Loads of us come into radio sailing from Dinghy and Keelboat racing, and bring our toolboxes with us… not unreasonably thinking that several decades of tools will see us through anything!

Well, here’s the thing – you quickly learn your toolbox needs adapting!!

The very first thing I was recommended to buy was one of these:-

Just £10 on Amazon, delivered the next day!! And would you believe it, I’ve used it every single sailing day along with the day before and the evening after. Incredibly useful !!

While sailing, I’m told that on Flysky transmitters there is basic telemetry available that reads the remaining battery power on board – you know, a display with four marks very roughly corresponding to full, half full, and the two quarter points. Nice – want to try that!! Maybe latest Futaba’s have it too -I’m not yet sure. I seem to remember I’ve also read that this telemetry feature doesn’t work with all types of battery – try it and see, I guess.

By looking at the box, you get the idea of what it does straight away. Just plug in the on-board battery, select the battery type (important!! see above ) … and press go. Takes just two seconds.

It gives you the exact battery percentage remaining. Fantastic! You’ll want to use it on the battery going in to the boat, coming out of the boat, during charging and just before packing for race day! It has also taught me that the set of batteries I am using have widely varying depletion rates. Interesting. Just £10.