Red wrote in
:

I have one of these and have found the replacement hydrostatic release
part on the Internet. This is the same part that I have on my
liferaft.

I believe that it's a mechanical part with a sharp blade that cuts the
rubber retaining rob in the EPIRB unit and (I think) a line for the
life raft. I tend to replace them every 2 years. They aren't cheap.

I've taken an old unit diving with me to see if it would "fire". It
did and there wasn't any explosive sound. I suspect that it's a
pressure activated release on a spring. The problem is that there's
no way to inspect it and it's a one time use device.

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org

Geoff,
There is no rubber retainer in the EPIRB housing. The release module
has a pin that sticks through the front of the container that you can
push to deploy the EPIRB manually, or the water pressure releases the
pin when the boat sinks. When the pin is released it in turn releases
a long, flat spring along the bottom of the case that pushes the EPIRB
out of the case. I just didn't know what the module uses to release
the pin, and if that mechanism degrades over time. In either case I've
advised the owner to replace it, but at this time I believe he will
keep it till the end of the season.
Red


We may have different units. Mine is from about 1997 and it has a rubber
rod that restrains spring and the cover. This rod is cut by the
hydrostatic release, allowing the cover to come off and and spring to push
the EPIRB out of the case.

Since you're just going to trash the hydrostatic release, tie a string to
it and drop it into some deep water and see if it works. I think that
they're supposed to go off at 13'.

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org