McMurdo revealed at Miami International Boat Show their new FAST FIND range of Personal Locator Beacons. These new PLBs are significantly smaller, lighter and less expensive then the competition. Still not sure about one-handed operation. In any case, check out the FIRST LOOK at the new FAST FIND PLBs and find out why they may be a game changer:

http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=105

This looks like a good affordable option to me.

http://www.avshop.com/product/5663/5

transmits on 406MHz and 121.5, built in GPS for pinpoint location, and battery lasts 5 years.

slightly better price here...http://www.gotheregps.com/detail.asp?product_id=IMC1500-03

I wouldn't buy one yet because they are still on pre-order, but thats just me.

After five years, do you mail it back to have anew battery installed?

You have a good point DP. Yep, once the battery is used up whether from use or because it expired you have to have the battery replaced buy a service agent of McMurdo.

denalipilot wrote:After five years, do you mail it back to have anew battery installed?

Technically, yes. It is replaceable, but not field replaceable. Bear in mind that the battery replacement interval is based on a conservative half life, so you could theoretically wait a few years extra without endangering your disress alerting capabilities. Having said that, generally speaking, by the time it is ready for a battery replacement, it probably makes more sense to get the newer, better, smaller, lighter and cheaper PLB. By and large the cost of replacement batteries (which has not been exactly cheap for older PLBs) vs. the now much lower price of a new PLB and the added features/performance it offers means it makes little sense to replace the battery in an older PLB.

I sent them an email asking about battery replacement costs in the USA. I'll post their reply.
tom