Abstract: A floating solar powered apparatus includes a main housing with an electrically operated component, with an at least translucent portion for transmittal of sunlight into the main housing during daylight hours. It is sometimes transparent or one or more colored translucent areas or, a combination of these. The main housing is water impervious and has at least one rope attachment orifice. The electronically operated component contained within the main housing and it is selected from the group consisting of a detector, an alarm, a radio, a light source for illumination, and combination thereof. There is also a power supply and appropriate connections connected to the electronically operated component(s) contained within the main housing that includes at least one solar cell. The at least one solar cell is located in the at least translucent portion of the main housing. In some preferred embodiments, the at least translucent portion is transparent.