Members should be aware of two problems:

1. The Locat Type LDT 26 is still being sold (e.g. Telesonic £109.90), although McMurdo Marine, Portsmouth, tel: 01705 775044, cannot supply replacement lithium batteries — battery life is only ‘up to 5 years’.

2. Such small 121.5 MHz units are often ignored by ground receiving stations due to the high traffic levels on the frequency and very high levels of false alarms.

A buyers guide to EPIRB can be found in Practical Boat Owner No 386, February 1999.