EPIRB

yes, the big disctinction is that my epirb has my vessels info on it, my plb has MY info. not sure you can reg an epirb without a registered craft

"PLB" gets used as a general term to describe a wide range of beacons with varying capability, not a good descriptor in my opinion. Within the ACR brand, the differences between their "PLB" vs EPIRB is really only in size (tiny to be worn on PFD, vs mounted on your vessel) and how they get deployed (manual vs. automatic on water contact).  Once activated, the downstream system is the same for notification of coast guard, triage through 2 phone contacts, and then deployment of rescue resources. There is ZERO yearly subscription for ACR, and it is not meant nor designed to be a casual check-in system. I've had a SPOT in the past, would never do that again for boating.

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yes, the big disctinction is that my epirb has my vessels info on it, my plb has MY info. not sure you can reg an epirb without a registered craft

"PLB" gets used as a general term to describe a wide range of beacons with varying capability, not a good descriptor in my opinion. Within the ACR brand, the differences between their "PLB" vs EPIRB is really only in size (tiny to be worn on PFD, vs mounted on your vessel) and how they get deployed (manual vs. automatic on water contact).  Once activated, the downstream system is the same for notification of coast guard, triage through 2 phone contacts, and then deployment of rescue resources. There is ZERO yearly subscription for ACR, and it is not meant nor designed to be a casual check-in system. I've had a SPOT in the past, would never do that again for boating.

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Please take a look at the EPIRB and PLB registration forms. You cannot register your EPIRB without a vessel.   Neither an EPIRB or a PLB are communication devices like spot, or ACR Bivy, or Garmin inReach, but unless your kayak is a registered boat, you're not carrying an EPIRB.
It's worth knowing their purposes and how they are registered and operated, and it will help clear up some of the confusion about their difference...

https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/resources/forms/epirb.pdf;jsessionid=VVEfnU3e-NC8zJ3SbzFjSbhQNMorXUYW3TKzfzxb.jboss-ops-one
https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/resources/forms/plb.pdf;jsessionid=VVEfnU3e-NC8zJ3SbzFjSbhQNMorXUYW3TKzfzxb.jboss-ops-one

Not sure why that would make any difference. My registration contains a section for me to describe my vessel, which I always update when I need to.  The key point is that for ACR, the process once "activated" is identical for their PLB or EPIRB.  Given the fact that an EPIRB is not something sized for a kayak, I'm not sure what the point of this discussion is.

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Not sure why that would make any difference. My registration contains a section for me to describe my vessel, which I always update when I need to.  The key point is that for ACR, the process once "activated" is identical for their PLB or EPIRB.  Given the fact that an EPIRB is not something sized for a kayak, I'm not sure what the point of this discussion is.

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mostly that the thread is titled EPRIB and I was attempting to communicate that maybe we should refer to them as PLBs as that's what we carry, not EPIRBs as EPIRBs are registered to a boat. The horse is beat to death, but for those who care beyond "at the end of the day the same person gets a call" or who may get a boat with an actual EPRIB later on, it's worth recognizing their distinctions.  im all about calling a fishing rod a pole, and a fishing line, a string or wire, but safety gear is worth understanding well.

... I was attempting to communicate that maybe we should refer to them as PLBs as that's what we carry, not EPIRBs ...

100% in agreement with you. EPIRBs and PLBs are NOT the same thing and their application is not directly interchangeable. Sadly, I think most folks may not realize that, especially since they refer to the two as if they are the same thing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Yes, an EPIRB and a PLB use the same satellite and command center system to do the same thing, but how someone gets an EPIRB vs a PLB to work for them is vastly different. Their target applications are different. I am firmly convinced most folks on the water with a PLB do not understand the technology and so they do not know what is required to get their PLB to work for them.

... I was attempting to communicate that maybe we should refer to them as PLBs as that's what we carry, not EPIRBs ...

100% in agreement with you. EPIRBs and PLBs are NOT the same thing and their application is not directly interchangeable. Sadly, I think most folks may not realize that, especially since they refer to the two as if they are the same thing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Yes, an EPIRB and a PLB use the same satellite and command center system to do the same thing, but how someone gets an EPIRB vs a PLB to work for them is vastly different. Their target applications are different. I am firmly convinced most folks on the water with a PLB do not understand the technology and so they do not know what is required to get their PLB to work for them.

Can you elucidate your last sentence there?

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As a ‘Safety First’ principle, I take my PLB pretty much everywhere. It is essential safety equipment for me whether I’m in the middle of the desert, ocean or sky. It’s a last ditch tool that could save your life like these 330 people last year :

https://www.commerce.gov/news/blog/2022/02/noaa-satellites-helped-save-330-lives-2021


I’m surprised it’s not on the list. There is a lot of water out there even in the Monterey Bay to search for a floater in a wetsuit. Thermal imaging isn’t going to pick up much if you are wearing a wetsuit, booties and a hoodie.

being in my 60's, I carry my ACR-plb in the yak at all times.
Even when out hunting, though I have a Garmin InReach for that purpose. ACR-plb stays in vehicle, IR on my person.

just gives me peace of mind or as someone mentioned earlier....find my body at least.

I think the most important consideration is that this should be the last piece of safety gear, after PFD, immersion gear, signalling devices, radio, and self rescue training. Once those other boxes are checked, then consider the need for an EPIRB/PLB.

