Our Price: £289.00

Mcmurdo E3 EPIRB GPS 406mhz SATALITE

(This Mcmurdo EPIRB is used/demo item but in new condition.)

 The E3 406MHz EPIRB is branded McMurdo for commercial shipping.

The E3 combined is the strength and durability required for a fully compliant GMDSS approved 406 EPIRB
 

Should I carry an EPIRB on my boat?

Yes, if you are likely to take your vessel beyond the reliable coverage area of coastal VHF stations. This coverage may extend to 60 nautical miles, depending on the height of the shorebased antennas, but remember that if your vessel does not have a high antenna, or if you rely on a hand-held VHF, the range may be less than 10 nautical miles. Marine band VHF does not work 'over the horizon', so however much power you transmit, the range will be limited by the curvature of the earth.

A yacht which is dismasted, and any vessel which loses its main power source due to an electrical fault, fire, or flooding, will probably have to resort to hand-held VHF (if the battery is charged!), or have no means for communication with shore stations.

Do not rely on mobile phones to save you if caught in trouble offshore. GSM range is less than10 nm, and can be quite patchy even inshore, as coverage is aimed at population centres.

Do not rely on other vessels hearing you on VHF Channel 16. Big ships now use a system (GMDSS) based on ship-to-shore alerting via DSC or satellite, so in future there will be no requirement for ships to listen on channel 16.

406 MHz EPIRBs allow all mariners to take advantage of the system that has already saved more than 27,000 lives. An EPIRB has its own power supply and antenna, and does not rely on any other system on your boat. Just switch it on, and within minutes the rescue authorities will know that you are in trouble. Typically within an hour, (or just a few minutes if you have a GPS EPIRB) your position will be known, and the SAR forces will be on their way. When they get close they will home in to the built-in 121.5 MHz homing transmitter, and start looking out for the flashing strobe light. Once you have bought your EPIRB, there is nothing more to pay until the battery needs changing after about 5 years. The satellite system and rescue organisation are supplied free of charge!

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