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