This is one of those things you buy but hope you will never need to use, like a fire extinguisher or life insurance, but it is better to have it and not need than get into trouble. The new Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS, redesigned to be less than half the size of the original radio, is a GPS locator accurate to 1.5 meters in the event of becoming thrown overboard.

The beauty is in its simplicity - the last thing you need after potentially plunging into cold water is any complicated actions to perform. All you need to do is undo the latch, turn on, remove the antenna retainer and press the red button and it is activated. Your GPS position will then be available, and a ‘man overboard’ distress message will be broadcast to all AIS equipped ships up to a radius of 34 miles. A special DSC message will also be send to the marine radio on your own vessel, if permitted, alerting the rest of your crew to your situation.

The Nautilus GPS floats and is fully waterproof in all sea conditions. There is no MMSI, licences & registration needed to set it up, it has a diver depth rated to 425 feet (with cap closed) and requires minimal maintenance - just keep the o-ring clean and replace the batteries every five years (batteries not included). The Nautilus works in temperatures from -25°C to +55°C, it is lightweight at only 131g with batteries and is a compact size at just 2.9 x 3.8 x 1.5 inch (75 x 97 x 39 mm). To ensure the device is always ready to go, there is an easy-to-read colour coded light system that lets you know if its activated or on test mode.

I would have liked to see batteries, a carry-case or wearable attachment system included for the price, but that’s a small thing to complain about when considering that this product has the potential to save your life. RRP £195

4.5 out of 5

Buy now

Pros

Solid construction

Simple to use

AIS/DSC Technology

No MMSI, Licences & Registration

Lightweight and compact

5 Year Battery Life

Diver Depth Rated To 425 feet (with cap closed)

Transmits GPS Position To Boats Up To 34 miles

Cons

Batteries not included

No case or attachments