wrasster

The wife asked me what I was doing on the internet last night. I told her I was looking for flights. "I love you!" she said, and then she got all excited, That night we had the most amazing sex ever.... Which is odd because she's never shown an interest in darts before Dennis

1.) Ian Jones - JV 2.) Bob F - JV 3.) Alun J - JV 4.) Martin B Awol 5.) Dean B Awol 6.) RobF - JoJo - with non member 7.) Alfie and Stuie on Dream Drifter [defending Champion 2010] bring it on 8.) Graham + non member Little sal. 9.) Charlie A - AWOL 10. Charlie C Alfresco 11. Dan C Alfresco 12. Gordon Moore Alfresco TBC 13 Stuart Summerel Alfresco 14.Nigel Allen. wishin 15.Mike Toms wishin 16.Craig Jackie Abode 17) Bobi and Colin Boblin 18) Andrew + non member - Conyn Du 19) Chris Enstone plus brother (non-member) - Hilda Maud 20) Tony Deavin - Serenity 21) Paul Dore - Serenity 22) Kev Couzens Yelo 23) Mick Pike Yelo 24) Toby + non Member - MONDAR 25) Jonk + 2 non members clare ann 26) James + 1 non member Dawn Raider 27) Mike Fox as crew on Court Jester 28) Mike 02380 + Mick B (Barney) on R2D2 29) Gordon Elder & Cameron Elder (non member) on Wilful 30) Martin cherritt & non member on Branco 31) Dennis Bawdon and 2 non-members on Sea Bee

Not ready to sell the boat yet - but you'd be more than welcome to 5 million bees! Seriously, tho, if you would like a trip out sometime, I could use your experience! Dennis

NIgel - sorry to hear of your problems. Before I got rid of my 630 I did quite a lot of research into the reason for the engine failures. The Cummins rep at Southampton Boat Show would not admit that there was problem, but said they had changed the pistons in later engines - they should be able to tell you after which engine number this occurred. I did ask him, if there was no problem, why did they change the pistons, but he declined to answer! Some engines blow small holes in the pistons, which is apparently caused by the wastegate or injection timing - when I asked Holes Bay Marine about these problems, the mechanic there said it might be injection timing - information he gave reluctantly. I also spoke to Ribs Marine, who again denied that they'd ever heard of any such problem, in spite of being agents. If you look on the internet, there are loads of posts on different sites about people who have had bad experiences with this engine. I would suggest you really check to make sure you have the later pistons. A note of caution - I do not believe the pistons are the same as in an Isuzu car engine. Just as a matter of interest, how many hours had you done? All the best with the repairs, Dennis

Finally got Sea Bee back from Salterns after 9 weeks! They seem to have solved the problem - a faulty cush drive has been replaced, and they've changed the propellers, and she is now quieter and performs as she should. I am at last a happy skipper - will be even happier when I can be a happy fisher too! Missed the best of the season and weather, but have high hopes of getting out for some whiting and cod before too long. See you all out there! Dennis

Tom - We had heard about Yamaha pulling out of the inboard market, but a local contact said that as the navy use a lot of them, there should be no problem with spares for at least ten years. (Some good news then!) Wedger - the company that produced the boat, in Colchester, are well known for their hulls - they also mould for Princess and Oyster - but do not seem to have too much experience in actually fitting them out, and this is where we feel they need to concentrate their future efforts! We have no problem at all with their willingness to sort all our issues out to our satisfaction (yet, anyway!), so we are not trying to bad mouth them at all. Something to be said for fitting out yourself, but we were trying to save time, and get a boat which was ready to use this season! Such is life. (Well mine certainly!) Thanks to all who have replied for your interest! Dennis

Really frustrated not to have been out meeting some of you guys for the fun day and, more importantly, THE FISHING, but Sea Bee is currently in Salterns Boatyard with the engine and leg out. On first going out on her for the trial up the river at Colchester, where she was built, I noticed a strange graunching noise on start-up. The guy said, oh that will go when the engine beds in, which I reluctantly accepted at the time. Also, she was not achieving the revs that we were told to expect. The noise didn't go, and being the pessimistic soul that I am, I started to worry about taking her out, in case there was a problem and it was doing damage somewhere. Ummed and aarhed for some time but finally couldn't take it any longer, and got back in touch with Aquafish. He didn't sound unduly worried, but also didn't want an unhappy customer either, so he contacted Yamaha, who asked me to take it to Salterns to have them investigate. Took it over there - the engineer said 'start her up'. I did - he said 'does it always make that noise' - yes - and 'the engine jumped on start up'. 'Put into reverse' - I did and he said - 'something definitely not right here. Could be alignment, or clutch plate, or cush drive'. So, as I say, she's in bits at their yard, currently waiting for a part from Japan - may take two weeks. Apparently the 'doughnut', cush-drive bush that goes on to the fly-wheel had far too much play on it, possibly causing an alignment issue, and that is to be replaced. Hopefully that will do it, but will it then rev as it should, or is there a prop issue as well? (We were also told at Colchester that the props they sent down to put on it were not the same as the ones it was tested with, but 'these will be fine - probably even better'. Again, I wasn't convinced but didn't know any better, so accepted that until the other problem emerged.) We have since learned that Yamaha can't even be trusted to send the right leg for the engine, but have checked serial numbers on both, and thankfully they at least are OK! Now I am determined it will be right before I get it back, but I do have faith in the engineer at Salterns, who certainly seems to know what he is talking aboutand also talks my language. So - I feel vindicated for my pessimistic concerns, but that doesn't make me any happier about having a brand new boat I haven't been able to get out in! Dennis

