The SPOT is also a $112 EPIRB.
OK. OK. Not really. But if you have to ditch and push the SOS button it sends your information to the same SAR site in Houston that gets your info from an EPIRB. They then call your emergency contact, and then the Coast Guard – or whatever the closest SAR agency is (if you’re in the Bahamas or Belize for example). Same process as an EPIRB. IIRC the SPOT continues to send out your location for 24 or 48 hours. The annual fee used to be $99, but goes to $149 next month. The added feature you get for the money is tracking. Old system used to send a message with your location and a Google Map to a pre-established list of email and text addresses when you pushed the check in button. The new Tracking system will send your location at an interval you select to a website. You can give people the URL and they can track your progress. I think you can also have the track automatically sent to your Facebook page, etc. BTW, if you use Active Captain, the SPOT will also keep your location updated on AC Locations if you turn that on. I got my SPOT gen 1 on closeout at West Marine for like $40 when the Gen 2 came out. I’ve used it to track deliveries and a couple of trips to Bermuda, and to let friends know where I was when I spent a couple of months in the Chesapeake a while ago. I’m not sure I’ll actually use the Tracking feature, but I’m a happy SPOT user. Rick Brass Washington, NC From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dennis C. via CnC-List Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 1:44 PM To: CnClist <[email protected]> Cc: Dennis C. <[email protected]> Subject: Stus-List Spot tracker Thinking about offshore race coming up. The race uses Kattack for race tracking. Last time we did it we just used the app on an iPhone and it worked for most of the race except when we were out of cellphone range. The app was free. A couple of other races in my area also use Kattack. REI.com has the Gen3 Spot on sale for $112 + free shipping. As I understand it, the annual Spot fee is $150. Is it worth it to buy a Spot and pop for the $150 annual fee? The Admiral could track Touche' when I'm doing coastal transits without her (not often). BTW, Touche' has DSC, MMSI, etc. so I don't need the Spot for distress calling, just race and transit tracking. However, the Spot is apparently waterproof so it could go with an MOB or go in the dinghy. Can also use it to track land trips. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA
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