Rescue Beacons

When something new and cool is released, it’s always tempting to assume it’s better than the older simpler option, but is it?

So now that we have bought AIS Crew Overboard Alarms, all is safe and good, right? No, not really. We also need to make sure that we are going to get an alarm on the boat that will set a rescue in motion. And that’s a lot more complex than just relying on a beep from our AIS receiver or plotter. But never fear, John has done the research, come up with a good solution, sailed with it for a season, and even made a video of a live alarm…

John believes that AIS crew overboard beacons are the biggest advance in crew overboard (COB) recovery in his lifetime. That said, we have recently discovered two issues that meant that for much (maybe most) of the first season after we fitted them to the Spinlock lifejacket/harnesses that we wear at pretty much all times when underway, they would not have self-activated. And while most of the fault lies with us, our experience does bring to light two potential problems that others relying on the auto-activation features of the MOB1 beacon from…

John and Phyllis believe that AIS crew overboard beacons are the single greatest advance in recovery technology in their lifetimes. But which one to buy: SeaAngel or Ocean Signal MOB1? John compares the two and ends with a recommendation.