Do I Need an EPIRB?
Do I Need an EPIRB? — An Honest Answer
Stop thinking about the money. I mean that genuinely. An EPIRB is not a luxury item. It is the device that tells the people looking for you where you are when everything else has gone wrong.
Here is my honest answer for every type of sailor.
What Is an EPIRB and What Does It Do?
An EPIRB — (By now, you know I’m a bit of an engineering nerd) Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon — transmits a distress signal on 406MHz via the international Cospas-Sarsat satellite network when activated. That signal goes to HM Coastguard or the relevant rescue coordination centre, along with your vessel’s registration details and GPS position. Rescue services know who you are, what vessel you were on, and exactly where you are.
Category 1 EPIRBs activate automatically when submerged in water — even if you are unconscious or unable to activate it manually. Category 2 must be activated by hand. For most recreational use, Category 2 is fine. For offshore passages where an emergency could happen fast, Category 1 is worth the extra cost.
For Local Day Sailing — Be Honest With Yourself
For a short local trip in familiar waters with plenty of boat traffic around — I would still ask questions before going without one, but I understand why some people do not carry one for an afternoon sail in the Solent.
What I would say is this: you should at minimum have a PLB on your person when on the water. A PLB is smaller, cheaper, and personal — it goes with you even if you end up separated from the vessel.
For Coastal Passages — Yes, Have Something
If you are going out of sight of land, doing an overnight passage, or sailing somewhere you cannot easily be seen from shore — you need an EPIRB or at minimum a PLB registered and ready to use.
The RYA recommends EPIRBs for any passage beyond coastal waters. Your insurance provider may require one. And practically speaking, a VHF radio only works if someone is in range to hear you. An EPIRB works anywhere on the planet.
For a Channel Crossing or Beyond — Just Get One
No debate. If you are crossing the Channel, heading to France, sailing offshore, or doing any passage where you will be out of VHF range of the coastguard — just get an EPIRB and stop thinking about the money. Your life is worth more than saving a few hundred pounds.
I have been on vessels without one and I always asked the question before I got on board. The answer I was given did not always satisfy me. Do not be in that position.
Is an EPIRB Legally Required?
For recreational vessels under 13.7 metres in UK waters — not by law. For commercial vessels, SOLAS requirements apply.
Not being legally required is not the same as not being needed. The absence of a law does not mean the absence of a risk. Check MCA Guidance here
Register It — This Is Not Optional
Once you have an EPIRB, register it immediately and for free with the UK Beacon Registry at beaconregistration.admiralty.co.uk. An unregistered EPIRB signal requires coastguard resources to investigate who you are and what vessel is in distress. An unregistered EPIRB activation caused a 6-hour search involving a coastguard helicopter, two lifeboats, and police — for a vessel that was safely moored in a marina. Registration takes 15 minutes. Do it.
[H2] FAQs
What is the difference between an EPIRB and a PLB?
I discuss this in my post, here but simply put, an EPIRB is registered to and stays with your vessel. A PLB is registered to you personally and goes wherever you go. Both transmit distress signals via satellite. For most people the answer is one EPIRB on the vessel and a PLB per crew member going offshore.
Do I need both an EPIRB and a PLB?
For serious offshore sailing — yes. An EPIRB activates if the vessel sinks even when no one can reach it. A PLB goes with you if you end up in the water separated from the vessel.
How much does an EPIRB cost?
Check our recommended EPIRBs on Amazon here. Expect to pay between £250 and £600 for a quality GPS-enabled EPIRB. Servicing is typically required every 5 years. Battery replacement every 10 years. Compared to the cost of a rescue operation — negligible.
The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional safety advice. Always verify current requirements at gov.uk/mca. marinesafetyguide.com participates in affiliate programmes including Amazon Associates and the Awin network and may earn a small commission on purchases made through links on this site, at no extra cost to you.
