Personal Locator Devise compatible with Mustang Inflatable Life Jacket.

Keith Brown

Active Member
Hey I've been on the net looking for a professional grade Personal Locator Device that will fit in and deploy automatically when fitted in the pocket of my Mustang Inflatable. Just thought I would see if someone has did the research and save me the trouble. I solo fishing around Oak Bay and there is a couple of body's a year floating into or around the marina my slip is at.
Thank You
 
I solo fishing around Oak Bay and there is a couple of body's a year floating into or around the marina my slip is at.
Thank You
Wow that's scary haven't heard of any dead bodies floating into a marina lately.
The locater would be a good idea, however I think you need to subscribe and pay monthly for the service.
 
Hi Keith - I have a PLB in mine. I did not rig it to self activate on deployment but there are instructions provided showing how - and a video as well.

It’s about $800 for the unit. Can barely tell it’s in my PFD, and actually feels more balanced that normal because one side has the air cartridge, other side has the PLB.

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Wow that's scary haven't heard of any dead bodies floating into a marina lately.
The locater would be a good idea, however I think you need to subscribe and pay monthly for the service.

No subscription for mine. It’s just like an EPIRB, just lower power obviously.
 
Wow that's scary haven't heard of any dead bodies floating into a marina lately.
The locater would be a good idea, however I think you need to subscribe and pay monthly for the service.

Crap I know. A body floated into the marina right by my boat last summer the police and corner were there. Not one single peep in any news feeds, papers or radio. After a couple of weeks I emailed to the chief of Oak Bay police expressing my concern about the lack of transparency and that from a public safety perspective that they had a Duty to Inform. This led to series of emails back and forth, In the end they said that it was a private issue and the family of the deceased didn't want the death revealed to the public and it was in the hands of the Coroners and provided me the phone number to the coroners main switch board. I phoned the number and I could see I was starting all over WTF, at that point I thru in the towel and I gave up. Since then there have been two more drowning fatalities of Oak Bay. The Canadian Coast Guard trains crews in the ripe tides near the trail Islands. There are some fast flowing tidal currents of Oak Bay, I guess that's why they put a light house there. My friends daughter says Wisteria Lane is real, it right here in Oak Bay.
 
Hi Keith - I have a PLB in mine. I did not rig it to self activate on deployment but there are instructions provided showing how - and a video as well.

It’s about $800 for the unit. Can barely tell it’s in my PFD, and actually feels more balanced that normal because one side has the air cartridge, other side has the PLB.

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Thank you for the reply and the pictures, very helpful.
 
I put a handheld with gps built in on my waist or in my floater coat. It will broadcast my position as soon as I hit the dsc button and allow two way communication. Not as good for offshore but I think it might be better for inshore? https://www.radioworld.ca/product/s...kfOHKcXMIdkGz9r5tT0rNlzgQUKkKGgBoCLIoQAvD_BwE
The PLB works on the AIS system. It sends a destress signal with Long and Lat to; Canadian Coastguard/Coastguard Radio and the international destress centre and all Nearby Vessels equipped with AIS and sets off an alarm on the boat until it is acknowledged by the captain. Registration with the Canadian Beacon Registry Speeds up response. It does lack the two way comm of your hand held though. Although an added benefit of many PLBs is that they activate automatically when they hit the water so combined with the Mustang Inflatable the victim is not required to be conscious.
 
I got this one on a decent sale last year. It's super small and light - less than a deck of cards. I have yet to figure out a way to permanently rig it into my inflatable vest - I have just been wearing it on a cord around my neck but thanks for the reminder. I always forget until I am already on the water and ready to put the gear down. It doesn't do anything automatically on water contact, but can be activated one handed. I also have a hand held VHF, which I also usually forget to bring.
 
Thoughts on this? Seems like a good price but I'm not familiar with the different PLB's
I'm sure it does what it says it does and the price is reasonable, but in the end I opted for the the same unit as Sailfish25 recommended above in the this tread (ARC PLB-450 AIS). The advantages are 1) It automatically activates with the Mustang Vest hits the water. 2) It sends an AIS alarm signal c/w GPS Long and Lat to all boats equipped with AIS within 5km that requires the radio operator to acknowledge receipt of the destress. 3) It send a destress signal to Coastguard thru a separate distress satellite center. It also lets you know that your emergency is received by the destress center. Registration with the Canadian Beacon Registry seems important for faster response. The disadvantage as usual is the cost $936 from Amazon. I'm certain that I didn't get a deal and I normally find out that I paid more than I should have.
 
Here’s my PFD with a PLB attached. Just had the wife add some Molly webbing. If it’s real rough I clip on my VHF portable as well.

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