Lonewolf/RHAG, the answer to the problem, resolving differences, is a twin system. A ULB that remains with the airframe and a FLB (ELT) that is released on impact.
There appear to be two problems with the existing ELT - is it buoyant and does it have sufficient battery life?
As the ELT would help locate a crashed aircraft in the first vital 48 hours its short battery life was understandable. Even the existing short battery life should enable detection and localisation.
So, make the ELT ejectable and buoyant and give it the same black box capability of the ULB.