Ever forced to use your EPIRB?

[catch-22]

There is another thread stating that older 121.5 and 243 Mhz beacons are no longer current and the purchase of a newer 406 Mhz unit is 'highly' recommended.

Just wondering what peoples stories are if they have ever had to use theirs....where were you? How did you get in to trouble? How long did it take for the appropriate authority to respond?

oh, and just for the record, and so this post is not misconstrued, I am not asking whether they are necessary or not as I feel they are an absolutely essential tool to have with you when touring :D

Cheers
Caine

[dmdigital]

Almost, but the SatPhone survived the accident, so it was used to very good effect instead. EPIRB on land is the last line of contact for help.

[Shonky]

I have, and was subsequently airlifted out.

I'll have to leave you hanging though, because Outlaw will be here in a tick for dinner!


You will all just have to remain in suspense until I remember to eloborate... :p

[Sleepy]

Just wondering what peoples stories are if they have ever had to use theirs....



Haven't used one in anger but have been involved in the "other side".


4wd overturned north of Ceduna (Car and caravan upside down) found them in 30 minutes - no injuries.
Kayaker broke shoulder in a river south est of Canberra - pressed his EPRIB and found him within the hour - helicopter rescue
But the best one was the German tourists, bogged to the axles in a troopy well west of townsville. Set off the EPIRB (despite the fact they had plenty of water and food), within the hour a plane was circling overhead. The local constabulary drove four hours, waded out into the boghole, jumped in the driver seat, selected 4wd and drove it out! Estimated cost 30 grand.

Many many more succesful stories and 20 times as many false alarms!

[bblaze]

1/2 metre sea's with no weather warnings and within 1/2 hr

busted a 20 foot boat up 55km off the norwest tip of tassie, caught in 60knt winds and 4-6 meter waves with no backs in them.
The damage as know at the time was the bulkhead (cabin wall) had shattered, steering holding on by not much.
Grabbed the Epirb with some degree of panic but within about 10 seconds the calm come into the head and the thought process started. Handed what was left of the helm over to the deckie and I removed whatever hatches and covers I could to asatain what hull damage I had recieved. No water coming on board (thats good), Take over helm again and get the deckie to strap epirb to his arm and hang on. After 3hrs we had worked our way into the lea of an island to flat shallow waters, another 2 hrs we were home.
The final damage to the boat was over $10000 doing the repair myself (insurance wrote it off), The boat was busted at the main bulkhead from the chine to the Gunnels, ever thing in the cab had delaminated from the hull and the stringers busted.
I owe my life to that boat
So the answer is no, I have never activated an epirb but I honestly dont know how close I came.
cheers
blaze

[Blknight.aus]

this is one of I was there situations...


on a cabin cruiser that smacked something harder than the hull and was taking water quicker than the pumps could deal with it....

we were unable to accurately work out our position and the crew was instructed to send off the epirb it was used to locate us and we had help turn up in the form of a barge like salvage vessel with the ability to pump water, that got the water down enough and their crew patched the hull, they were working on that when the official rescue team showed. The barge was given our position by the rescue crew.

I think from memory that the water was sloshing the deck of the galley/dining area when the barge showed and we were relying on the batteries to keep the pumps going at that stage.