Four Emergency Locator Beacons for Boaters
Emergency locator beacons, like Spot’s Gen4, can aid rescuers in an emergency.
Courtesy Spot
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William Marshall ventured 20 miles offshore on November 15, 2024, and never expected to have catastrophic engine failure at sea. Worse yet, threatening storms forming ahead of weather reports loomed over them. He activated his EPIRB—a larger cousin to the PLB—and 45 minutes later, Sea Tow showed up, followed by a Coast Guard rescue boat. Loss of life was averted, and Marshall and his crew lived to fish another day.
This is just one of many rescue stories enabled by emergency locator beacons. Here is what you need to know about rescue PLBs and SOS messengers.
Personal locator beacons are designed to speed rescue by SAR teams via government-run Cospas-Sarsat satellites, which are programmed to notify appropriate response authorities—such as the US Coast Guard, or terrestrial rescuers for skiers and hikers—of an emergency. PLBs are the most compact and are being adopted with increasing frequency by recreational boaters.
Another type of beacon device is an SOS messenger, which is designed to use private communication satellites such as Globalstar to communicate with private rescue-coordination bureaus to reach rescue authorities at sea or in the wilderness. An added benefit to these is that they allow limited two-way communication, but unlike a PLB, they require a satellite-service fee.
Important Distinctions PLBs- PLBs, until recently, could not talk back. Now, some offer limited satellite communications for an added fee.
- Only PLBs talk to Cospas-Sarsat constellations and are the gold standard for rescue.
- PLBs also transmit a 121.5 mHz homing signal to give final line-of-sight directions.
- Some PLBs also transmit an automatic information system message via VHF digital selective calling VHF radio, allowing nearby Good Samaritans to spring into action.
- No rescue signal fees are required for use.
- PLBs must be registered at beaconregistration.noaa.gov to effect a rescue.
- These devices communicate via private satellite constellations to private rescue bureaus connected to local rescue authorities.
- They send SOS calls via private satellite constellations with frequent position updates.
- Unlike PLBs, they are designed to accommodate two-way communication via smart-device connections or predetermined messages entered into a web portal.
- Unlike PLBs, they require satellite service fees paid for specific periods—monthly or annually—and flexible fees based on units with two-way data transmission.
- SOS messengers must be registered with the manufacturer as part of subscription to generate an SOS response. Here are four examples in the SOS messenger/PLB genre.
ACR has added AIS MOB transmitting on the digital select calling frequency to allow nearby Good Samaritans to hear the distress call and respond.
Courtesy ACR
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ACR ResQLink AIS
acrartex.com; $569.95 for USA registration
ACR is one of two top names in PLBs, and this compact unit is simple and proven effective to use. This one adds AIS MOB transmitting on the digital select calling frequency to allow nearby Good Samaritans to hear the distress call and respond. Once it acquires a GPS position, it will simultaneously send an SOS signal to Cospas-Sarsat satellites, and that is transmitted to local or regional rescue officials, such as the US Coast Guard, optimally located for rescue. Before using the device, free registration with NOAA is required, and information about the vessel, the owner, emergency contacts and more help rescue teams coordinate with family or friends to effect rescue.
GPS and Galileo GNSS constellations
- Waterproof: 16.4 feet (5 -meters) at 1 hour, 33 feet (10 meters) at 10 minutes
- Floats: No, but comes with floating carry case
- Dimensions: 7.87” (L) x 1.41” (W) x 0.86” (D)
- Weight: 6.7 oz. (190 g)
- Battery Life: 5 years
- Operating Life: 28 hours
- Subscriptions: None
A help button on the Spot Gen4 summons assistance in a non-life-threatening situation.
Courtesy Spot
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Spot Gen4 Satellite GPS Messenger
findmespot.com; $149.99
Spot brought the first private–enterprise SOS satellite messenger to boaters about 20 years ago. Advancements over the years culminated into the Gen4. Focus Point International, an international rescue coordinator, monitors satellite transmissions 24/7/365 and contacts the appropriate emergency responders to help coordinate rescue. In addition, they offer Overwatch Rescue services ($39.99 per year), which arrange and pay for rescue expenses such as airlift medivac. Preprogrammed messages can be sent to up to 10 preprogrammed contacts. Check-in and OK messages arrive with GPS coordinates. A help button summons assistance in a non-life-threatening -situation. RAP, a roadside assistance program, can summon tow trucks. Batteries on hand determine operating time, allowing for extended messaging use.
GPS and Galileo GNSS
- Waterproof: IPX8
- Floats: No
- Dimensions: 1.04” x 2.66” x 3.48”
- Weight: 13.4 oz.
- Battery Life: 4 AAA batteries (included)
- Operating Life: Dependent on battery type
- Subscriptions: From $11 per month to $143.40 per year
- Overwatch Rescue: $39.99 a year, pays for emergency evac and other expenses related to rescue
Read Next: Best Emergency Beacons, PLBs & EPIRBs
The inReach Messenger+ allows text, voice messaging, and photo transmissions from unit to unit or unit to contact info using a Bluetooth link to a smart device.
Courtesy Garmin
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Garmin In Reach Messenger+
garmin.com; $499
This unit not only sends an SOS to Garmin Response 24/7/365 rescue-coordination center, but it allows feedback to the victim on rescue status as well. The device also allows text, voice messaging, and photo transmissions from unit to unit or unit to contact info using a Bluetooth link to a smart device. Additionally, it has an LCD readout notifying of texts and message status. It can text family and friends your updated position at periods that you designate and allow them to track you on a mapping system. It can also generate turn-by-turn directions when smart devices are out of Wi-Fi or cellular range. The rechargeable battery can last up to 120 hours with frequent (2 minutes) messaging or 600 hours with 10-minute message intervals.
GPS and Galileo GNSS
- Waterproof: IPX8 to 1 meter/30 minutes
- Floats: No, but comes with a flotation pouch
- Dimensions: 3.1” (L) x 2.5” (W) x 0.9” (D)
- Weight: 4.1 oz. (116 g)
- Battery Life: 1 year between charges
- Operating Life Up to 600 hours, depending on messaging
- Warranty: 5 years
- Subscriptions: From $14.99 per month
The PLB1 packs a lot of performance into its compact package.
Courtesy Ocean Signal
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Ocean Signal PLB1
oceansignal.com; $349.95
This is the most compact PLB available, weighing in at 4 -ounces and smaller than a deck of waterproof playing cards. It’s a good play to hedge your bets at a lower price due to the streamlined feature set. However, it meets every NOAA specification for a PLB. It communicates with Cospas-Sarsat with a 406 MHz satellite transmitter and provides a 121.5 MHz homing signal for final-position acquisition. A 1 candela LED strobe provides visual contact in the dark without diminishing its 24-hour operating time. It clips to a life jacket or tucks into a pocket for easy carriage and ready deployment.
GPS and Galileo GNSS
1 candela strobe
- Waterproof: To 15 meters
- Floats: No, but comes with a flotation pouch
- Dimensions: 3” (L) x 2.1” (W) x 1.3” (D)
- Weight: 4.09 oz. (116 g)
- Battery Life: 7 years
- Operating Life: 24 hours
- Warranty: 5 years with free registration
- Subscriptions: None
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