It is time once again to display my ignorance. I can see how it could be a safety issue to have locational transponders on sailing vessels. My question is are transponders mandated by any governing bodies for vessels on the oceans, or lakes for that matter? Maybe it is just from watching too many movies, but I seem to recall instances where lifeboats "activate" emergency beacons when deployed. I don't think the government needs it nose in all aspects of like, but I can see how the location of a vessel could be a safety issue.