The Ditch Bag Dilemma: Can Your iPhone Replace an EPIRB or Garmin inReach?
Apple’s free satellite SOS has cruisers asking if they can ditch their EPIRB and cancel their satellite messenger subscription. They can’t — a smartphone’s commercial satellite link is no substitute for a dedicated 406 MHz distress beacon. Here’s how EPIRBs, Garmin inReach/ZOLEO, and iPhone satellite SOS actually differ, and where each fits in a real offshore safety plan.