Steve S

I loved Ling as well, mind you she is a girl.

Nearly ready to launch at last, L day is Friday, really happy about it This is the first time the boat has been on the hard proper since buying the boat aside from a short stint when I first bought it to make the legs work properly before launch down here, there was a long long list of jobs, there still is quite a long list... Aside from the usual engine, stern drive service and anti fouling jobs I've fitted a new windlass, new steering ram, new manual fuel pump on one engine, full polish of the gelcoat, repairs and varnish recoat (and redone as ruined by unexpected rain ), rewiring of the starboard engine trim relays (they have given trouble all year), curtains made and fitted, gelcoat repairs, varnish removal of the grills on the bathing platform, I've gone to bare teak, new VHF radio properly fitted, TV properly wired in and other stuff I can't remember. Here the thing, I bought Tigerfish for a good price but it had not been looked after very well for 2 or 3 years, everything was basically sound but just starting to deteriorate, I knew this when I bought it, a lot of TLC has been required to get it to an order where everything works properly and everything that should have varnish on it has and the rust has been treated etc etc. It takes a lot of time and the bigger the boat and more kit is has the longer it takes, well duh, but only really appreciated by me at least when doing the jobs. I've assured Diane that I won't have to spend so many weekends working on the boat next season, I hope thats true.... she hasn't seen the remains of the to do list and I've another year to add items.... Lloyd has spent quite a bit of his time helping me with the jobs, including some of the not so nice ones, much appreciated, thanks Son. Steve

Pretty good year (but by no means the best) on the Ledge last year (2013) for me as well, 2012 and 2011 were much tougher, previous to that were a series of better years. In June/July there seems to be a host of small bream around most places inshore, not just rocky spots but over mud and sand, eg the Solent, east side of Poole bay (not tried the west side much) so for small bream 4oz to 1lb I've not noticed a decline. I keep for the table maybe 6-8 of the bigger males a year. Steve

How would I know?

Thanks Tony, very patriotic, I think you can leave them hanging in the breeze. 20" diameter is the minimum due to the depth difference between the posts and the planking and to allow for some cushioning. The boats are moored on the 'wrong' side.

Mal sent me a photo of his 'big one' and although impressive it's not big enough for me, even if presented by Mal in a pink pinny . Many thanks for the offer Dave, I'll pass on your semi hard one, I don't want to risk a deflation in a storm.

Thanks, I didn't know about Mike Cornish Mike Cornish is coming up at £34 each for the 24" diameter ones (quoted as circumference 75"), if I don't get any offers on secondhand ones I'll go with them.

On my new mooring I'm up against a wave screen taking the form of wooden piles with wooden boards between them. Should be fun sorting out the mooring ropes to take account of the complete tidal range. To protect the boat I'm going to need at least 4 large round fenders of 20" or so minimum diameter, just checked out the new price if anyone could help with some old ones that would be great, I'm not expecting them for free of course. I need them before the 29th March so boat jumbles on or after that day won't help me unfortunately. Steve

Ultrasonic Test 1st year results - Summary - helps keep the hull clear but not an alternative for anti-fouling paint. Key Events December 2012 - Boat launched, the anti-foul was Jotun seaforce 30 black applied May 2012, only cleaned before launch. March 2013 - Ultrasonic anti-foul fitted September 2013 - Lift out for a mid season clean, some slime, some barnacles but not terrible, there was speed loss of about 4 knots (down from 37). The legs however were pretty poor with lots of weed attached (as usual) January 2014 – boat lifted to be on the hard for a couple of months. Hull was pretty clean, the ultrasonic antifouling had been turned off from the start of November. Just shows fouling really is a warm weather problem. Conclusion As the ultrasonic was not fitted from first launch in December there was a chance for some slime to develop past the stage when the ultrasonics are supposed to destroy it so I can’t say for definite how effective it is, however, at this stage I think it’s not “the solution” to fouling problems but more of an aid. This season I’m painting on anti-fouling and will run the ultrasonic’s right from launch so that should give it the best possible chance for it to show it’s stuff. Note also it’s a bit power hungry, I have an 180 watt solar panel fitted and that was not enough to keep it powered up during the shorter days from the start of November till end February. Steve

Another amazing and also depressing tour d'force

The main thing is what is going to be banned, at the moment in the MCZs nothing is restricted any more than in the nearby waters. Clearly a complete nonsense.

Shame I get media error when trying to play (Firefox and IE).

