The ACR unit is water resistant to 30' below sea level. The Fastfind is "BSEN 60945 temporary immersion" (which does not sound to good for boating...even though it's sold for boating).

The Fastfind seems to lock on and send signal with GPS coordinates faster in at least on real life test in Vermont (on land).

They both float although the Fastfind does have a larger battery option which apparently does not allow the unit to float. Replacement batteries are less than $100 (compare that to the big batteries).

Fastfind is 9 oz with smaller battery (rated down to -4 degrees). The ACR unit weighs 12 oz.

Both have batteries that are good for 5 years and will send signals out for at least 24 hours.

The fastfind was tested by the coast guard and others and found that water in the antenna well seriously degrades the signal....you must make sure that you keep water out of that area if you are using the EPIRB. The ACR does not have this problem. McMurdo has apparently fixed the problem and you can add the fixes to an existing fastfind.


I'm going to get one of them....just can't decide which one.

[Cooper]

This is great news. I've been telling my family and friends to donate to the "Cooper Safety Fund" for the gift giving holidays so I can afford an epirb when the time comes. I'm glad to see the prices finally starting to fall on the units with built-in gps. Thanks for the info!!

[Saltdog]

Just pay attention to the differences in the new units. They are classified as "Personal Locator Beacons" and do not have some of the features of the dedicated marine locator beacons. It's not just the water resistance of the cases or the battery life, there are other features such as water activation that make the marine units more appropriate to a permanent installation on a boat. But if the lower cost means you can have a PLB instead of nothing, of course you should go ahead and get one. You are still better off with a marine EPIRB if you can afford the extra cost, however.

[Mumblerone]

Hard to beat ACR.* They make a great procuct.*

[shortwave]

I would be real leery of a unit that failed the CG's tests and then the company said they fixed them, but interestingly they did not give them to the CG to re-test. I looked at one of the "fixed" units and could tell/see no difference in it and one that failed the CG test.

The ACR units OTOH have had no problems that I am aware of.