bootlegger

Team Daiwa TDX series. Got two of them and a Blue Fox, the TDX is excellent value and doubles really well as a pier rod.

I've just been down to Parkstone Bay to empty Simply Red of rainwater. Whilst I was there, before the heavens opened again I saw Martin's new steed moored up by the pontoon and had a butchers. Very nice and pretty, but I'd be terrified of getting lug and rag juice all over the place or dirtying the very nice looking interior, as I'm a very messy angler. All the same Kudos Martin

Excellent idea and really quite useful, there are some books I'll no doubt be buying for myself.

I'm afriaid that I agree with Martin and Charlie. The simple fact of the matter is that anyone who pays higher income tax, which in fact is most persons nowadays or who are self employed or professionals pay in tax either in the way of direct taxation or indirect taxatuion such as policy premium taxes, duty on fuel, fags etc, some 48p out of every

Funnily enough the name is beggining to grow on me, and since the boat has just arrived at Parkstone here's a pic that Dan snapped this morning

Funnily enough the name is beggining to grow on me, and since the boat has just arrived at Parkstone here's a pic that Dan snapped this morning

For sale Geonav 5 Chartplotter. Built in GPS aerial with cigarette lighter (12 volt) connector for power. Just plug it in and off it goes. 5" grey scale screen with built in world chart and Lyme Bay to Christchurch Bay chart cartridge. Come complete with stand only 3 years old (chart cartridge is less than 12 months old). Simple to use system with only three buttons, they being a cursor controller for way points etc, an enter button and range button. The plotter and chart cost

This morning myself and Dan travelled to Plymouth to check out a 1991 Colvic Seaworker. We were vey impressed with it and with a few personal alterations would do us very nicely. Fully kitted out with trim tabs, 50 gallon fuel tank, electronics, etc powered by a 70 HP Ford 4D Diesel we were happy with the deal and we now have a new boat called Simply Red. What was nice was the bloke we bought it from hails from my part of the world, Manchester, and we got talking as to how he came to be in Plymouth. Then it hit me with an awful realisation. The boat has a red hull with black and white trim and with red interior and it's name said it all. "You're a United fan aren't you." I asked, he replied "Oh, yes it's my second love, hence the name etc." As a huge Man City fan all work on the boat is on hold until we've painted the hull blue and changed it's name. I can't believe it, I've bought a Man United boat. Ps We're still very happy with it.

Martin, yes it is the same marque of boat, not as pretty or tidy as the one you posted, but I've got all winter to do her up.

Sold on Tueday Bootlegger II, sorry to see her go, but needed something bigger if Dan and I are going to go further a field and the old girl wasn't big enough if I wanted to take more than two out at at a time. So after several years marauding around Essex, Kent and for the last two years Poole she has hopefully gone to a good home. Sorry to see her go really, but ther you are. Checking out a Colvic Seaworker tommorrow, she needs a bit of a tidy, but the hull appears to be in good nick, she's got traim tabs and a Sabre 85 shaft drive so she'll do 12-14 knotts, which is good enough. (Dan'll have to get used to plodding about a bit)

One thing, if you're considering a conservatory or windows, do not under any circumtsances use Apple. They have little or no quality control when fitting units, and will fit damaged and u.s. units if they arrive on site in that condition.

As look would have it just before coming back to London myself and Dan spent a few hours spinning etc at the Chain Ferry last night. Net result 2 spider crabs, one Dragonet and a small smoothhound, no bass or wrasse but have caught both there on floating/diving plugs.

Martin, with regard to club membership cards my other half said she can knock some out for you, she's got a PC, softare and a laminator, pity she can't knock me up a new pennant.

Dan visted Bootlegger today to get the new soleniod fitted to the power trim and discovered that some one had stolen our PBSBAC Pennant which had been proudly flying. They been aboard and ignored the solar charging system and the few electronicswe leave on board and removed the pennant from the radio aerial. Must be either a limited market for the theft (if stolen to order) or someone with a flag fetish. Gutted

Good result, presumably you no longer need to crew for Bootlegger next week, but the offer is still there.

On the face of it it appears exectly what you're looking for, so long as the hull is OK (no sign of Osmosis blistering) the boat itself should be OK. The most important thing then is the condition of the outboard and trailer, I note that it's a 40 HP Mariner (that could be an ex RNLI contract engine) if it is it's likely to be in good nick as they only keep them for about 3 years and then get rid of them. With regards the trailer I'm not really up to load weights on unbraked trailers so I can't comment but generally if the bearings are OK then it should be OK. Everything else would be pretty much cosmetic. I could look at the boat for you (if it's not in deepest Kent) as Kent is only accross the Thames from where I work and I have a mate that lives in Sandwich.

Whilst you're bereft of a boat you're more than welcome to crew for me and Dan on Bootlegger. I'm back from London on the evening of the 28th of August and at home until 5/09/06 and we're planning a few jaunts onto the ledge that week if you're interested.

