The lantern also has the convenient option of a wall plug for electric charging, as well as a cigarette lighter attachment for charging it in your boat or car.

The lantern also has the convenient option of a wall plug for electric charging, as well as a cigarette lighter attachment for charging it in your boat or car.



When the days are shorter and the nights longer, boaters are faced with less time to use their boats. Often, that means boating until sunset, and by the time you're at the launch ramp, it's nearly dark.

Scientific's solar rechargeable lantern claims a solar panel that, after eight hours in the sun, can gather enough energy to provide three hours of bright fluorescent light on the "high" setting via a 9-watt U-tube light bulb.

We at Go Boating took that as a challenge and tried out the lantern ourselves. Under less-than-optimal conditions (the area where we charged it was rather shady), the lantern performed just as it said it would and stayed lit for a full three hours set on its brightest light. (There are two levels of light available.)

The lantern also has the convenient option of a wall plug for electric charging, as well as a cigarette lighter attachment for charging it in your boat or car should the sun not cooperate with your plans.

Additionally, the lantern has a strobe light that flashes 90 times per minute, an AM/FM radio that can be tuned to seven weather channels and a blinker alarm (the strobe flashes and an audible alarm sounds). A full charge requires 30 hours in the sunlight or 18 to 20 hours via an electrical charge.

Price is $79.95.

For More Information

Scientifics
(800) 728-6999
www.scientificsonline.com