Before you buy, consider the product features and operating modes within the context of your own vessel, your typical crew and your cruising style. Having said that, there are some basic items to consider when conducting your own assessment.Some alarms interact with a chart plotter to set a waypoint at the location of the splash.

If you've got a steel or aluminum hull, you'll probably want to stick with a reactive system, since proactive systems can produce false alarms when the radio signal is disrupted.

If you cruise primarily protected inland or coastal waters, real-time MOB tracking may not be necessary. A simple MOB waypoint will provide all the location data you'll need to get the vessel back to the person in the water. Even with a strong tidal or river current, the victim's location will not likely be a mystery, since they will probably be downstream of the splash point.

If you cruise offshore, where you're likely to encounter heavy weather, direction-finding gear may be more important, although some will regard the fail-safe nature of proactive "alarm-on-failure" systems more compelling. Unfortunately, there are currently no systems that combine the utter reliability of proactive systems with the direction-finding capability of reactive systems.

If you cruise shorthanded in a powerboat, your top priority in a MOB situation may be stopping the boat; an alarm that can be rigged to kill the engine might suit you best. If you venture into wilderness areas, afloat or ashore, you may want to select individual PLBs for the crew instead of, or in addition to, a MOB alarm. These can help rescuers find you in the event of mishaps of all kinds, not just falling overboard.

If you cruise with children, you'll often have your hands full, especially while leaving or arriving at moorages. You might want to select a system that requires minimal hands-on effort to engage and disengage; chasing down the kids to collect or turn off their sensors could become bothersome.

READ THE MANUAL

No matter your situation, be sure you understand how each system really works in practice. Most of the manufacturers make their installation and operation manuals available online. If not, call or email them and ask them to send you a copy. I urge you to read these manuals all the way through to be sure you understand what's going to happen.

Marketing materials aren't likely to point out the factors you will find most annoying in practice aboard your vessel, but the information is available, if you take the time to find it. All the manufacturers with whom I've corresponded have been extremely helpful and forthcoming about their products' capabilities and limitations.

Once you select a system and install it, practice with it. Throw a floating cushion over the side with a sensor attached and see what happens. Walk away from the boat and see how range affects the system's performance. All the systems include procedures for commissioning and testing. Do that. Adjust the test procedure: throw in some monkey wrenches of your own, relevant to your situation. It's important for you and your crew to be aware of the system, how it works and what they should do if somebody falls overboard.

Researching this article has helped me identify the best solution for my C-Dory, a small, outboard-powered cabin cruiser frequently operated shorthanded, with children aboard. Underway, the top priority is to stop the boat immediately, especially if I'm the one in the water. I can swim several yards to the boat if there's no adult aboard to come back for me. Of secondary importance, I want the kids to keep their transmitter-equipped PFDs on when they're exploring new ports of call, and I don't want to spend my time managing MOB transmitters every time we get underway or disembark.

My circumstances call for a low-effort system designed around engine shut-off, with small, tamper-resistant transmitters the children aren't likely to damage. GPS waypoints and real-time tracking are relatively low priorities for my boat. There are only two products on the market that meet all my criteria: the MariTech Virtual Lifeline and the Autotether.

With the right system aboard and a little practice on your part, you can stack the deck in your favor in the event of a fall overboard. With luck, you can turn a potential tragedy into another great sea story.