Being prepared for disaster is best.  A radio is the best way to call for help, and the keeping yourself alive until help can get on scene is critical. The CG has an excellent radio network all along the coast, and they are always listening. Often they will ask if you have cell service, because they can also ping you cell phone to get your location. If you call 911, they can get your location through the EMS system too. 

Not that an EPIRB / PLB is a bad idea, but I would put my trust in other comms devices first.

the idea of the PLB as described to me by others is so they can at least find your body, or in our case to help the understand where the body may be moving to with current and weather.  It can take hours to mobilize a team responce to a plb sometimes. Agreed it is a backup option.  leave a float plan (a note on the care window is not a bad plan either) and have a radio

the idea of the PLB as described to me by others is so they can at least find your body, or in our case to help the understand where the body may be moving to with current and weather.  It can take hours to mobilize a team responce to a plb sometimes. Agreed it is a backup option.  leave a float plan (a note on the care window is not a bad plan either) and have a radio

Float plan is a great idea - I always text my wife day of with where I launch, where I plan to fish, and how long I plan to be out. 

I think the most important consideration is that this should be the last piece of safety gear, after PFD, immersion gear, signalling devices, radio, and self rescue training. Once those other boxes are checked, then consider the need for an EPIRB/PLB.

Being prepared for disaster is best.  A radio is the best way to call for help, and the keeping yourself alive until help can get on scene is critical. The CG has an excellent radio network all along the coast, and they are always listening. Often they will ask if you have cell service, because they can also ping you cell phone to get your location. If you call 911, they can get your location through the EMS system too. 

Not that an EPIRB / PLB is a bad idea, but I would put my trust in other comms devices first.

If you set off one of these, you’re going to court to determine if you get a bill for $250k or not regardless. Last ditch tool meaning your near death. Heart attack, drowning, whatever.

I think the most important consideration is that this should be the last piece of safety gear, after PFD, immersion gear, signalling devices, radio, and self rescue training. Once those other boxes are checked, then consider the need for an EPIRB/PLB.

Being prepared for disaster is best.  A radio is the best way to call for help, and the keeping yourself alive until help can get on scene is critical. The CG has an excellent radio network all along the coast, and they are always listening. Often they will ask if you have cell service, because they can also ping you cell phone to get your location. If you call 911, they can get your location through the EMS system too. 

Not that an EPIRB / PLB is a bad idea, but I would put my trust in other comms devices first.

If you set off one of these, you’re going to court to determine if you get a bill for $250k or not regardless. Last ditch tool meaning your near death. Heart attack, drowning, whatever.

speaking from experience, they call you and your first emergency contact to confirm an issue first, then mobilize a response.  a friend of mine accidentally set his off while putting his pfd into the boat seat box. He received a call from his wife and the CG a few minutes later, opened the box, and turned the unit off.. that was the end of the story.

If you set off one of these, you’re going to court to determine if you get a bill for $250k or not regardless. Last ditch tool meaning your near death. Heart attack, drowning, whatever.

I don't think so. For example, see this article:

https://www.thelog.com/ask-the-attorney/does-the-coast-guard-charge-for-rescues-or-assistance/

IMHO, this thread has devolved into one of the more dubious I've seen on NCKA. My suggestion is to read post #23 by tedski, who is former Coast Guard, so he knows how this actually works in practice, and ignore the rest.

I'd say that the bottom line is, if you can afford a PLB, get one. And, if you find yourself in a life-threatening emergency, don't hesitate to use it because of some ridiculous concern that you'll be charged hundreds of thousands of dollars, or that it'll only help them find your dead body, or whatever...

I had an unrecoverable flip 2 miles offshore where I lost my cell phone and VHF radio.  My only means of summing help was the PLB on my lifejacket.  About 20 minutes after activation, the USCG helo flew by but did not stop (best to have a signal mirror to help draw attention, I did not).  Thankfully, my fishfinder battery box stayed waterproof, and the GPS indicated that I was getting set in towards the beach(this gave me peace of mind).   The Hobie PA has foam inside of it so that it will float regardless of being flooded.  I stayed with it and drifted to the beach.  Unrescued by the PLB, even though it remained activated for about 3 hours.  I never heard anything from the coast guard regarding a rescue fee.   Wife was notified, and local police were on the lookout and did help me recover my kayak at the beach.

My ACR PLB-375 ResQlink+ battery needed replacing.  I was informed that if I wrote a testimonial about how the PLB helped save my life, ACR would replace the battery for free. I paid $150 to have ACR service the battery.  ACR headquarters is in my hometown(Fort Lauderdale), so I was able to drop it off and pick it up(No longer the case since COVID).  Five years passed, and this time, I paid $40 for a new battery and gasket and replaced it myself.   

I recently met a USCG officer that does education seminars about PLBs.  He told me that sometimes the antenna tracking systems off Miami are down and that the easiest PLBs for the choppers to pinpoint are the Garmin In touch.  That might be because they track multiple GPS systems which is bound to add to accuracy.  The Garmins require a subscription which is why I will stick with my ACR.   Some of the newer PLBs have 7 yr batteries.

IMHO, a PLB is the last resort in my lineup of safety redundancy.  Had I been offshore longer, it probably would have saved my life.