Meet our sponsors · Torches and headlamps
Acebeam torches for seeing into the corners of a used boat
The broker opens a locker and points towards a fitting under the cockpit. From the companionway you can see the hose, but the label and both ends disappear into shadow. A compact Acebeam torch lets you direct the light where you need it during an inspection and photograph the part for a more informed conversation with the seller or surveyor.
Light from the side
A handheld can reach past a lip that blocks the ceiling light. Aim it across a stamped identification plate instead of directly back into your camera and compare the results. A low setting often makes the characters easier to read on shiny metal. We like the handheld for a viewing because you can pass it to the owner and let them show exactly which filter, switch or pump they mean.
For the jobs after settlement
Acebeam also makes headlamps. Once the boat is yours, jobs such as labelling an isolator or sorting the contents of a deep cockpit locker tend to need both hands. Compare beam spread and runtime at an everyday setting. The light you'll want close to a white bulkhead is different from a beam for looking along a dark pontoon.
Take your notes away and ask Acebeam which model suits the places you actually need to illuminate. Include how you plan to charge it aboard. A usable light is a modest addition to a new owner's kit, and unlike many inspection-day purchases, it can start earning its keep before you even take the keys.
