Yachting

TRIED & TESTED

90 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com MAY 2016

Price RRP £89.99 Contact Nauticalia Te l 01932 235550 Web http://www.nauticalia.com

Coast HP7R Torch

Zhik ZK Seaboot

PHOTOS: GRAHAM-SNOOK.COM

OUR VERDICT

All sailors need a good pocket-sized torch.

Graham Snook tests a new one

This aluminium torch is stunningly bright,

sturdy and compact (15.5cm), although

you would struggle to hold it in your

mouth for a two-handed job. By pushing

or pulling the front lens collar the beam

can be focused rotating the collar locks it in

place. It comes with a case, mounting clips,

a battery cassette (4 x AAA), a lithium ion

battery and a multitude of charging options

for the latter. Turn the back of the torch

anticlockwise and pull it out to reveal a mini

USB charging port, unscrew it further to

change the battery.

I’ve had the torch for a whole season

now and even with regular

use (by me, for work out on

the water and by my daughter

trying to fi nd things under the sofa), it has

yet to need charging.

It’s switched on by a push-button at the

end; it’s comfortable to hold the torch and

click the button with a thumb. The fi rst click

turns the torch onto full brightness (300

lumens), a second turns it off, click it quickly

Price from £229 Contact Zhik Europe

Tel +31 646 345 877 Web http://www.zhik.com

Zhik’s ZKboot was developed for extreme

weather. Graham Snook tested a pair for a

season to see how good they really are

Initially I thought the neoprene liner might

get hot, sweaty and quite frankly too

aromatic in the confi nes of a small yacht.

I’m glad to report I was wrong These ZK

Seaboots really are great. The neoprene boot-

leg is warm and fl exible and the outer gaiters

keep oilskin trousers in check. They grip the

deck really well, whether it’s wet or dry. Two

loops at the top of the boot aid putting them

on and the ankle areas are loose enough to

slip them on easily.

They have a soft rubber grip on the sole,

which if worn ashore would pick up bits

of grit from the marina or yacht club car

park, but if kept on board and only used

on board they work a treat. The only

niggles I have are that the grip can

squeak when walking on deck and the

toggles to tighten the gaiters are on the

inside of the legs and, if not tucked in, they

can catch on each other. The grey rubber has

now slightly discoloured.

Both toes and heels have the same grippy

fi nish, which is awkward when slipping oilskin

on, so put your salopettes on fi rst.

The branding may not

please everyone, but the

comfort and grip will; I’d

forgive their colour scheme

PROS

■ Very comfortable

■ Easy to put on

■ Excellent grip

CONS

■ Soles can squeak

■ Soles can collect

small stones

9/

10

Price from £229 Contact Zhik Europe

Tel +31 646 345 877 Web http://www.zhik.com

toggles to tighten the gaiters are on the

inside of the legs and, if not tucked in, they

can catch on each other. The grey rubber has

Both toes and heels have the same grippy

fi nish, which is awkward when slipping oilskin

inside of the legs and, if not tucked in, they

can catch on each other. The grey rubber has

Both toes and heels have the same grippy

A season of use

and they are still

going strong

RIGHT: Bold

branding, but they

are extremely good

Seaboots really are great. The neoprene boot-

leg is warm and fl exible and the outer gaiters

keep oilskin trousers in check. They grip the

deck really well, whether it’s wet or dry. Two

loops at the top of the boot aid putting them

on and the ankle areas are loose enough to

They have a soft rubber grip on the sole,

RIGHT: Bold

branding, but they

are extremely good

Coast HP7R Torch

now and even with regular

use (by me, for work out on

the water and by my daughter

trying to fi nd things under the sofa), it has

It Isn’t fully

waterproof but

it is sealed. It is

compact, bright

and focusable

and comes with a host of

extras – a real winner.

OUR VERDICT

9/

10

PROS

■ Bright, focusable beam

■ Long battery life

■ Rechargable

CONS

■ Not waterproof

on again and it fl ashes Morse code SOS,

repeat and it cycles onto dim mode (30

lumens). Personally, I’d prefer it if the order

was dim, bright and then SOS because

when turning on the torch at night, its fi rst

setting is blindingly bright.

The torch comes with a rechargeable

lithium ion battery and a cassette for

AAA batteries too

PHOTOS: GRAHAM-SNOOK.COM

The Coast HP7R

torch is compact,

bright and durable