Studland Bay Offshore Overfalls Utopia Bembridge Norris to Ryde Yarmouth to Cowes The Needles are up for consideration. Plus also management measures are being now considered at the same time plus also for the 1st round sites. Without which the whole thing is a total waste of time IMO. The big question is which management measures. http://www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/news/Pages/SitesforsecondtrancheofMCZs.aspx?utm_source=InBrief&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=mar14-inbrief-nonmem Steve

I had a Lowrance structure scan on my last boat a MF 805 (shaft drive), I think that is the type of transducer you are referring to, the transducer had to be mounted outside the hull. Initially it was only available for transom mounting so I mounted it on the transom... It was ok but washed out at medium speeds (15knots if I recall right) it was also a long way from the standard transducer so overlay images did not exactly align. When a hull mounted one became available I fitted that under the hull near the standard transducer and in a wash free zone. The result was it worked up to the maximum speed of the MF (23knots) and the overlay was perfectly aligned. Steve

There were these three girls who were getting married and they all met at the marriage counsellor’s office to discuss the options of having or not having a baby right away. They were two city girls and one farm girl. The counsellor asked them if they planned on having a baby right away or if they were going to wait awhile. They all said that they had discussed this with their potential husbands and had all agreed to wait awhile. Well, the counsellor asked the first city girl what type of birth control she planned to use. Her answer was, “The rhythm method”. “That will work,” said the counsellor, “but only if you keep a good record.” He asked the second city girl what system she planned on using. “I plan on using birth control pills” she said. Again he said, “Yes that will work as long as you don 't forget to take them”. He then asked the farm girl what system she was planning on using. Her answer was, “The bucket and saucer method.” After a short delay, he told her that should also work. He asked them all to come back in one year on a specific date for a follow up on how things were going. They all met again one year later and the two city girls were pregnant. Only the farm girl was still slim and trim. Well, the counsellor asked the first girl what method she used and what went wrong. She replied, “I used the rhythm method but somehow got my notes mixed up and, well here I am, going to have a baby.”' He asked the second city girl what method she used and she replied, “The birth control pill ... But we were camping one weekend and I didn't have my pills with me and as you can see, I too am going to have a baby.” He turns to the farm girl. “I vaguely remember you were going to use the bucket and saucer method. Now I must admit that I don't have a clue what the bucket and saucer method is. Will you explain it to me as I see it has worked well for you.” She replied, “Well, we always make love standing up, and since I am quite a bit taller than my husband, he stands on a bucket turned upside down. Now as we are making love, I watch his eyes, and when his eyes get as big as saucers ...... “I kick the bucket out from under him”.

Seems like the weather windows are just there to tempt us, donkey, carrot and stick come to mind! We had the worst winds of the winter here in Sway last night, 2 big trees down in my garden. A big eucalyptus (glad to see it gone) and a giant Christmas tree snapped off 6 foot up, must have been some blast to do that. Also the restaurant at Milford of Sea took a beating, if you know the place it is not exactly right on the sea front more behind the pebble beach. That really must have been some surge to get to it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-26203776

This may be the one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-biU8pfjS0

Ye Gods! There might not be a wall left with much of that.

Thanks for the article on flounder and in part plaice movements Alun, I found it an interesting (if dry) read, much of it was new to me. Steve

Hope you had a good one Martin

Result! very pleased to hear that Nigel, any idea when you will be motoring again?

We have in spades on the previous 3 occasions .

A lot of work went into this and no little money. http://www.youtube.com/embed/HG_wfMK7dko?rel=0

An elderly couple had just learned how to send text messages on their mobile phones. The wife was a romantic, the husband more of a no-nonsense sort of a bloke... One afternoon, the wife went out to meet a friend for tea at a cafe. While waiting, she decided to send her husband a romantic text message and she wrote: "If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile. If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking, send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you." The husband texted back to her: "I'm on the toilet, please advise." _______________________________________________________________________________ A 3-year-old boy examined his testicles while taking a bath. 'Mum', he asked, 'Are these my brains?' 'Not yet,' she replied. _______________________________________________________________________________ Q: WHAT IS AN AUSTRALIAN KISS? A: It's the same as a French kiss, but 'down-under.' Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH 365 USED CONDOMS? A: Melt them down, make a tyre, and call it a Goodyear. Q: WHY WERE HURRICANES NORMALLY NAMED AFTER WOMEN? A: Because when they come, they're wild and wet, and when they go, they take your house and car with them. Q: WHY DO GIRLS RUB THEIR EYES WHEN THEY GET UP IN THE MORNING? A: Because they don't have any balls to scratch...

Really nice boat Dan, congratulations, is it a twin engine jobbie? Steve