Hi all. So I managed to get to the boat yesterday and armed with the forum advice was ready
to tackle the alternator. The first thing I did was disconnect the solar panel (it's a small one)
and check the voltage 13.4 so I turned a couple of things on (I haven't got much) and checked again 12.8.
Switched on ignition - amp light was steady and bright, fired up the engine and light went out almost immediately
Checked battery again 14.0. I left the things switched on (VHF and depth sounder) and there was no
light fading in and out. Then me and Missus sailed up and down Pittwater for the rest of the day and
when I started the engine to return to mooring same result. Conclusion--everything is working OK.
Thanks all. With all that info I couldn't go wrong.

HG, if I wanted attention I could run naked down the street......well it would be more of a limpy trot
with everyone laughing saying 'all that for a little thing like that'. Anyway the truth is that at
my age and inexperience I like to tackle something with as much information as I can so I don't
have waste any of my life trying to put it right. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
You know how it is !!!!!!!!

Glad to hear you got it sorted Sam.