Lights & Radios

[Sailfree]

1. Is there a solar powered anchor light out there yet? I see the garden variety are very cheap and I am sure not powerful enough to comply yet seeing the number of boats that anchor without lights anything must be better than nothing.
2. Has anyone had any success with a satellite radio receiver. I noticed one in the latest Compass catologue. Can they be used on the move or is the ariel alignment critical. I would hope to use it off spain & portugal to receive R4 marine forecasts. I used to use the mobile from abroad for marine call but does not seem to work now perhaps my company has blocked all premium rate calls!

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[Talbot]

I know of one couple who use a solar powered garden light as their anchor light.

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[JonBrooks]

I have seen the solar powered garden lights in action, like me they are not very bright at all!!

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks
Marine Dealer Manager
Icom UK Ltd.
01227 741741

 

[TheBoatman]

We have a Hurricane lamp that we use when anchoring in less crowded waters. Hoisted into the rigging it has always seemed to work, well we haven't been run down yet!
As for the Solar powered LED garden type lights, my wife has just purchased 6 from QVC, stainless steel with all the trimmings and to be honest they are as bright (or dull) as the hurricane lamp. The only problem is that they only last about 8 hours, so might not be to good for the winter sailors amongst us, but for the summer (fair weather) guys I don't see a serious problem. I suppose it would depend on the amount of back lighting that was in your prefered anchorage?

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