Crossy

Yes, I think they are laughing about it now, but only just I think I will take 30' or so off the existing chain and add this to 220m of 12mm and that will do for the Alderney fishing setup. Just need to find an anchor which is deemed acceptable for coding and fishing. The rest of the chain can be left up front for the "champers and cucumber sandwich" trips in the summer. Cheers, Andrew

Hi Folks, My new boat has a Jabsco toilet on board. I have both input and waste cocks open and the little black switch in the correct position but it will not draw any water in. If I manually fill the bowl it will pump it away quite happily but it will not pump any back in. I notice you can get a service kit which has a myriad of rubber seals and gaskets for the bog. Has anyone else had any similar issues? Cheers, Andrew

Incidentally, is 12mm OK or does it need to be 14mm (7m boat)? Got a decent offer on a 220m coil of 12mm 3 strand nylon for a smidge over

Hi Folks, Thanks for all your input, most interesting. Tom, I know what you are saying and I can see myself going down that "rode" before long. As you know, I am going to get her coded and as part of that you need to have a spare "Kedge" (not really sure what this is, is it a danforth?) anchor with rope and chain. As a result I was thinking about keeping the main anchor in a bucket with 150m of rope and 30-40' of chain and then keeping the spare (maybe a 6kg danforth) on the windlass with a smaller amount of rope and chain. I'm just not sure whether I am going to be able to rig the main anchor up with the spare one in the way on the windlass. Yes, 120ft of chain did seem alot to me but I assumed that this is how the gin palaces did things. It sort of ruined our days fishing really as we got to that wreck you [Tom] mentioned before, dropped the anchor and then realised that there was only about 3' of rope attached to the chain and the chain didn't even get to the bottom! I felt a bit of a wally then as my mates were busy getting there conger rigs ready for the first drop, oops........ Thanks again for the input fellas. Andrew

Hi Folks, I have just bought a new boat which has a Lewmar windlass bolted to the pointy end and has about 120' of 8mm chain. We went out at the weekend to have a first trip out and sort of "get to know her" as it were and the main thing we discovered is that the windlass is really, really, REALLY slow. Accurate anchoring is out of the window with this thing. I know you can put in in freefall or out of gear or something but I have a feeling that that could damage the windlass in the end. In my old boat i used the Alderney method which works fine so I was wondering what you chaps with windlasses installed do? I like the idea of the windlass if I'm out with the boss and have anchored up in a bay somewhere but not if we are trying to anchor up on a wreck with a couple of fishing mates. I was wondering whether it would be worth having a large amount of rope and some chain stored away with the spare anchor on for use when fishing and just use the windlass for those summer days when I'm out with my wife? Just curious, Andrew

Bump,

I have just bought a new larger boat and as such have no use for my auxiliary outboard which I am now listing. I bought her last March in "as new" condition and since I have owner her she has been run up half a dozen times just to keep her ticking over. I'll get a pic of her at the weekend but she is a 2010 engine (I am almost certain), starts first time, pumps water strongly and is in superb condition. I will be sticking her on Fleabay in the next week or so for

I'll be out on Friday I expect, i'll be on 6. Andrew

Hi Nige, Yeah, was planning to fish the slates tomorrow, I think I will stick to plan. Thanks for the info, Andrew

Hi Nige, What do you mean by "I don't know if the needles will be approachable", is it likely to be very rough out there? I was planning to stay on the Poole side of the bay but thought I might head over there if the sea is calm (ish). Does the Poole side typically produce anything this time of the year, I see most people tend to make a beeline for the Car park? Last time I tried on the Poole side I didn't even get a touch . Cheers, Andrew

Am umming and arring about making the trip down tomorrow for an AM session. Given the possible residual swell and wind later I might stay Poole side rather than trudging over towards the Needles but I'll see if and when I get there. Tides look massive so don't really want to be using 2lb leads to hall out red weed all morning. Will keep a watch on 6. Andrew

I'll be out, with the mut for crew. If anyone wants a few hours Poole side then they are more than welcome. drop me a line (07817025463). I'll be on channel 6. Andrew

Thanks for the replies all, Yes Martin, I am going to try to make it down for the next meeting so will pick your brains then. To be honest I like the idea of the boat being out of the water and and away from vandals up on a stack it just makes me nervous watching these boats being moved around on fork lifts. However, I have watched them doing it at Cobbs and it is quite impressive. Hope to catch up with you at the meeting, Andrew

Hi Folks, I have had my Merry Fisher 625 at Cobbs since I bought the boat back in July and am paid up there until the end of March. I am reasonably happy with it there other than the fact that I have a long walk right to the end of F pontoon to get to the boat which is a bit of a fag. They won't offer me a closer mooring as I am on a discounted rate. The other thing that is a bit of a nuisance is the second bridge they are building, I could see this becoming a bit of a pain. As a result I am just looking round to see whether there are any other options or if in fact I am better off just putting up with the long pontoon treck and the bridges. During my search I came across Rockley Boat Park which looks promising as it is south of the bridges and not masses more money than Cobbs. Does anyone on here park up at Rockley and if so do people use the swinging, pontoon or dry stack? I have never been on a swinging mooring before so I could see this being a bit of a nuisance but the dry stack and pontoon moorings appeal. Just after some other peoples experiences. Cheers, Andrew

I nearly did but being a bit of a newbie I didn't want to slow down anyone else's day. I'm actually tempted to go out tomorrow and use up the rest of the squid but I think the FPO would do her nut if I spent any more money on petrol

We had a day to forget. Had a horrid trip out, went under the 7.30 bridge from Cobbs and nearly turned back once we got out past the chain ferry, pea soup and lumpy. I just about managed to keep up with a Red (arvor I think) and another boat from Cobbs (a small QS I think) and we agreed that if we could keep them in sight we would continue. Once we got towards the needles the pea soup vanished and a blast of sunshine was waiting. We tried an inshore mark well past the car park to start with. Missed a hooping bite (god knows how!) and then had a good plump bass of around 5lb came off the hook within a foot of the net. We decided to move over to join the fleet at slack tide to see what the fuss was about, i'd never fished the spoils before. As soon as the tide turned my partner for the day started to feed the fish and we had to go back in for his sake.

Hi Martin, Yes, this will be and as long as the mut doesn't get sea sick (he has been fine before) then it will hopefully be a good day. Not sure of the MO though, do we need to register at a certain time or is it just turn up when you get there? Am planning on an early start. Have been fishing for Cod twice in the last month, first trip saw 2 smoothound to mid teens and the last trip saw a pair of Bass so on past form I don't think you have too much to worry about. Andrew

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

Now that's more encouraging

Hi Folks, Looking at the forecast for Sunday it is showing 12 mph winds by lunchtime with gusts hitting 15 on XC. The current live buoy data from wavenet is showing 2m waves in the bay . Do we think it will be fishable over by the island or should I find something else to do with my Sunday? Andrew

The weather forecast seems to have deteriorated a bit for tomorrow (Thursday), looks OK until early afternoon. Are people still going out, do you think it will be bearable at anchor in the morning? Andrew

If the forecast remains OK then I am thinking of popping down again tomorrow. Am planning on heading over to the island again in search of some Cod. Andrew

Hi Nige, I am also plannign a trip tomorrow morning but looking closely at the weather. Metoffice inshore saying force 4 or 5 increasing 6 later where as the Poole forecast is for 8mph all day?!?!?!? Fingers crossed for low wind and some Cod! Andrew

12l plastic fuel tank. I also have a couple of small fenders which would suite a small rib/tender and some mooring rope. All of it free to a good home (seems a shame to lob it out). 07817025463 Andrew

Fun Prevention Officer?