EPIRB

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.

That sounds like a major fail. So, I don’t understand why you would continue to rely on a PLB.

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That sounds like a major fail. So, I don’t understand why you would continue to rely on a PLB.
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If that one incident was to determine the value of a PLB, I can see why you might think that.  Having spent 3 decades as a Deck and sometimes also the Radio or Medical Officer on Merchant Ships, I have some hands-on experience with marine safety and rescue equipment.  Between Smokes, Flares, SARTS, VHF DSC AIS Radio, and EPIRBS, If the ship is going down, I want to be in the lifeboat that is carrying the EPIRB.  They have saved thousands of lives and will continue to do so.  A PLB is a miniaturized version of the EPIRB.

Damn..rockfish isn't even CLOSED and there's a thread like this?.

Damn..rockfish isn't even CLOSED and there's a thread like this?.

This thread started last winter!  Add in a few posts from well intentioned people that get caught in the minutiae of things, and a healthy dose of BrOtis, who has since been banned.

-Allen

Catch a case of brotis-itis, it's worse than Corona.

That sounds like a major fail. So, I don’t understand why you would continue to rely on a PLB.
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If that one incident was to determine the value of a PLB, I can see why you might think that.  Having spent 3 decades as a Deck and sometimes also the Radio or Medical Officer on Merchant Ships, I have some hands-on experience with marine safety and rescue equipment.  Between Smokes, Flares, SARTS, VHF DSC AIS Radio, and EPIRBS, If the ship is going down, I want to be in the lifeboat that is carrying the EPIRB.  They have saved thousands of lives and will continue to do so.  A PLB is a miniaturized version of the EPIRB.
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OK, but I'm still curious as to what went wrong in the case that you describe. It's hard for me to imagine that authorities were notified, yet the Coast Guard wasn't interested in finding you for 3 hours. Something doesn't add up...

That sounds like a major fail. So, I don’t understand why you would continue to rely on a PLB.

If that one incident was to determine the value of a PLB, I can see why you might think that.  Having spent 3 decades as a Deck and sometimes also the Radio or Medical Officer on Merchant Ships, I have some hands-on experience with marine safety and rescue equipment.  Between Smokes, Flares, SARTS, VHF DSC AIS Radio, and EPIRBS, If the ship is going down, I want to be in the lifeboat that is carrying the EPIRB.  They have saved thousands of lives and will continue to do so.  A PLB is a miniaturized version of the EPIRB.
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OK, but I'm still curious as to what went wrong in the case that you describe. It's hard for me to imagine that authorities were notified, yet the Coast Guard wasn't interested in finding you for 3 hours. Something doesn't add up...
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As described in my initial post, USCG dispatched a helo that flew past me about 20 minutes after I activated my PLB.  What went wrong is that I failed to attract the attention of the Helo when it flew past and it failed to pinpoint my PLB on the initial pass.  When I beached the kayak, the first thing the local police requested is that I deactivate the PLB.   Once the police helped me get my kayak clear of the beach, we left it in the backyard of a huge private residence.  I then went to the station to dry off and wait for my wife(who had been called and visited by law enforcement when the PLB was activated) to bring the spare keys to my truck.  On the way to the Police station, I could see a local news Helo over the ocean -- glad I avoided that report.  At the station, I learned that the CG Helo had located a similar kayak in the general area which informed them that it was OK.   

... At the station, I learned that the CG Helo had located a similar kayak in the general area which informed them that it was OK.   

I'm not trying to be a dick (some of us don't have to try), but it still doesn't seem right. If the Coast Guard finds a boat, I'd think that they'd want to be 100% certain that it was the right boat. It seems to me if nobody on the boat had activated a PLB, it'd be pretty obvious that they need to continue the search...

... At the station, I learned that the CG Helo had located a similar kayak in the general area which informed them that it was OK.   

I'm not trying to be a dick (some of us don't have to try), but it still doesn't seem right. If the Coast Guard finds a boat, I'd think that they'd want to be 100% certain that it was the right boat. It seems to me if nobody on the boat had activated a PLB, it'd be pretty obvious that they need to continue the search...

I agree, that it was a failure by both the Coastguard, and JMcKroid. The Coastguard should of made sure that the kayak they found was the one that deployed the beacon, and JMcKroid should of had a light strobe, mirror, or flares to signal with. The harbor master at HMB requires kayakers to carry flares so I have 3 in my pfd, plus a mirror. We should all carry signaling devices.

And yes I carry a EPIRB.

... At the station, I learned that the CG Helo had located a similar kayak in the general area which informed them that it was OK.   

I'm not trying to be a dick (some of us don't have to try), but it still doesn't seem right. If the Coast Guard finds a boat, I'd think that they'd want to be 100% certain that it was the right boat. It seems to me if nobody on the boat had activated a PLB, it'd be pretty obvious that they need to continue the search...

Agree, It did not seem right, but that was my point of view.  Perhaps the USCG was unable to confirm by helo, and a boat was in the process of being dispatched to confirm?  I never did a follow-up with the USCG to hear their version of the search.  As mentioned earlier, the first thing the Police had me do when they met me on the beach was secure the PLB.  That to me indicates that the search was still in progress and that they wanted the beacon secured to end search efforts. 

... At the station, I learned that the CG Helo had located a similar kayak in the general area which informed them that it was OK.   

I'm not trying to be a dick (some of us don't have to try), but it still doesn't seem right. If the Coast Guard finds a boat, I'd think that they'd want to be 100% certain that it was the right boat. It seems to me if nobody on the boat had activated a PLB, it'd be pretty obvious that they need to continue the search...

I agree, that it was a failure by both the Coastguard, and JMcKroid. The Coastguard should of made sure that the kayak they found was the one that deployed the beacon, and JMcKroid should of had a light strobe, mirror, or flares to signal with. The harbor master at HMB requires kayakers to carry flares so I have 3 in my pfd, plus a mirror. We should all carry signaling devices.

And yes I carry a EPIRB.

Glad you carry an EPIRB.  The search was ongoing, and perhaps confirmation was not done because I secured the beacon on the beach.  The PLB strobe was flashing.  In bright daylight, it was not very noticeable.  A signal mirror allows the user to direct the light, and it would have been more effective.  Failing to have one readily at hand was my error.  Since that incident, I now carry a metal signal mirror and a Sirius SOS distress light.  I prefer that over pyrotechnics which have expiration dates.  Pyrotechnics are more noticeable while activated, but have a much shorter period of signaling when compared to the SOS distress light.

I've not carried a signal mirror to this date, but always have had flares in my PFD.  Seems like a signal mirror is cheap insurance to add to my flare pocket.