Myself and Dan have been all over the place this week. On Monday we fished Christchurch Ledge for the first time proper and I really enjoyed it. (PS Thanks Bob for the PM really helpful and we'll fish the bridge next time). We set out from the blocks at 1pm and stopped off at Hengistbury to feather. I got one joey, Dan thankfully was hitting strings of them. Apparrently the reason was, I was using silver feathers and Dan was using the white paper feathers from Castaways (who according to Tim and Alan there outperform all other feathers that they stock). After filling the fish bucket with Mackeral (PS We hit on the idea of putting water in the bucket and aerating it from time to time (a sort of live tank, only it's a bucket)). Good Idea, but dont, all that happened was that both of us and the cockpit got damp. We then fished along the length of the ledge starting at the end toards the needles and worked back. I was downtiding with sandeels, and whereas before I couldn't catch a single mackeral I went through about two hours catching nothing else. After about 6 hours we had boated four different species including Wrasse and pollack and Dan caught a rather nice 3lb Bass, which is not bad when, in the case of Dan has only till recently done most of his fishing from the shore, he was v pleased with himself. We noted when we boated it the bass chucked up a peeler (although it was caught on mackeral) and when Dan took it home and fillted it it's stomach was full of crabs. Then after having an enjoyable pleasant day time for home, only to discover the leg wouldn't raise (subsequently found out due to a knackered solenoide). So unable to trim the engine properly we limped home at 16 knotts. Yesterday at 10.30am, a bit blowy, but we'll be alright once around Old Harry and into Swanage Bay. Yeah Right. We feathered for Mackeral about 1 mile from the end of the pier parrallel with the Peveril Buoy, as usual didn't catch squat, but did catch a pollack (out of sympathy no doubt). Dan managed to boat a single sorry specimen and we then spent the afternoon drifting along Ballards into Swanage Bay, there were a couple of other boats fishing nearby but they appeared to blank as well. We ended up right at the last we some rattling good bites but struck out each time, probably due to the fact by 5pm we were too busy hanging on to the gunwales. At 5.30pm we called it a day and returned in increasingly snotty seas, and that's that for another two weeks.

Alan thanks. really helpful and not as complicated as I beleived.

In five years I'm due to retire, I have considered taking up chartering as a kind of business/hobby to top up my pension, and I am of the considered opinion that there is a niche in the market between the 40 foot catarmarans blue water boats and the wooden chugs chugs operating out of Poole. However prior to doing so is there any one out there who has knows the current position on charter skippers qualifications. I am aware of the necessities to operate with a COP/Safe Haven. At the moment I have an ICC, day skipper, adavanced powerboat /safety boat, VHF and First Aid both RYA and ELS. Is there a seperate qualification and any pre requsites before attempting the course?

Myself and Dan are looking to fish Christchurch Ledge on Monday. I've only fished this area once on someone else's boat eon's ago, and this will be the first time we've looked at this area properly as we tend to fish the Poole/Swanage area. I'm looking to fish for Bass using mackeral and lures, any advice or any pointers as to particular features or locations would be really helpfull. I don't want to look like a muppet, again. Thanks in anticipation

The time would be when pretty much everyone is available, although the best time would be early winter/spring. The cost would be based upon how many. When I have the minimum figure of six I can then get a figure.

I am trying to arrange a trip for whenever to Norway for a few days cod fishing. I am trying to broker a deal with a London based travel company who owe me a couple of favours. I am intersted in the packages which are boats are supplied, in the main being 18 footers. Price will be based on, as usual, by numbers. Myself and Dan would be up to it immediately and the minimum figure would be at least six, but effectively the more the merrier. Once I had in principle a figure of how many would be prepared to go then I could arrange costings. Please note however, the length of time would be over 5 days minimum, I know they arrange 3-4 day ventures but effectively this means only two days fishing with nearly a day and a half lost in travelling and the time is so short as to truncate the 1st day fishing proper. There is an added bonus that if the weather is so poor beach and Fjord fishing often results in 30 lb cods being caught and they don't get excited over anything else under 20 lb.

On the 6th of July we were leaving Parrkstone Bay by the slip, moored alongside was this open topped monster, with three 275 hp outboards bolted on the back. I can't imagine the size of the fuel tank or how much it costs to even start it. The tender behind it is an Arvor 20.

Off the top of my head Bob no I don't as the mark is on my GPS and charts which are in the custody of Dan whilst I am away as he has use of the boat when I'm in town. The wreck is shown on the Poole Bay chart and on my chart plotter about 1/2 mile from the outer patch towards Hengistbury Head, we were going to fish the wreck at Ballards Point, but the dive boat was diving there (funnily enough). At the end of the day it was my fault for badly planning the day, it's not as if there isn't enough marks and wrecks in the area.