Fast Find

tonymac · 28 July 2013, 20:03

I'm looking to purchase a PLB - has always been on my mind but more especially now after MustRib's experience over the past few days.

I have been looking at the FastFind 210 and 220. Am I right in thinking the only difference is that one has a 5 year battery life and the other has 6? Or am I missing other things?

Anyone want to make a recommendation to me?

Thanks

SPR · 28 July 2013, 20:17

can you still buy the 210, I can only get the 220 from my trade suppliers(if they have stock now)..suggests any 210 could be old stock...so might find battery is 4 years instead of 6....

I do wonder if an AIS MOB thingy would have speeded rescue

Kannard Marine r10 or Mcmurdo S10 AIS

S.

S.

GJ0KYZ · 28 July 2013, 20:21

I've got a Fast Find GPS 210; I use it with my jet ski. It's really compact and easy to use in an emergency - see video on website. I think I paid about £200 for it. It doesn't float, the logic being that if you drop it the search team will find the beacon and not you although you could easily wrap some cork around it I suppose.

SPR · 28 July 2013, 20:24

you can buy a floating jacket for the 210 the 220 it's is supplied as standard.

S.

ShinyShoe · 28 July 2013, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPR

I do wonder if an AIS MOB thingy would have speeded rescue

MustRib has AIS transmitter which was on but apparently MRCC couldn't pick him up. So you'd be relying on other vessels seeing his AIS MOB message. I'd chose a satellite!!

If you aren't single handed your own boat can go find you.

I'd guess the Ferry could see the AIS of the RIB... Gets him close. MRCC will also have given the co-ordinates from the EPIRB once it got a fix. Hard for a small boat to plot, would have taken the Ferry seconds.

If they can do me a PLB with AIS on it too then I'd be happy!

SPR · 28 July 2013, 20:33

have you looked at R10 or S10 - ok they are stand alone units -

PLB 210 with GPS Is what I have.

Range of the AIS MOB units is 4 miles - so they are limited of use - depending in the location you are ribbing in.

S.

ShinyShoe · 28 July 2013, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonymac

Anyone want to make a recommendation to me?

No experience in anger so hardly able to comment.
But the RI guys had an offer from landau.com for a Safelink Solo for £200. That seemed a good price. Comes with a floating case which the fast find doesn't usually. From what I can tell its a fast find that's rebadged. Instruction manual wording is identical.

miccheck1516 · 28 July 2013, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

No experience in anger so hardly able to comment.
But the RI guys had an offer from landau.com for a Safelink Solo for £200. That seemed a good price. Comes with a floating case which the fast find doesn't usually. From what I can tell its a fast find that's rebadged. Instruction manual wording is identical.

It does seem like a good price, untill I tell you I got mine for 80 posted, when a windfarm bought several of the wrong thing and needed rid!

now I have one I wouldn't go to sea without it, I use it for sailing the Laser and my SIB, would also bring it with me on walks up the mournes and long solo bike rides.

HUMBER P4VWL · 28 July 2013, 21:44

Is there a risk that if price falls and demand rises, and end up with so many being used inshore by idiots that the they fall foul of their own effectiveness? Ie SAR etc get fed up with responding to jet skis/ribs who've fallen off/run out of fuel?

ShinyShoe · 28 July 2013, 21:56

Maybe. But you need to register them so it carries a hassle factor.

As its one way its not really very helpful if a chopper appears overhead and you are out of fuel. Plus you cant call your mates on it.

You don't get many calling up MayDay for running out of fuel etc. You also see even less DSC Alerts. I know DSC is only 15 years old so not everyone has one, and very few hand handheld as its so new. But I get the impression most people consider hitting the red button as the ultimate admission of defeat. Activtaing the EPIRB would be like saying you are beyond that!!

Only risk I see would be if they became cheaper than a HH VHF and so someone trying to make a decision on which to buy decides to go with the cheapest option then has no means to make contact for relatively minor incidents.

Nos4r2 · 28 July 2013, 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Only risk I see would be if they became cheaper than a HH VHF and so someone trying to make a decision on which to buy decides to go with the cheapest option then has no means to make contact for relatively minor incidents.

It's a good point- if every idiot that goes out in the Solent had one they'd become useless.

SPR · 28 July 2013, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

It's a good point- if every idiot that goes out in the Solent had one they'd become useless.

but these idiots need to know these exist - and prepared to pay double the value of there boat! lol

Poly · 29 July 2013, 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Is there a risk that if price falls and demand rises, and end up with so many being used inshore by idiots that the they fall foul of their own effectiveness? Ie SAR etc get fed up with responding to jet skis/ribs who've fallen off/run out of fuel?

Nah, they still have to respond to the idiots anyway - being able to so it with a position might actually be quicker. And anyone in the rescue services who would rather someone didn't summons help for a minor issue and risk pulling their body out later is in the wrong role.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

It's a good point- if every idiot that goes out in the Solent had one they'd become useless.

Not really you've so much 'traffic' down there and so many inshore rescue boats that even if every pan-pan was an EPIRB call it wouldn't actually cause that big an issue. However there IS a delay period from receipt to action and so its not necessarily as quick or effective a solution as VHF which is a good bit cheaper and the folks you worry about don't usually carry that!

The bigger concern is probably if people start using them on land a lot.

PeterM · 29 July 2013, 09:15

Got a 210 with GPS - always on me (lifejacket) even if its a very very local trip.

Its the last resort for help ( after DSC HH - also on lifejacket - both attached with lanyards) .

If I ever find myself floating in the water without a boat I'm setting everything off ! I'd be happy to admit defeat at that point !

Interesting comment when we were at Solent CG - they see more false alarms from the Mcmurdo site in Portsmouth - but as soon as they have a fix it poops on thier map screens with the given position which allows them to either react by sending poeple out pronto or calling mcmurdo to let them know, or a land unit to a house - or an MRT to a hill etc ....