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Viable Alternative to an EPRIB?:

Here SPOT!


The SPOT satellite messenger promises to be a fun tool that can also keep you safer offshore. We take a closer look at what it does, and why you might (or might not) want to buy one.

Background   SPOT In Use   SPOT vs. EPIRBs & PLBs   Should You Buy a SPOT? 

Should You Buy a SPOT?

The US Coast Guard liasion to CoSpas-Sarsat has been quoted as saying “Any beacon is better than no beacon, but EPIRBs are in fact the best choice for boaters." The basis for this recommendation were the items noted in the "SPOT vs. EPIRBs & PLBs" section earlier in this article:

  • Automatic activation when immersed

  • Floats in the correct orientation for maximum efficiency without intervention

  • Built-in strobe for night rescues

  • Certified battery performance in adverse conditions.

This statement was made prior to the arrival of SPOT, but from our standpoint, for emergency use, SPOT is similar in performance and characteristics to a PLB. So we would probably side with the USCG and recommend that if you can afford it, you should go with an EPIRB for the boat.

HOWEVER, if you don’t have the up-front bucks for an EPIRB or PLB, SPOT offers a good alternative. SPOT has cool tools, and the fact that it can be used to send “I’m OK” messages to people on-shore is a real plus. That might keep the wife from calling in the Coast Guard when you’re running late, and miss your float plan return time. Heck, it might even be worth getting just for that purpose, even if you have an EPIRB.

We’re also of the opinion that if you want to use an emergency beacon on-shore, SPOT probably makes more sense than a PLB. The unit is smaller and lighter than a PLB, and the issues with manual activation and horizontal transmission position should not be a problem when used on land.

But don’t fool yourself into thinking that you will be saving a bunch of money. In the long run, SPOT has similar costs to an EPIRB, and is more expensive than a PLB. You should also review the coverage map before you buy SPOT. If you are in Hawaii or the South Pacific, the most southern part of South Africa, or western Asia (India, Pakistan) SPOT is not for you.

Remember what the Coast Guard said in the first paragraph: "Any beacon is better than no beacon." Get something!

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