PLBs

[Kyhendrix]

I am looking at purchasing a couple of PLBs. I see where ACR have a couple different versions. The older version is almost half price of any other units. Anythoughts on ACR and which one to buy?
Thanks Bryan

[delatbabel]

To my way of thinking different brands are very similar. There are new PLBs coming on to the market all the time. GME, ACR, all make quite good units.

Get something with a GPS and that fits in your pocket, they would be my only criteria. Other than that no need to blow the budget.

[Kyhendrix]

D,
Thanks for your input. I was thinking along same lines. Bought two ACRs with GPS but none of the bells and whistles.
B

[Aquaria]

...as a crew of two we recently bought two ACR PLB-375.
Nice little things, easy to store in the pocked, but be carteful, they do not float. We decided to stow them in the folded automatic life vests and we secured them to the west with some rope.
The advantage of the PLB is that we can carry it on the person. But here in GER we can't register our PLBs to our boat and there is no possibility to register a PLB to a person.
So, we will register them in the UK.

Uwe
SY AQUARIA

[Kyhendrix]

Uwe, we ended up purchasing to ACR Resqulink 2881 PLB 375 and they say they float. I gues s I hope I never need them.
Thanks for input
B

[Aquaria]

re: floating or not...
The little information leafelet glued to the backof the ACR PLB-375 says it Will Not Float. To make it float you have to purchase a little neoprene pouch.

We are not sure if we get the neoprene pouch for our two PLBs. We know that we will tie them to our self inflating life jackets.

But then the problem remains: Imagining the worst case within the worst case - what happens with the PLB if you are in the water and for some reason are not able to hold it up above the water so that the antenna can do its work and the GPS has its clear view to the sky...

Guess, we have to do some testing in the tub, or - more realistic - in the swimming pool with the antenna unfolded.

Uwe
SY AQUARIA