EPIRB SAFETY TIPS

January 2009

Dear Friend Boater,

We came across this piece of information, courtesy of BoatU.S. The United States Coast Guard will stop monitoring the old EPIRB frequency

(121 Mhz) beginning on February 1, 2009.

COSPAS/SARSAT, the international satellite-based search and rescue organization, made this decision nearly 9 years ago, giving mariners time to transition to the new 406 Mhz technology.

So while the landlubbers make their TVs transition to digital, sailors, especially those of us who frequently sail more than 20 miles away from the shoreline, need to make sure we're using the new 406 MHz technology. The BoatU.S. Foundation rents the new 406 Mhz EPIRB for $40 a week and reports that the retail price for the new equipment and installation runs about $500.

Hopefully none of us will have to, but we should all be aware of how to signal the Coast Guard for help when out of cell phone range and VHF coverage. For more information, see Don Launer's Signaling for Help 101 in our January 2009 issue, visit www.BoatUS.com/foundation/epirb, or call the EPIRB (888-663-7472).

 Safe Sailing!

posted updates January 2009