FROM THE BOAT SHOW • Very encouraging it was, at a Boat Show just managing to weather a fuel crisis, to find on display a means of generating power relying on neither oil nor coal. Lucas/C.A.V. Marine were showing a solar battery charger for boats and caravans, developed in conjunction with Solar Power Corporation of America, which, using silicon solar cells developed for space exploration, converts solar energy into electrical power. All that is needed is light; preferably sunlight, but even with the reduced lighting of Earls Court an ammeter recorded a charge. The charger is a rectangular plate, 18" by 14", containing a bank of five rows of seven cells; output is about 12 volts, 0.6 amps.

One or two can be fitted in a convenient place on deck and connected up to the battery. That is all there is to it; the solar charger is apparently unharmed by salt water or exposure, does not corrode and needs no maintenance. The initial cost is high—about £200 each charger— but at least it is a step in the right direction (J. Lucas, Sales and Service Co., Dordrecht Road, Acton, London, W3).• Every day of the Boat Show, the displays on the pool ended with demonstration of a new simple lifesaving aid (also on show on the stand of Simpson-Lawrence). Designed for use in small boats, it is called the Balcan Emergency Life Line (BELL), and consists of a hollow bright orange plastic container into which is sealed mechanically wound head of 132' of braided floating line. To use, the sealing cap is pulled off, a short length of the line with a handle grip is withdrawn and the container thrown to the man in the water. The coil unwinds as the container flies through the air, and both line and container will float. There is flickstick, which, slipped into the end of the BELL, makes it possible to throw the head the full 132'; thrown by hand it would not go quite so far. BELL is designed as a life line to a man overboard, but it could also be used as messenger to lead a heavier warp to rescue vessel. Being machine wound, BELL is expendable as emergency equipment; the line can, however, always be hauled in and thrown again by hand in the normal way. The price of a double unit with flickstick and stowage clips is £6.50, a single unit costs £2.95 (each plus VAT) (Simpson- Lawrence Ltd, 218-228 Edmiston Drive, Glasgow, G51 2YT).

% Another new development in the field of power is the exploration at present being undertaken by Johnsons into the possibility of replacing the cylinder with a rotary unit for outboard engines; it is based on a principle first evolved by Dr Felix Wankel. Trials in America suggest that the rotary could well give a better performance than the reciprocating engine; also, having fewer moving parts, it is reasonable to expect that there would be added reliability and less wear and tear. E. P. Barrus had on display a development model of a fourrotor unit engine, but it is early days yet,and Johnsons are not expecting to have rotary outboard engines for general release for some time.

That is for the future; for the present, Johnsons have added a generator to two of their smaller conventional outboard engines, and an electric charge can now be obtained from both the 9.9 and 15 hp models (E. P. Barrus Ltd, 12-16 Brunei Road, Acton, London, W3 7UY).

• Safetylink Mk IIIA, a light-weight portable distress radio telephone, was to be seen on several stands. Weighing 6i Ib and battery operated, it is designed for the use of crews of yachts or other small craft up to 60' LOA. It is crystal controlled, tuned to the international R/T distress frequency, and it has a normal transmitting/receiving range of more than 20 miles—with the right atmospheric conditions it could be as much as 150 miles; there is also an automatic alarm available. The case (on which working instructions are printed) is extruded PVC, fitted and sealed to an injected moulded cap; it has a shoulder strap and is buoyant and waterproof. Safetylink has been approved in the UK by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. Price £112 plus VAT (Channel Marine, 49 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, Kent).

• An imaginative new compass was being shown this year by Henry Browne and Son: the Sestrel 'Port-hole', designedto be fitted in the main bulkhead of a yacht, projecting both forward and aft.

With a compass so positioned, the helmsman in the cockpit can see the course being steered, and the navigator in the cabin the reciprocal bearing, and there is no need for a separate 'telltale' compass below. The cabin dome is tinted yellow, for easier reading, and the compass is fitted with an edge reading card. Price £32 plus VAT. 'Port-hole' comes complete with either 12 or 24 volt weatherproof lighting, and it will be available in April or May (Henry Brown and Son Ltd, P. and O. Deck, P. and O. Building, Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 4PU).

% Decca introduced a new version of their 050 Mini Radar at the Boat Show: the Super 050. The principal change is the doubling of the transmitted power to 3 kW, which gives improved performance on all ranges. A magnifier which increases the picture to 8" is now supplied as standard, and the number of rings on the £ and 1 £ mile scales has been doubled to improve ranging accuracy by helping interpolation between rings.

There is a new anti-rain control which can be switched on when necessary and which also means that echoes from radar beacons can be seen or removed at will.

Price from £785 (the same as its predecessor) (Decca Radar Ltd, Decca House, 9 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SW)..