While we have a plethora of safety equipment aboard, it all needs to be checked and updated periodically.

We have a Kannad EPIRB that is malfunctioning for some reason. The battery is good until 2022, but the self-test is failing. Instead of trying to find a McMurdo/Kannad service center, of which are few and far between here in the United States, we’ve ordered a new ACR GlobalFix V4, Category 2 EPIRP. We should be able to get this new EPIRB serviced much easier in the States if required. We, of course will need to register the new EPIRB with NOAA/SARSAT, but that’s pretty straight forward to do.

Not a lot of boats here in Chicago have EPIRBs, but then again most do not venture more than 20-miles from shore. We are getting ready to head out in the next few years and are upgrading a lot of the systems onboard.

We also have two Spinlock Deckvest pfd’s for Janet and I, which both need to be serviced and updated. I’ve ordered new Re-arming kits plus two extra so that if one gets deployed the pfd can be repacked with a new kit and put back into service. Also we’re changing out the Pylon Lifejacket Lights that eject a small strobe light atop a tiny mast that makes finding overboard crew-members easier in the dark. We’re adding Ocean Signal MOB1 Units to each pfd so that when activated the MOBs will emit a signal across AIS and DCS, lighting up chart-plotters of not only Tortuga but also other near-by vessels. Finally, we’re also adding a couple of Safety Line Cutters to each vest just to have if needed.

We also have a JonBouy Recovery Module that hangs off the transom that was just serviced here in Chicago by Total Marine Safety.

The concept is to ensure that all of the safety equipment is up-to-date and functional. Neither of us want to have an emergency and have to wonder if the emergency equipment is going to work as expected.