A survival communications kit for offshore adventurers is now available for rent through the BOAT/U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety.
The offshore safety kit includes a hand-held VHF radio, a portable GPS, two SOLAS-approved flares, and a 406 MHz EPIRB. Although it would retail for $1,500, the kit is available for weekly rental at $30.
“Our goal is to make expensive gear, like the 406 EPIRB, available to boaters through a convenient, affordable program,” said Kristen Lewis, a senior administrator with the Foundation. Funds from a Coast Guard grant helped purchase equipment and keep user costs down, Lewis explained.
The Alarm Kit is intended to be opened only in an emergency, according to BOAT/U.S., and should not be the only navigation equipment on board. Information on the rental program is available by calling the toll-free hotline at 888-66-EPIRB (888-663-7472).
