CAT I verse CAT II EPRIB

[larryhorne]

What is the difference between CATI and CATII?

Also, I understand that which some of them you "register" your boat so that the information is retrievable by USCG. Are there any units that you can carry between boats?

Lar

[smellslikefish]

One catagory you mount to the boat and it automaticly sends distress signal when in water........the other catagory can be manually turned on(kinda like handheld.

The registry is just so the CG knows what type/size boat there looking for.......I would'nt think it would be to big of a deal, unless one boat is a 20 footer, and ones a 50 footer. Or ones a sailboat, and ones a power boat.

[gary49]

You have to register the EPIRB to the boat, or there will likely be no rescue.

[ocnslr]

.....I would'nt think it would be to big of a deal, unless one boat is a 20 footer, and ones a 50 footer. Or ones a sailboat, and ones a power boat.

It is a big deal.

ALL EPIRBs are registered, not just some of them.

When you register your EPIRB, you provide a LOT of info regarding the vessel, yourself, and first and second levels of contact info. This database is available to the USCG on-line, and is used when an EPIRB signal is detected to know exactly what vessel they are looking for. The contact info is used to try to contact the registrant, or other contact people, to find out if the vessel is really out. They are trying to make sure this is not a false alarm.

This process might be a little different if your EPIRB has a built-in GPS, because then the signal has a position associated with it.

But it is still registered to the vessel, and is not intended to be used as a portable device between vessels.

Brian
Master, Oceans, Steam, Motor & Sail, 1600-Tons
Chief Mate, Oceans, Unlimited.

[DorEl]

I have a ACR GlobalFix Pro Cat II. It is the same EPRIB as a Cat I. The only difference is the bracket. Both the Cat I and II EPIRB must be removed from the bracket in order to be activated. Both Cat I and II are water activated as they are the same unit and have a GPS engine. The difference is the Cat I is hydrostatically released from its bracket while a Cat II must be manually removed from the bracket. Again, once removed from the bracket, they are identical. I chose a Cat II bracket because I have a smaller boat and dont have a place to mount the Cat I clamshell where it could freely deploy to the surface without risk of being fouled. My Cat II bracket is mounted on my electronics box within reach while at the helm.

While it is indeed registered to my boat I take my express ditch bag (EPIRB included) with me on any off shore trip wheather on my boat or on someone elses. Everyone on my NOAA contact list knows when I'm out on a boat. I am willing to explain to SAR, USCG, or other agency that although it was my EPIRB that they responded to, they actually saved our butts aboard a vessel other than my own. As for the details in the NOAA database, they are very limited and doubt if the details contained would impact a sucessful rescue. My boat is blue but the bottom is white. I'm hoping an overturned/floundering vessel with strobes/smoke and flares make a bigger impression on SAR than my 26' "Ice Blue" boat.

I believe anyone who takes people off shore is obligated to do everything they can to mitigate risk, this includes, but not limited to having an EPIRB.

While we all think, myself included, that it could never happen to me, I for one am not willing to take that chance with other folks on my boat.