Mal Thomas

Thanks for your kind words, I think. Someone in the mirror is beginning to look it Charlie

The weather looks very blowy at the moment, even in the Harbour, launching and retrieving can become difficult in such conditions. I believe it would be prudent to be very cautious. Force 4 being the best I can see at the moment.

I agree with Steve and would add, rope with a twisted strand always needs to be coiled in the same way to provide a memory, bit like stowing a hose, it goes away better if the hose goes away with the same twist or same handed person doing the retrieving. Discipline when putting the rope back in the locker is the key, whenever I have put it away badly in a choppy sea I nearly always have a loop that forms under the deck when releasing. Time consuming and tiresome but necessary. If the rope is stowed correctly it should look like a polo mint from above, then the chain can drop in the middle. Most boats up to 7.5 mtr boats with vee lockers are not suited to the deep anchoring we do, therefore the rope does not have enough drop to coil itself as it comes in off the gypsy, hence we hand stow, especially a horizontal gypsy which the majority are. The vertically dropping rope off a vertical gypsy stows better in small lockers. I fitted one on my last boat it was much better and the motor is not in the way either. I coil the rope in the same way Steve does, where the rope is tied off to the bollard that is always slightly troublesome as it has been twisted. Plait has less memory and therefore better, but some gypsies do not like plait because it reduces in width as it stretches so gripping it can be an issues at full load, make sure it is compatible with your gypsy before purchase. I use nylon 3 strand and it is fine, poly is a poorer quality generally and used by commercial fisherman on pots etc and not as good for our type of use. I was listening to your troubles out at sea, seems like you were very unlucky, a string of loose pots or nets maybe to have drifted so far, it would not matter if you had tripped your anchor with cable ties in that situation. I tend to turn my rope around after a couple of years to give it even wear. I am sure you know all this Ben, the answer is for those members reading and taking on advice. The next choice is what type or pattern of anchor and how much chain.

Happy birthday Neil have a nice day🍺

Hope you have a good trip without any dramas, I will be out try a call on 6.

Toby I am in Ribs marine in Christchurch your welcome to take a look around. I have a Marlin merry fisher 695 with a single 150 yamaha. I have most of what you want and at the cheaper end of the market. Once you move to twins you double your fuel and servicing and as mike says refuelling can then be a chore. Ribs owners now own Rossiters and there is talk of possibly installing a petrol pump. The class rating B is for offshore, most boats are C rating but will do most things on calm seas and nursed at 12knots will do most of the rest. If your out in worse than that you have made a trip plan mistake. If I was upgrading for Christchurch with your wish list I would go for a Barracuda 8 but you will need 60k. Where as 35k might buy you what I have. I would prefer a cat for Christchurch just because of the sand bar and draft issues in the Winter or beyond November. If you study the commercials they prefer Cats in Christchurch as they sit square rather than listing if you run aground by accident.

I certainly would not want the maintenance bill for keeping that working.

Look up ips throttling your speed and explain it in simple English please Rob.

We had a guy come around to measure the signal and the dead areas, the coverage has improved.

The bt extenders worked for us just recently, the house is covered now.

Same as that, we have coverage in the garden.

That was a close escape. Don't forget a few other safety essentials like a working vhf radio preferably not a hand held. A set of inshore flares, a horn to attract attention and some nav lights. Good luck with your search.

Cheers. I hope it is exceptional

Feliz cumpleanos amigo

It’s come down to this...

Great I can ask to use without having to find them a home. LOL

Jerry that looks like a plunging mortice machine?

Hi Mark, Mal Thomas here. Just to let you know the 695 merry fisher is still going well. We have done a lot to it and she fits the bill. However I keep looking at OHANA that's a nice bit of kit.

If we are not all on lock down😓

You might just be in the best isolation, good luck with Spring.

All of his assets should be frozen and reclaim any monies that the court can, including his house. His other assets should be chopped off.

You keep posting, you are one of the most enthusiastic, fishing and active members. We definitely need you in this forum. More power to your elbow. Colin I enjoy your work rate, your positive approach and your willingness to accept guidance and go and try attitude to catch your target species. If there was a trophy for most improved member you would have my vote. 😊

Small eyed, spines are correct. Cuckoo has black background with cream spots

Try Christchurch Timber, they may have something similar. Iroko is more affordable and used in marine boat framing.

After returning from Spain with a cold it is not improving with a heavy workload, so I will keep my germs to myself and rest up as evenings are the worse time. Have a good meeting and go easy on Charlie.