Just came across this and thought anyone with one should be aware

Dang, one would think that the feature that sends in a rescue would be harder to actuate. $4400 for a rescue, I hope he had insurance.

Thanks for the post boonie. I keep mine in a small Pelican case with a clear cover so it can "see the sky" but stay safe and dry. I send tracking points every 20 minutes so my family can track me. In order to do this it can't be packed inside a pack. I attached a small loop of cord to the case and loop it around the thwart or cross brace and it sits on top of a pack while paddling. I have always been hesitant about putting it in a pack for this very reason even though I didn't know that it was an actual issue. Good to know.

Boonie, thank you for this post. I own an InReach SE and will be checking to see if mine is affected this evening. If it is, I will be getting a small pelican case and doing something similar to Northwoodsman.

It really sounds like it is widespread and that Garmin should offer a trade in deal or a rebate towards the purchase of a new device. Time will tell on that one.

bump-

A number of other posts with false alerts at Skurka's blog.

quote Savage Voyageur: "Dang, one would think that the feature that sends in a rescue would be harder to actuate. $4400 for a rescue, I hope he had insurance. "

Insurance is almost a no brainer. I think it is like $20 a year with whatever user SPOT handles. Canada however does not charge for evacuation (as I was to find out). I still pull the trigger on the insurance however as it seems prudent enough. Who knows when that policy changes?

Thanks Boonie for the heads up. My InReach is always clipped to my pfd and is never packed, therefore there is much less chance of an accidental trigger. To me, if I had it stuffed in my pack it might be useless as a plb. That being said, this is a problem that Garmin should address - they bought the company, therefore they bought the responsibility of making things right.

quote mastertangler: "

quote Savage Voyageur: "Dang, one would think that the feature that sends in a rescue would be harder to actuate. $4400 for a rescue, I hope he had insurance. "

Insurance is almost a no brainer. I think it is like $20 a year with whatever user SPOT handles. Canada however does not charge for evacuation (as I was to find out). I still pull the trigger on the insurance however as it seems prudent enough. Who knows when that policy changes? "

" The GEOS Membership provides up to $50,000 per occurrence in reimbursement for qualified SAR extraction-related expenses for which you are held responsible up to two (2) events per year." quote from Find me Spot could disqualifie accidental rescue signals from coverage. The Inreach insurance has a similar disclaimer.
SAR is a taxpayer funded gov. agency, and I also believe it cannot charge for services. Secondary private EMT and transport can and does.
I'm neither recommending or disqualifying the usefulness of insurance, just pointing out possible issues.

butthead

So for my wife's sake I was just about to pull the trigger on a Delorme Inreach. I'm assuming the reason they're about $100 less than the comparable Garmins is the company change. Sounds like they're issues but also sounds like people have had good luck with them.

Blatz, the Delorme is cheaper because it's no longer made or sold by Delorme, anything listed is old stock being clearanced. Garmin bought Delorme over a year ago and their Inreach is basically the same
unit in a case resembling the 60/62/64 series GPS units.
It is a good deal to pick up a clearanced Delorme as they share internals and support with the Garmin. Unless/until Garmin brings out a newer improved Inreach with more capabilities.

butthead