pirky

Hi all I expect this is a bit of a silly question to those who know......but what do I need to do to the outboard engine to keep it safe over winter? Up to now I have done nothing other than keep it covered by the normal standard cover....all appears to be ok......but got me to thinking with all this cold weather we have had and that to come so I have popped a layer of foam backed carpet and two other layers of tarpaulin around and over it now. ( hope it is not closing door after horse has bolted ). Obviously I am thinking that any water still left in the block will probably freeze in extreme conditions......luckily the boat and engine is on my drive and close to the house in a very sheltered area. I had anticipated starting the engine every couple of weeks.....but best laid plans and all that....with the weather as it has been......not once yet. And now with all the covering .....it will have to wait until the weather breaks for the better I expect. Any thoughts, general ideas , hints, experiences recommendations etc will be gratefully received. Dave ps Confusion reigns ...I have just re-checked the weather for the next week or so and it is all above freezing except for tonight/tomorrow am -1 deg C. Totally different from yesterdays forecast.

Agree with that one....... HAPPY BIRTHDAY Peter Dave

Mrs. Donovan was walking down O'Connell Street in Dublin when she met up with Father Flaherty. The Father said,'Top o' the mornin' to ye! Aren't ye Mrs. Donovan and didn't I marry ye and yer hoosband 2 years ago?' She replied, 'Aye, that ye did, Father.' The Father asked, 'And be there any wee little ones yet?' She replied, 'No, not yet, Father.' The Father said, 'Well now, I'm going to Rome next week and I'll light a candle for ye and yer hoosband.' She replied, 'Oh, thank ye, Father.' They then parted ways. Some years later they met again. The Father asked, 'Well now, Mrs. Donovan, how are ye these days?' She replied, 'Oh, very well, Father!' The Father asked, 'And tell me, have ye any wee ones yet?' She replied, 'Oh yes, Father! Three sets of twins and 4 singles, 10 in all!' The Father said, 'That's wonderful! How is yer loving hoosband doing?' She replied, 'E's gone to Rome to blow out yer fookin'candle!

Thanks Mark......brought a smile out of a dark and gloomy morning ! You gotta be barkin' though......gloriously barkin'... Better luck next time mate.... you deserve it !! Dave

Careful Adam......Martin will make you sleep on deck !!

Martin.....how bad is that ???? relegating the crew to the deck just because of his efforts in male social bonding !! what sort of a skipper are you ??? Dave

Interesting thread this one.....and the one at WSF.....I can see the argument for both methods of attaching the chain to the anchor to trip .......slack links vs no slack links....Is anything simple ???? anyway .. I am erring on Tom's no slack side of the argument......but if I ever have to "cut and run" I will tie off to a buoy or spare fender and hit the MOB button on my plotter to see if it is worth retrieving.... And then at least if it was a good mark I could tie up to it again.......a sort of personal mooring point for as long as it may last !! On that note....is it worth the effort to retrieve ?? I thought it would be in the interest of safety to get rid of the 100 ft of warp wafting around in the currents.....however is there any local diver/service that does this sort of thing ?? Dave

Happy Birthday Gordon Dave

Adam........ a training day sounds good.....whatever happened to the one planned in Nov/Dec??....... However Re the Alderney ring rig ......I think it is actual experience I must get as I have seen it done 1st hand and watched the different site vids etc Calm day without too much warp out is when I will make a fool of myself !! Ha ha !! Dave

Thanks Brian......really useful stuff !! I will get Ben to watch it too. Dave

OOOhhhhhh dear.........I have not used the alderney rig yet !!!! been aboard when it has been used but still feel a few nerves about it !! I have a 5kg bruce with 5 m of heavy chain.....trip rigged to 100m of warp.....I have more warp in single length but haven't deployed it yet !! I was advised much as Charlie, Tom and Adam have explained.... ....enough chain (min same length as boat ) to hold anchor in correct orientation to bed for grip.......AND to reduce the "snatch" effect in heavier weather. ....enough warp to suit conditions 3x depth normal but up to 5x depth in heavier sea. ....enough chain to hold the anchor in the Alderney ring once it has got there !! Got to get to grips with motoring the anchor out in 2010... Dave

Just about an inch at the peak of it settling at Ringwood....started about 10 and now all but stopped. School closed about 12.15 so Ben back home. I have just finished clearing up after a pipe Froze and split some time on Mon Night......Luckily I was around as it defrosted last night and started to flood me.....so minimal damage. My plumber popped out this morning and had it sorted in an hour..just left me to do clearing up.....Now I have everything double lagged. Weird coincidence of boiler going out some time Monday night, the last foot of the hot water tank expansion pipe not being lagged too well, and a cold cold night.(-6 deg C at my home )......... Oh Well could have been a lot worse !! Hope all you out there are fortunate and don't get too affected by the snow etc !! Dave

Congratulations !!!! Dave

Happy Birthday Paul Dave

All part of a dastardly plot me thinks !!! Hidden agendas and Politics are such an underhand way to gain advantage and it usually ends up disadvantaging the innocent masses. OOOppps soz musn't get caught up in this !! Dave

Well done Rob Braver than me that's for sure.........Have a good Xmas !! Dave

Sorry to hear that too Charlie........always an expensive time.....changing cars !! Don't let it spoil your Xmas. Dave

Well done Alun......seems that choosing what went into the hamper did the trick !! 3 years on the trot ??? that's gotta be a challenge for some one to break the sequence....... Have a wonderful Xmas and enjoy the hamper of goodies. Jim.......Just out of the prizes.....oops !! too much washing up last week !! Have a good'un this xmas mate

How do you get the big red letters ???? I know....practice , practice, practice !!! Merry Xmas All OK give up

Well here it is .........and there it goes !!! Seems to pass quicker each year so I am going to take this opportunity to say ........ ......MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CLUB MEMBERS......From Ben and me......... ......especially to those we have met and those we have shared time with. A BIG thank you to those who have shared a little knowledge, offered help, or shared their boat with me for fishing and/or socialising. Special thanks too to the Committee and those that organise the social functions/competitions and so on. It has been a great 9 months being part of it all...long may it continue. Dave and Ben

Thanks Charlie..........would be good but so far I haven't been in right place at right time......hence the charter boat resort. I am collecting 20lb of frozen squid tomorrow in prep for a couple or more trips and also intend to get some terminal tackle sorted.... ????? What about weights/leads.....Size and number allowing for losses 8oz 1lb 1.5lb ??? Regarding other options....Saturdays are the best days for me........Sundays are difficult because of Ben's footie and Weekdays are tied by the morning school run........early doors is not easy !!lol Anyway no matter what happens I am hopefully going to get some cod trips in !! Thanks again Chaps Dave

Thanks guys.......getting there !! Let's hope it all comes together and cod still play the same game when I get there. Dave

Total frustration has set in.....so I am going to take a couple of cod trips in the new year........need some advice and where better to ask ?? ...the cod rigs I have seen all seem to go from 30lb braid straight to 50lb mono and use a penel rig set up with big squid baits. ??? Do they use a weak link between (say of 30lb mono) to avoid loosing braid in the event of a need to "pull for a break" Or do they rely on wear and tear of 50 lb mono or knot strength reduction for this ?? When are the lure and hopper rigs used as opposed to big baits.....or is it better to be prepared for both on the trip. How much bait is usually required for a days fishing on a charter ?? All Squid or a mix with maccy ?? Thanks in anticipation Dave

Many Happy Returns Neal Dave

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