http://www.fastfindplb.com/en/
McMurdo Fastfind 210 personal locator beacon.
These look quite good. Half the price of previous models. Does anyone know if they are any good?
McMurdo Fastfind 210 PLB with GPS
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brianmacmahon
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am
Re:McMurdo Fastfind 210 PLB with GPS
This indeed looks like a very promising piece of kit. Locator beacons used to be very cost prohibitive but the price has come down in recent years. The following experience of some Scottish Kayakers highlights the advantages of the \"Fastfind GPS\";
PLB distress beacon pinpoints distressed Scottish kayakers
Rescue services came to the aid of a group of kayakers in rough Scottish waters after the group leader activated his McMurdo Personal Locator Beacon.
Keith Lawrie, an experienced kayaker, left Portknockie on Scotland\'s east coast with a group of three colleagues and his 6-year-old son in gentle seas and with a fair weather forecast. However, some miles off the coast the sea state deteriorated quite rapidly and the group, having already decided to head back to the shore, became overwhelmed by breaking surf on the top of large waves, and one of Keith\'s companions was thrown out of his kayak. The group performed a rescue on the overturned member and after a brief recovery the group set off again for the main land only to have the companion rolled again by the increasing swell. Despite recovering him again the group recognised they were in a life threatening situation and Keith activated his McMurdo PLB to alert search and rescue services via the international satellite system. The group rafted together for added stability and also let off some flares which were seen by the yacht Loleta which headed in their direction. The man who had been in the water and Keith\'s 6 year old son were taken on board, and just minutes later the Coastguard rescue team from Portsoy and the Buckie Lifeboat appeared. A helicopter based at RAF Lossiemouth also stood by until the rescue was complete. One of the kayakers had made it back to land and Loleta later towed the other kayaks back to port. None of the kayakers needed medical attention.
Keith, who has kayaked this stretch of sea many times without any problem, praised the capabilities of the PLB \"I always test the McMurdo PLB before any trip and store it in my buoyancy aid pocket where I know I can reach it. It is incredibly easy to operate even in a time of great stress\". He added \" Hearing the beep and seeing the signal being transmitted on the GPS was also very reassuring to the team, knowing that a rescue team would be on its way.\"
The Coastguard praised the team for carrying the right safety equipment. Aberdeen Coastguard watch manager, Fiona Hastie, said: \"We would like to specifically praise the kayakers for their actions. When they found themselves in trouble they reacted in exactly the right manner. They were all very well equipped and this undoubtedly assisted in their rescue.
\"By setting off the smoke flare they alerted people ashore to their distress, and the distress beacon allowed us to pinpoint their position accurately. We hope others will note their fine example in being properly prepared before setting out on the water.\"
Keith bought his McMurdo PLB in 2006 after kayaking around Cape Wrath and getting caught in strong winds. Although there were no major problems and the duo were equipped with flares, paddle float and VHF radio, there were no boats in sight. He decided to buy the McMurdo beacon so that if the event was to ever arise he could let someone know his exact position and keep my hands on the paddle. \"It\'s small enough to fit in my buoyancy aid pocket and worth every penny!\" says Keith. The distress signal was picked up by Falmouth before being relayed to the nearby search and rescue organisations.
This indeed looks very promising !! Mac B)
PLB distress beacon pinpoints distressed Scottish kayakers
Rescue services came to the aid of a group of kayakers in rough Scottish waters after the group leader activated his McMurdo Personal Locator Beacon.
Keith Lawrie, an experienced kayaker, left Portknockie on Scotland\'s east coast with a group of three colleagues and his 6-year-old son in gentle seas and with a fair weather forecast. However, some miles off the coast the sea state deteriorated quite rapidly and the group, having already decided to head back to the shore, became overwhelmed by breaking surf on the top of large waves, and one of Keith\'s companions was thrown out of his kayak. The group performed a rescue on the overturned member and after a brief recovery the group set off again for the main land only to have the companion rolled again by the increasing swell. Despite recovering him again the group recognised they were in a life threatening situation and Keith activated his McMurdo PLB to alert search and rescue services via the international satellite system. The group rafted together for added stability and also let off some flares which were seen by the yacht Loleta which headed in their direction. The man who had been in the water and Keith\'s 6 year old son were taken on board, and just minutes later the Coastguard rescue team from Portsoy and the Buckie Lifeboat appeared. A helicopter based at RAF Lossiemouth also stood by until the rescue was complete. One of the kayakers had made it back to land and Loleta later towed the other kayaks back to port. None of the kayakers needed medical attention.
Keith, who has kayaked this stretch of sea many times without any problem, praised the capabilities of the PLB \"I always test the McMurdo PLB before any trip and store it in my buoyancy aid pocket where I know I can reach it. It is incredibly easy to operate even in a time of great stress\". He added \" Hearing the beep and seeing the signal being transmitted on the GPS was also very reassuring to the team, knowing that a rescue team would be on its way.\"
The Coastguard praised the team for carrying the right safety equipment. Aberdeen Coastguard watch manager, Fiona Hastie, said: \"We would like to specifically praise the kayakers for their actions. When they found themselves in trouble they reacted in exactly the right manner. They were all very well equipped and this undoubtedly assisted in their rescue.
\"By setting off the smoke flare they alerted people ashore to their distress, and the distress beacon allowed us to pinpoint their position accurately. We hope others will note their fine example in being properly prepared before setting out on the water.\"
Keith bought his McMurdo PLB in 2006 after kayaking around Cape Wrath and getting caught in strong winds. Although there were no major problems and the duo were equipped with flares, paddle float and VHF radio, there were no boats in sight. He decided to buy the McMurdo beacon so that if the event was to ever arise he could let someone know his exact position and keep my hands on the paddle. \"It\'s small enough to fit in my buoyancy aid pocket and worth every penny!\" says Keith. The distress signal was picked up by Falmouth before being relayed to the nearby search and rescue organisations.
This indeed looks very promising !! Mac B)
Re:McMurdo Fastfind 210 PLB with GPS
http://marinestore.co.uk/Merchant2/merc ... ode=EPIRBS for a UK price. Bit pricy but maybe a good club investment or ISKA investment for a couple of them for ISKA trip leaders use.