Pacemaker Boats

[merwin10]

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters that beginning January 1, 2007, both 121.5 and 243 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are prohibited from use in both commercial and recreational watercraft. Boaters wishing to have an emergency rescue beacon aboard their vessel must have a digital 406 MHz model.


The January 1, 2007, date to stop using 121.5 MHz EPIRBs is in preparation for February 1, 2009, when satellite processing of distress signals from all 121.5/243 MHz beacons will terminate. Following this termination date, only the 406 MHz beacons will be detected by the International Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System which provides distress alert and location data for search and rescue operations around the world.

If you are not registered with you Coast Guard station for emails then I suggest you do so. The CG sends out messages al the time and this message was sent out 12/15/2006 here is a site where you can view the official message

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/778/139854/

Many of the messages are just PR for the CG but every once in a while they send something like this out. Got one today telling me that CG Cape Cod was going to be down one HH-60J Jayhawk helio. It was going out for updates and would be down one helio till 2009 until all where updates to the HH-60T versions. Nice to know info.

Hope this helps!

Mike -
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"Best part of Boating -- is the people you meet"