ACR EPIRB - cost to send out for service ?

[Boatsb]

Leave it to you to attempt a negative spin on everything. Heres a test for you Sherlock, assuming average driving conditions (i.e. not driving in sandstorms, etc) how often should one change the oil in a car ?

My diesel gets about 7500 miles between oil changes. I never let it go long over as the issue with fuel dilution and the EGR. Tires get rotated every 4500 to 5000. I get 90,000 miles on a good set of michelins. I easily get 300,000 miles on an engine before selling and it's still running strong.

All my vehicles are kept in far better than average condition. Inside and out. Then again I don't look for ways to cut corners or do half assed repairs. Do it right the first time. Every time. Too bad that's beyond your understanding. Then again you are the negative one. Did you join the viking ones site yet or are they too ashamed to have one for the motor yacts?

 

[Milacron]

Did you join the viking ones site yet or are they too ashamed to have one for the motor yacts?

I'm not aware there is a Viking site. If there was I doubt it would be very active for the MY versions as they didn't produce many compared to Hatteras.

There is a trawler forum however that is quite a breath of fresh air compared to this place. Still it's kind of fun to post here every once in a while to see you get worked up over nothing.

 

[34Hatt]

If you don't boat offshore, ( out of sight of land) you can buy a PLB $260.

http://www.boemarine.com/ocean-signal-rescueme-406-mhz-gps-plb-map-299-00/

You may not have meant to make it sound this way but you make it sound like a PLB works only close to shore which is not the case. The satellites don't care if your 10 or 1000 miles offshore.

I too also bought a new one they are better has gps it was not much more than a service on a old one. I can also send email and text message saying All O.K and it has a test feature so you can test it and get a response before you leave the dock. It is call 406 Linked

http://406link.com/

 

[Milacron]

You may not have meant to make it sound this way but you make it sound like a PLB works only close to shore which is not the case. The satellites don't care if your 10 or 1000 miles offshore.

I too also bought a new one they are better has gps it was not much more than a service on a old one. I can also send email and text message saying All O.K and it has a test feature so you can test it and get a response before you leave the dock. It is call 406 Linked

http://406link.com/

Yeah I was baffled by the "close to shore" comment as well. Interesting about the 406 link service...pretty cool...basic plan aprox $40 per year. Thanks.

 

[rsmith]

Which my recent search of same shows they don't.

That's because you found one that's 13 years old not 5. And yes the battery's are expensive. Isn't that what you've been wining about on this thread?

 

[Tinman]

You may not have meant to make it sound this way but you make it sound like a PLB works only close to shore which is not the case. The satellites don't care if your 10 or 1000 miles offshore.

I too also bought a new one they are better has gps it was not much more than a service on a old one. I can also send email and text message saying All O.K and it has a test feature so you can test it and get a response before you leave the dock. It is call 406 Linked

http://406link.com/

The PLB will work anywhere in the world and is designed to carry on you. The battery is for a 24 hour period rather than the 48 hour EPIRB battery. The PLB registers to you not to the boat. I consider it a backup for a EPIRB. Probably ok if you stay close to shore but not a replacement for an EPIRB. Just a cheap alternative to your obsolete EPIRB that you are considering servicing yourself.

 

[Milacron]

That's because you found one that's 13 years old not 5.

Under keywords "EPIRB 406" there are 3 pages of completed auctions. I only looked at the first page and found one that is the same model as mine. Since you have yet to say exactly what make/model you have/had I can't get an exact "comp" but can get a feel for the prices these are bringing. Here's another one that appears to be much newer with battery expiration in 2016 where they can't get a bid at $200.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACR-GlobalF...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Also saw a really expensive ($900 new) newish one with a couple years left and mounting brackets sell for $312.

And yes the battery's are expensive. Isn't that what you've been wining about on this thread?

Nope. And no whining, just curious if anyone here has attempted to change out their own battery on one of these and what was the battery exactly.

If I have any "beef" with the battery issue it's the annoyance that the EPRIB manufacturers design these things to make battery change mandatory to happen via themselves only. OTOH I can sort of see it as it would make water intrusion risk higher if the average end user changed their own batteries.

 

[Boatsb]

Under keywords "EPIRB 406" there are 3 pages of completed auctions. I only looked at the first page and found one that is the same model as mine. Since you have yet to say exactly what make/model you have/had I can't get an exact "comp" but can get a feel for the prices these are bringing. Here's another one that appears to be much newer with battery expiration in 2016 where they can't get a bid at $200.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACR-GlobalF...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Also saw a really expensive ($900 new) newish one with a couple years left and mounting brackets sell for $312.

Nope. And no whining, just curious if anyone here has attempted to change out their own battery on one of these and what was the battery exactly.

If I have any "beef" with the battery issue it's the annoyance that the EPRIB manufacturers design these things to make battery change mandatory to happen via themselves only. OTOH I can sort of see it as it would make water intrusion risk higher if the average end user changed their own batteries.

