Wednesday, January 22, 2014

An Anchor Light for ‘Minnow’





After varnishing the battery box lid and epoxying the clew fitting I modified a camping lantern for use as an anchor light. Instead of having batteries in the lantern, I wired the internal connections to an electric lead that was fitted with a plug for a 12 volt cigar lighter socket. That means I can take power directly from the ship’s battery. Because the lead is fairly long I can put the light anywhere on the boat. I may even devise a system for hoisting it to the top of the mast for occasional use as an all round white navigation light. Alternatively I could permanently attach it to the masthead.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Bill,

I simply cannot even believe that this is the same boat! :-) Just wondering.....I read your posts from when you investigated costs to transport Tardis to UK... would all those taxes and fees apply if one was just to bring their boat there.....sail for a couple weeks....and then take their boat back home to the US ??? Inquiring minds want to know ! :-)

Sean

William Serjeant said...

Sean,

I really don't know the answer, but it seems reasonable to me that a US citizen should not have to pay UK or European import tax on a boat he wishes to cruise the coasts or inland waterways of the UK.

As far as I am aware, if you were to sail 'Scout' to the UK you would not be required to pay import tax on her.

It would be a different situation if you wanted to sell the boat to a UK citizen. The UK buyer would have to pay import duty.

Well, that's how I see it.

Cheers,
Bill.

Unknown said...

OK...thanks.... just to clarify, I wouldn't be sailing her to the UK, but a couple of us have been talking about shipping them there...sailing a couple weeks...maybe get to meet our counterparts such as yourself, then ship them home. I know this will be very expensive...and kinda crazy....but hey you only live once! Don't know it will ever come to pass or not, but fun to think about. :-)

William Serjeant said...

Sean,

Indeed, I concur with you that shipping boats to the UK from the US for a short sailing holiday sounds like a crazy idea, but if I could afford to ship my Paradox to the US for a LONG sailing holiday, I would gladly do it - crazy or not.

If you and your sailing pals are rich enough and mad enough to bring your boats here, I'm sure you'll have a great welcome.

I'd swap your weather any day!

Cheers,
Bill.