---

In reading about the phase-out of EPIRB's using an analog signal to units broadcasting a digital signal, I am curious who among you carry one or plan to add this piece of safety equipment to your gear.

While I have a cell phone and get good reception 95% of the time and have a VHF, if I ever went in the water (cell now dead), there is a decent chance I would not be able to get back into the boat for one reason or another and the shore could be too far away to swim. In this scenario, would a personal EPIRB would make sense?

Take into consideration:

- I boat alone 95% of the time.
- Often am on the water in the early spring, late fall
- In locations with little or no maritime traffic.
- Cold water temperatures (40 to 65 degrees.)

While I am very safety conscious (vest on all the time, no exceptions; monitor VHF ch. 16; wear kill switch etc.), I have a family to consider.

Please share your thoughts.