WoW you can speak out of both sides at once.

1) Battery technology has come a long way but the battery management is so important on an epirb. You Don't want to find out its dead when you need it.

2)epirbs are required on certain vessels and are supposed to be certified functional like a life raft or a fire extinguisher. Having unqualified people work on them is just crazy.

 

[Milacron]

Having unqualified people work on them is just crazy.

If Tinman's experience is any indication I might be more qualified than the supposedly qualified. Re battery replacement via end user not possible, note the operative phrase was "sort of see it" In reality they could design one with battery replacement by end user safe and easy but they just don't as it's a nice cash cow (for both service and inspiration for folks to buy new units) and tech unsavy folks such as yourself will be convinced this is a Holy Grail thing not to be messed with.

Like taking apart and cleaning diesel injectors, which is also never supposed to be done by mere mortals but I have done so sucessfully on Yanmars following their excellent "emergency" instructions on that topic.

Re battery technology advancement... yes, on large batteries such as hybrid cars and rechargeable lithiums...but not on the small lithium batteries used in an EPIRB...about the same as they were when introduced in 1991. Maybe you missed my post about the 19 year old lithium battery that was still good in an EDM machine.

 

[Boatsb]

feel free to do whatever you want. just don't endanger others if you decide to do it your way. Im sure the designer at ACR would be impressed with your skill and understanding on how the batteries should be replaceable to save you money and that having anyone do it should not cause an issue with it being recertified.

By the way if you need a liferaft I'm sure there's a few long expired ones for sale you could repack yourself too.

Bob K and Walter P would never attempt this and they are openly misers. Maybe you should have bought a doublewide instead of a boat.

 

[Milacron]

feel free to do whatever you want. just don't endanger others if you decide to do it your way. Im sure the designer at ACR would be impressed with your skill and understanding on how the batteries should be replaceable to save you money

While saving money would be nice, easy and safe user battery replacement would actually make more EPRIB's likely to have newer batteries in them, and therefore safer in the end due to longer signal send and strobe times in the event of actual use.

 

[34Hatt]

Like taking apart and cleaning diesel injectors, which is also never supposed to be done by mere mortals but I have done so sucessfully on Yanmars following their excellent "emergency" instructions on that topic.

I am a Big DIY and also have access to a huge resource of stuff so I am really curious about how you check your injectors after rebuilding them?
I do have a Expert to do it for me though

 

[Boatsb]

While saving money would be nice, easy and safe user battery replacement would actually make more EPRIB's likely to have newer batteries in them, and therefore safer in the end due to longer signal send and strobe times in the event of actual use.

No it would leave the recertification of the epirbs to the less than vigilant. More boats with expired batteries and barely functional batteries would be on the water. Kind of like asking you to check your own prostate. I'm sure you'd check yours alot.

 

[Milacron]

I am a Big DIY and also have access to a huge resource of stuff so I am really curious about how you check your injectors after rebuilding them?

It's been many years since I did it but I didn't exactly "rebuild" them but just cleaned the varnished diesel that was keeping them from functioning. Which did require complete disassembly, which is supposedly a major "don't do it" due to their extremely tight tolerances. The way I "checked" them is via the engine running perfectly for many years... no smoke, excellent performance. May still be running well today but I sold the boat about seven years go.

The engine was actually rebuilt prior to my ownership but the owner who did the work died and the boat sat unused for years, hence the clogged injectors.

 

[Milacron]

No it would leave the recertification of the epirbs to the less than vigilant. More boats with expired batteries and barely functional batteries would be on the water.

All I can say is I disagree with that. There would be some folks that would extend the life of old EPIRBS that should probably be replaced with a new unit due to improved technology overall, but there would be many more that would make what they have more likely to last longer if it was needed, by keeping fresher batteries in it.

 

[thoward]

Decisions, decisions; stick your head up a bulls ass or take the butchers word....
Thinking I'll take the butchers word.

 

[Milacron]

Decisions, decisions; stick your head up a bulls ass or take the butchers word.....

What a cute little saying....too bad it's irrelevant to this discussion.

 

[rsmith]

I think it means to take the advise of someone who knows or end up being a sh*t head!

 

[Milacron]

I think it means to take the advise of someone who knows or end up being a sh*t head!

Right...irrelevant... A butcher knows his craft but we have yet to encounter a single person here who has attempted to change the batteries in an ACR Satellite 2, 406 EPIRB. So, no one knows that craft here...all speculation.

 

[Tinman]

Right...irrelevant... A butcher knows his craft but we have yet to encounter a single person here who has attempted to change the batteries in an ACR Satellite 2, 406 EPIRB. So, no one knows that craft here...all speculation.

Doubt you will find anyone here that would admit to servicing their "obsolete epirb."

They clearly state they will not service any units beyond the "10 year service life."

http://www.epirbstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=31049992