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An EPIRB is one of the most important pieces of offshore safety gear—but only if you understand when to activate itand how to deploy it correctly. In this episode, we break down what an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) does, how it transmits your identity and location, and the practical differences between manual (Category 2)and float-free (Category 1) setups.

We also cover why AIS-enabled EPIRBs are a major upgrade (nearby vessels can see your distress target on their chartplotters), how bracket/magnet systems prevent accidental activation, and the critical lanyard rule: secure it to you/raft/bag — not the sinking boat.

We cover:

• What an EPIRB is and when it should be activated (life in jeopardy)
• Hex/15-character ID + GPS position transmission (lat/long)
• Why AIS transmission matters for nearby vessel awareness
• Bracket behavior (magnets/relays) and keeping it from activating unintentionally
• Category 2 (manual deploy) vs Category 1 (float-free)
• Manual vs water activation basics
• Lanyard best practice: keep it with you, keep a clear view of the sky, don’t tether it to a sinking vessel