Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
14 15
Float-free enclosure
Fig. 14-6 Free float
The diagram above illustrates the automatic release sequence:
1. As the vessel sinks, the enclosure fills with water. The HRU
contains a blade which is released due to water pressure acting on a
diaphragm.
Before it reaches a depth of 4 metres, the HRU will operate and cut the
plastic rod, releasing the coil spring.
2. The spring pushes the EPIRB and the enclosure lid outwards. As
the lid pivots off it disengages from the screw head that helped hold it in
place. The lid is weighted so it rolls over and falls away.
3. As the EPIRB floats away from the lid, it moves out of range of
the magnet. Once away from the magnet its sea switch becomes armed.
4. The sea switch activates. The EPIRB then floats on the surface
with its strobe light flashing. After 2 minutes it makes its first distress
transmission.
If you need to activate your EPIRB manually, it can be freed from the
enclosure after pulling out the R-shaped retaining pin and removing the lid.
Manual activation
If the vessel is not sinking but there is imminent danger, remove the
EPIRB from its
bracket and activate it manually as shown below. Note that once activated it
will flash immediately, but it will not transmit a distress call for 2 minutes. This
gives you a chance to turn it off if you activated it in error.
Once activated the EPIRB must have its antenna as upright as possible
and it must have a clear view of the sky for proper operation. Laying it on its
side or placing it next to a metal wall will impair its range and may fail to alert
the rescue services. Avoid handling the antenna, as this will also impair
performance.