mikee332

After seeing the story of the guy in Fl that was found, I ran across this. Happened in Aug off of Virginia Beach at the Cape Henry Tower, 16 miles offshore. Had it not been for the one guy, who was not the boat owner, bringing his PLB, this might have had a different ending. I believe if you're heading offshore you need a minimum of a PLB and having an EPIRB would be great. The life jackets are great at keeping you afloat, but if they can't find you, well, its a BIG ocean out there.

acme54321

I do not understand how so many people go offshore without one. It's mind blowing. I have numerous friends who do it, know it's dumb, but do it anyway. If I go on anyone else's boat I bring my PLB with me. If I was going on a trip out of town and I forgot mine I'd probably buy another. I can't think of a much shittier way to die than being lost at sea, especially down here in warm water country where you can last for days baking to death in the sun while your family loses their shit trying to find you. Nope.

I think it should be CG mandated.

Stickbo

100% agree.

jason8251

I agree 95%... the last thing boating needs is more mandates. If someone decides to go offshore without a PLB/EPIRB than that’s on them. What’s next, mandating life rafts, wearing PFDs at all times, annual safety inspections on boats like some places do with cars?

WPBTH

Everyone I fish with has at least one plb/epirb. If they didn’t I would just put mine in my pocket. Bahamas trips I always take mine.
Make sure your crew knows where it is and how to use it.

I also have spot trace, pretty cheap and if I did go missing and couldn’t acces plb for some reason, hopefully they could follow my trail.

As said above I’m not waiting for dehydration to kill me after 3-4 days of floating.

Thenick

unfortunately, it's not just on them. The coast guard and many others will be forced to go out there and look for them.

FinReaper069

I have a dry bag back pack that goes with me every time I go out on a boat, Even if it’s my own boat. I has a towel, shirt, rain gear, couple of waters, couple of protein bars, little tube of sun screen, face buff, small first aid kit, 9 mm, PLB and a hand held VHF....if I’m going spear fishing on someone else’s boat, I throw in a fillet knife and zip lock bags.

I have had two incidents that were enough to open my eyes.......in 1988, I was floating off Islamorada for about 4 hours and the other time was 4th of July, 1997, 1/4 mile offshore in front of the Breakers Hotel in W Palm. Coast Guard was there within minutes that time. Both times involved other peoples boats, less than 2’ seas and taking on water. I learned very quickly that making sure I was sleeping in my bed at the end of the day was ultimately my responsibility.

jason8251

Noted, and I agree, but as an active participant in a few SAR missions while in the military I can honestly say, as shitty as this is going to sound.. that’s their job. Sure it would be great if everybody had every piece of safety equipment available to mitigate as much risk as possible but it’s not practical for a lot of people. As far as being forced, nobody has been “forced” to participate in SAR missions since the Vietnam draft ended.

glacierbaze

My first thought was, if you know you are taking on water, tied to a light house 16 miles off with the wind and current building, crank the motor and try to pump BEFORE you cut loose from the rig.

Thenick

True, and if they can those guys are gonna go out and try their damn hardest to find / rescue you. You can help them and show some respect by not going out in conditions beyond your capabilities or your boats capabilities, and having all the proper safety equipment. Yes it is their job but don't think of em as a back up plan, they are for emergencies.

rickpcfl

I have gone offshore numerous times without a PLB. Not any more. It was more ignorance on my part. But after having read a lot of threads about them, I won't go offshore without one now. I still haven't bought one yet, so I haven't been going offshore. I just need to breakdown and decide which one to get.

Anyone know of any Black Friday sales for a good PLB?

acme54321

And who pays them to perform their job? You, me and every other taxpayer. It's not like flying a helicopter or C-130/C-144 around for days looking for a needle in a haystack is free. Far from it.

frogbite

Not sure about other brands, but ACR's devices are the same price everywhere. Sometimes you can get a bit off if you buy one their kits, but the units themselves end up being the same price no matter where you get them for the most part. The price is the price. They may throw in a trial membership for a service here or there, but it has never been something I took into consideration. I could have saved $10 if I bought from ACR directly with my Boat Tow discount. In the end, just went to Bass Pro Shops and picked up the model I wanted.

mattology

I haven't gone farther than 10 miles off shore so far but i have an ACR Epirb and Olas with Guardian setup. hope i never have to use em..

dadriva

What about all those brave souls that ‘have to go but do not have to come back’ in an effort to rescue those that went offshore without appropriate safety equipment?

WPBTH

the only deal I ever saw on them was a group buy on here a few years ago. Basically you got a free bag, mirror, compass and like $15 off. I would get the ACR. The batteries last for 5 years.

northcap

On my boat I have a PLB in a ditch bag, an EPIRB in the cockpit next to the throw line and ring, and I carry a Sat phone in the glove box in the console. I don’t have a raft or a wireless kill switch. The wireless kill switch button is on this winter’s list of purchases.

Clinker

Take a PLB offshore? I take one if I’m simply going afloat even when fishing in my inflatable dinghy - don’t think I’ve been further than 3 miles out on it - but I’d still want to be able to call for help and to be found!
and I keep it attached to me - no good in a ditch bag if you fall overboard or get ejected.

usernamewastaken

Sobering. I need to rethink how I do things.

MilesExpress

Good find senator , just a week before my surgery and I missed hearing about it at all until now. I’m surprised the tower wasn’t loaded with boats, but perhaps they stayed a bit longer.

It looked like one of the helo shots showed the top deck of the tower. It didn’t say, but I wonder if two of the six climbed up? Like to hear the whole story. I’ll search the local news and see if there’s anything I can find.

Thanks again brother,