Rory O'Hara, an officer in Sans Souci, said NSW Maritime authorities in Newcastle had reported there were boaties there unwilling to part with money for these new devices already adopted by St George and Sutherland Shire enthusiasts.

Mr O'Hara said that the cost of the devices, which could save lives, was about $500.

The cost of "decent'' fishing gear, he said, could soar above $500.

Mr O'Hara said anybody taking a vessel out to sea should have the new

beacons.

He said the new GPS and satellite-based emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB) reduced search areas to less than a football field, but that the search using older units could spread over several square kilometres.

"We can actually lock in the location of wherever they are by about 50 metres,'' he said. "The old system was hundreds of metres. Next to your life jacket, the EPIRB is going to get you home.''

All At Sea Charters operator Roland Persson said he took 406MHz beacons on every fishing trip.

"You must have one,'' Mr Persson said. "There's no question. Anybody who goes two nautical miles offshore must have them.''

Mr Persson said he would use them even if they were not mandatory.

"I wouldn't leave port without them,'' he said.

Marcus Anderson, Blakehurst store manager for Hunt's Marine, said the devices had proved popular among casual boaties despite their cost.

"We sell heaps of them,'' he said. "At first we couldn't keep up with supply.''

He said the devices were expensive but worth every dollar.

"The basic one is $420, but they can go up to $2500,'' Mr Anderson said. "If your boat has sunk and you're floating around in the ocean, you want them to find you.''

Details: Maritime