Bushwalk Australia

hi,
where do you hire PLBs in Sydney?
is it better to invest and buy one instead of occasional hire? any recommendations?
thanks
Pawel

I have used these guys before and were easy to deal with http://www.epirbhire.com.au/

Don't Parks have them for free hire up that way? I thought I'd heard such things.

Purchase price is around $350.

I think only in Blue Mountains you can hire them for free. I don't know any other places.
thanks Simon I will try epirbhire.

Given they are good enough for 7 years. If you need them regularly enough and have the capital, it may be wiser to buy one outright. Hiring prices are typically geared to those who can claim against tax. For the rest, it's free money to the vendor.

Epirbhire sell there epirb's second hand on ebay, got mine for around $250.
Sorry just looked on there website & they're sold out of them until January 2014.

$88 for a week. gets quite expensive quickly.
what brand/model would you recommend? (on the cheap side). Not a fancy toy (like SPOT) but something just for real emergency.

why are they good enough for 7 years only?

Pawel

polas wrote:why are they good enough for 7 years only?

All batteries have a limited lifespan. In the case of PLBs it could be the difference between life and death if these are not adhered to.

Send me a PM and I'll point you in the right direction. So I don't forget!

If you decide to buy in Sydney, Whitworths Marine are selling the GME MT410G Accusat 406MHz PLB with GPS for $299. I paid $370 there only 4 months ago.

Note, SPOT is not a PLB. It's a satellite communicator with emergency function. Less dependable but with more features and a significant running expense. PLB is a one off cost and new units have battery rated for 7 years. Otherwise, join a local bushwalking club as many lend out equipments to members.

phsculpture wrote:If you decide to buy in Sydney, Whitworths Marine are selling the GME MT410G Accusat 406MHz PLB with GPS for $299. I paid $370 there only 4 months ago.

Not that it is the first priority, but that model is bulky and fairly heavy. McMurdo Fastfind 220 is only $15 more, including delivery, or a PLB1 can be had for an extra $5.

Strider wrote:

phsculpture wrote:If you decide to buy in Sydney, Whitworths Marine are selling the GME MT410G Accusat 406MHz PLB with GPS for $299. I paid $370 there only 4 months ago.

Not that it is the first priority, but that model is bulky and fairly heavy. McMurdo Fastfind 220 is only $15 more, including delivery, or a PLB1 can be had for an extra $5.

true. it seems it is 100g heavier but it doesn't look much bigger.

interesting list
http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/beacon-models.html

polas wrote:

Strider wrote:

phsculpture wrote:If you decide to buy in Sydney, Whitworths Marine are selling the GME MT410G Accusat 406MHz PLB with GPS for $299. I paid $370 there only 4 months ago.

Not that it is the first priority, but that model is bulky and fairly heavy. McMurdo Fastfind 220 is only $15 more, including delivery, or a PLB1 can be had for an extra $5.

true. it seems it is 100g heavier but it doesn't look much bigger.

The Accusat is at least twice the size of the McMurdo.

Hey guys,

Just wanted to let you know I'm now hiring out the RescueMe PLB1 via Bushwalking Blog - http://www.bushwalkingblog.com.au/plb-hire/

Hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting this - please delete (or let me know and I'll delete) if I am.

Cheers
Neil

I dont mean to rain on your parade, but is this not opening yourself to liability in the case of misuse? How might you manage the registration with AMSA with regard to changing details every time a new person hires it? Just interested..

Hi Strider,

That's okay. I'm very open to comments/suggestions/criticisms. If I wasn't, I'd be doing myself a disservice. Without going into too much detail, I've had a chat with both AMSA and a lawyer about this and it's all under control.

Thanks!

Neil

We've had the GME 410g since it came out. Paddy Pallin had the best price when we were shopping, it was about $600 at the time so the prices today have really come down a lot.

Travis

Strider, what kind of problems were you thinking of? Given that NPWS/Police also regularly rent/lent out PLBs, I can't see where there might be legal issues. The only downside of this business model is if the renters repeatedly get into trouble and have to set off the PLB, then I presume Bushwalkingblog would be up for the significant cost of battery replacements. Otherwise, all good.

polas wrote:I think only in Blue Mountains you can hire them for free. I don't know any other places.
thanks Simon I will try epirbhire.

Jindy & Khancoban Parks offices also hire them out. You pay a deposit and it's returned when you bring the thing back.

Wasn't envisioning any specific problems, just curious whether any such restrictions might be imposed on personal hiring of units. Sounds like its all under control so good that you can start to recover some cost instead of it just living in your pack permanently..like mine does!