Great list - and amazing research! Guess which my favourite is - being a fisherman's wife? A fisherman's greatest fear . . . Mrs. Wrasster

Looks like my son and I can finally get out for a proper fishing trip on the new Aquafish. I feel so out of touch, can anyone tell me where there may still be some decent fish - not too far out as we're still running in, but maybe some bream or bass if they're still about? Cheers all. Dennis

A Real Man A real man is a woman's best friend. He will never stand her up and never let her down. He will reassure her when she feels insecure and comfort her after a bad day. He will inspire her to do things she never thought she could do; to live without fear and forget regret. He will enable her to express her deepest emotions and give in to her most intimate desires. He will make sure she always feels as though she's the most beautiful woman in the room and will enable her to be the most confident, sexy, seductive, and invincible. No wait... sorry... I'm thinking of wine. Never mind. Steve (Mrs. Wrasster!)

So does this mean you've found another replacement John? If so, I hope you have better luck with this one! Dennis

Hi All! I'm moored at Tuckton, and work means that I do not get much notice of a day off to go fishing. This means I often have space for any keen fisherman who is available at short notice, and also any day of the week. If anyone is interested, please pm me. Look forward to meeting more club members this way too! Cheers, Dennis

Well, I finally decided that I couldn't wait any longer to take Sea Bee out and try her, so, as my son Rob was off today and available to join me, I let the bees fend for themselves and took my new Aquafish out to sea. We were very pleased with how she handles - much more like driving a car for manoeuvrability than the Quicksilver which preceded her, and goes pretty well for a new engine too! We did have a couple of hours to dangle a few lines, but knew we were really at the wrong state of the tide, so were not disappointed with the day's haul of a few good sized mackerel, a few garfish and some doggies. Back to the grindstone tomorrow - just hope I won't find too many swarms hanging in hedges that should have been pre-empted today! Dennis

We can take the pikkies, but rubbish with the technology to get them on the site - I know people have asked this before, but we didn't even understand the replies! Total technophobes, I tell you! If we get them from phone or camera on to computer, can someone please give idiot-proof instructions to size them and get them on? Failing that, and as well as, if anyone is down this way and would like to see her, they would be very welcome. We're at Christchurch, and she's at Tuckton. Work still getting in the way of getting out their, but we're on to it! Dennis & Steve

Had he been mine, he may not have had the accident with his fishing rod, but might well have disappeared whilst I was finishing our new patio!! Steve (Dennis's wife!!) Only joking - he works nearly as hard as I do!!

Thank you Tomo and Charlie! See you soon! Dennis

She's here and on the mooring! Haven't been out yet as haven't had a depth sounder working, and now that I have - just my luck - this glorious weather means the bees have taken off with a vengeance and kept me away from my new baby. I am beginning to think work is seriously over-rated. Hope to see some of you out there soon - have heard that Christchurch entrance is "interesting" this year! Good luck to all you breamers who are already out there. Dennis

Thanks to you both for the steer. Sorry I won't be at the meeting tonight - promised to take her indoors out for a late birthday meal and have had trouble getting booked until tonight! Dennis

Well, the Aquafish is ready, and we'd like it here as soon as possible, but the company the builder uses is busy for three weeks - does anyone know of a good boat haulage firm who come recommended that we could try for a price? Here's hoping. Thanks in advance, Dennis

Bob, Thanks for all that, it's been a great help. As complete technophobes, we will be very grateful to take you up on your kind offer of help when the boat arrives and we settle on a radar kit. We have been put off the broadband a bit, as we understand it doesn't work too well at distance, and as the LRA 1800 comes well recommended and apparently relatively easy to use, we'll probably go for that. Very interested in your comments regarding the transducer - sounds like a very sensible option. Look forward to having a good chat in the near future! Thanks again, Dennis & Steve

Talking to Gerry Gilmer at Aquafish yesterday - one of his boats was delivered and the owner named it Predator - how bizarre is that! Dennis

May we chuck a different note in to this discussion? We're just looking at radar for the Aquafish, and the chap in Colchester has suggested a Lowrance HDS Combo, with an in-hull transducer, and a LRA-1800 2 KW radome. As we know nothing about them, has anybody any experience or advice regarding the Lowrance set-up, and/or alternative suggestions. Also, some research we've done suggests the in-hull transducer is not as effective in fish-finding as one through the hull - any thoughts on that?** What a minefield it all is! Still, if it saves us running into one out on the briny, it has to be worth it! Dennis & Steve **sorry got that wrong - not through the hull, but transom transducer is what he's looking at (Steve doing the posts as usual and cocking it up!)

Thanks everyone - we'll let you know how it goes. As for Alderney - we certainly intend to tag along on one of the trips, just the problem of fitting it in with the seasonal work, which means we have to work at short notice sometimes. But fingers crossed, here's hoping!! Dennis

We're off to Colchester tomorrow for sea trial of Sea Bee. Hoping to arrange delivery for some time next week. We've been told that Yamaha were over the moon with the performance of the engine with the duo props, so can't wait to see for ourselves! Hope to see some of you out there soon! Dennis

Haven't laughed so much for ages - neither has my son,who works at Tescos, and wishes he was at Banbury!! Steve