If there is one thing you can be sure of in this life it is that when you really could do to use a battery operated gadget such as a torch, or a mobile phone that you have been carrying around for ages in case of an emergency, if it's ever going to let you down, then sods law dictates it is going to be just at that moment. This is particularly true of items that are not used regularly enough to have you keep an eye on their battery status. Actually, in that context it would make good sense to separate the battery from the gadget so that there is more likelihood of getting the desired result. Certainly in terms of not having it ruined through battery leakage. Then of course there are going to be occasions on which, even if initially it works, its integral battery power simply is not enough. I can think of a number of situations here in addition to torches and mobile phones. GPS and VHF, particularly with hand held backup units, have a much shorter operational life expectancy than 'plumbed in' sets taking their power from the boats main battery, which in the case of unexpected engine problems, can very quickly become drained, taking all the fitted electronic backup systems on board out with it at a stroke.

Taking a slightly different tack for just a moment, as it's the aftermath of Christmas when I am writing this account, I have to say that one of the things I hate most about this time of year is the pressure not only to think of and find 'wanted' presents for all concerned, but also thinking of useful stuff they can buy for you. For years I have told people not to get me anything. If I wanted something, the chances are that I would already have it. But they would soldier on buying me all sorts of useless guff, much of which will rarely ever see light of day again. That prompted me into making a note of things that I see over the year so that for people who are hell bent still on spending money on me, then at least it will be something I can and will use, even if it is something I already have. You can never have too much in the way of terminal tackle for example, and there are always useful little gadgets cropping up here and there if you look for them. And so it was that while doing a bit of Christmas present searching on the Internet towards the end of 2009 that I came across the innovative works of Trevor Bayliss.

When I think back, I actually remember the pivotal point in Trevor's inventing career, though it didn't occur to me at the time that this invention and its off-shoots might be for me. It was during an episode of the BBC's Tomorrows World that Trevor Bayliss and his revolutionary wind up radio was first brought into the public domain. Having come up with the idea in response to the spread of AIDS being in part due to a lack of educational information reaching people in rural parts of Africa where radio broadcasts cannot be received due to a lack of mains electricity and battery availability, Trevor set about work on the project in his garden shed. Unfortunately, a long string of rejections for assistance in developing the idea followed, including one from the UK's Design Council. He was told in no uncertain terms that the idea would never be commercial. That BBC TV broadcast however changed potential backers attitudes. But even then, the project still almost failed due to an inability to get sufficient audio volume from the wind up power source. Fortunately, through technical innovation, that has now been overcome, the knock on effect being the way in which this technology can now be used in many more ways than originally envisaged, much to the advantage not only of rural African peasants, but also anglers, and of course my Christmas present list.

To a large extent, a radio such as this which is capable of receiving some AM as well as FM broadcasts is of limited safety value. Okay, so you might be able to pick up on weather information bulletins. But you can get those over the VHF pretty much on demand if you want them from the Coastguard. If we are honest, an AM/FM radio is going to be more of a social aid by providing music or sports results and commentary. Of greater importance is the fact that by cranking the wind up handle for 20 seconds, you get around an hour of usage out of the thing. Mine also has a small solar panel which is something else small boats could make more use of in a range of innovative and potentially safety orientated ways. But that's another story. The wind up radio has however spawned a number of offshoots including one of my other presents, the wind up torch, plus one for next years pressie list, the wind up mobile phone charger. Whether there is scope for a wind up GPS and emergency channel VHF remains to be seen. But just imagine the potential advantages if there was.

If you look on the Internet you will find a whole range of wind up gadgets with different models and manufacturers offering different outputs and specifications. My particular torch has 5 LED lights which are activated in various combinations from the same switch. The first press of the switch brings on the the centre light. Next press activates the centre plus two of the outers, while the third press brings on all five. The final press of the switch then turns it off. There is also a switch operated emergency alarm. Fully charged, either by winding or by a USB connection to a PC results in 450 minutes of light. At the other end of the scale, turning the handle for 10 seconds gives you 3 minutes of light, while 30 seconds of turning provides 15 minutes. Great for re-tackling up, getting the boat back on to the trailer after dark, or for signalling in an emergency. Equally useful, particularly for night fishing both in the boat and from the shore is a head light version of the same, though the wind up charging unit, certainly for the versions I have seen, comes as a separate item (in the same price and box) to save on weight. Cheaper to run than a battery operated light, and less likely to let you down. A big thank you then to inventor Trevor Bayliss.