TomBettle

That's stumped me Chris! I didn't know they did an Orcadian 23. I've sold a couple of 20's, but not seen any bigger Orkney's other than the PH and DA. Hmmmm. It's a big boat for a 115Hp, but the hulls were in that transition between semi displacement and semi planing (assuming it's a similar hull to other Orkneys of the same sort of size). I would have thought it would scrape 20 knots if set -up and propped correctly. What engine is it, 4s or 2s? How old? Not sure if a new engine is the answer without knowing more, but even with twins it will use more fuel. That said, it sounds like you are running at WOT most of the time already. You may need to simply work to a slower cruising speed or rather than look at changing the engines.... possibly a different package if you want speed and economy?

You'll void your insurance even if you put 2 x 60's on there. What boat is it? Tom

Very roughly it will use about 1/3 more fuel than you are currently for the same speed. It is unlikely to have quite the same performance as the 115 so your fuel may go up a little further than my estimate as you may find you are pushing it harder. If you can go twin 70's you'll match the performance of the single (possibly beat it) and only use the same sort of amount of fuel as the twin 60's. Tom

Bu@@er That looks like it would ruin a nice day cruising the Solent! Glad that the crew are OK, save for burns. Looks like it may have been a Jeanneau by the boot strap too Or maybe a Bavaria.... Nope pretty sure it's a Fairline Targa 38.

Happy Birthday Paul!

Thanks all for the best wishes. I was hoping to get to tonight's meeting for you all to buy me a birthday drink, but the padres are down and so unfortunately I'll miss it, please forward my apologise. Hope to see you all for the March meeting instead! Cheers Tom

Peter Is that because at your age you can no longer see the bottom? Nigel All that has been happening for years!

Hi All Thanks for the best wishes, but I was chatting with Martin about this and I've decided that my birthday is cancelled from now on. I shall remain 38 if that's OK with the rest of you. Terry, thanks for asking. Quest II is back working, but a few small teething problems more related to peripheries like gauges deciding to stop working with the new engine. Runs like a dream though. Tom

I'll second MES. Good quality and the local manager is an angler. Back up and after sales is very good in the unlikely event of an issue too.

Totally off topic, but completely (ir)relevent. Just had a message that Amelia in Cape Verde went 2 for 5 yesterday. Best 600lb. Her first fish and first session of 2010! Thought it was apt considering the title of the thread

Hmmmm If I make it, Abbie will be at home looking after Natasha so I don't have the issue of female company and keeping them interested (I'll be stuck with Chris on the berth next to me and he snores and farts.... then again, so does Abbie. I didn't say that). The fiver saving to berth in Weymouth is interesting, but I'll burn that in extra juice for the additional distance to cover each morning.... But then again, Weymouth will offer far more variety of things to do on the evenings.... Oh bugger, it's too hard to decide, I may simply nip home as I only live 25 minutes up the road now. Tom

According to the marina website diesel and petrol available Martin which will be more practical than Weymouth for the outboard boats as they will need to walk / car to get petrol from the filling station if we are there. I do like to use Andy for diesel if in Weymouth, but the Portland does seem convenient due to it's extra few miles out to sea... I am not fussy, but I quite fancy giving Portland a go? If nothing more than to try it.

Happy Birthday Mark!

...in total seriousness. Abbie's step dad is actually the skipper of Mr Cadbury's (jnr) Princess 42. Never a nicer man and I doubt very much he has allsorts. Maybe some jelly tots, but that's as far as it would go.

Brilliant!

50 Again! Happy Birthday.

Hi Guys Since about 2007 I've been a member of the Sport Fishing Club of the British Isles (SCBI for short). SCBI is a nationwide club of likeminded individuals. Sometimes the focus of the club can seem to be Blue Marlin or Tuna, but in truth it is simply about ALL sport fishing. Whether you are lucky enough for one or more blue water trip a year or your preferred species and technique is Striped Bass on the fly at Montauk or simply that your main pastime involves any form of targeted specimen hunting (Coarse, Game and Sea) in the UK's rivers, lakes or off the coast then these guys are well worth knowing and I think compliment the ethos of PBSBAC very well indeed. SCBI has been in existence for 30 plus years. It's been a small club with a big spirit and it's membership has and still does include some true legends of all aspects of angling for sport. Much like PBSBAC is about comradery, helping each other and organising time afloat together, SCBI does similarly. Whether that is searching for someone to share a beat on a stretch of the Tweed, looking for a Pal to fish Cape Verde (my trip was shared with two other SCBI members) or simply looking to fill a charter boat for the Conger championships the character of the club is much like our own... just nationwide. One the thing the club is incredible at is the production of their annual magazine. It truly is a phenomenal piece of work with some well known contributors and club members alike. I am very proud to have taken the front cover photo on the 09/10 magazine, but this is what it is all about. If you are as lucky as me to have fluked a great picture you may well find yours is on the cover of this coming years. It has been said, that the club magazine is better than global organisations annual mags. IGFA themselves often ask where there copy is as it's a better read than their own! Some say, the club membership is worth it for the magazine alone. I wouldn't go that far, but I would say it was a massive factor in me actually joining the club. Anyway, the point of this post is that the club needs more members. The club is open to all. Whether you are a seasoned Blue Marlin master or a Bass on the fly addict or simply love to catch Grayling on the Test, the SCBI would love to hear from you. They have the makings of a good website. Not as good as our own by quite some margin, but give them time and I am sure it will be first class. Please take a look at http://www.sportfishingclub.co.uk/ and if you are tempted please look to join which believe you can via the site or if that is not yet working I will only be too pleased to steer you to the membership secretary. Thanks for looking Tom

It's a shame, but I kind of agree. The comment about the mail out to the tackle shops getting no takers was a prime example of where a rep knocking on the door and actually talking to the owner would have got a massively bigger response. In fact, the rep only needs to visit one or two shops in each town and get their buy in. Others will soon follow when they realise the easy profit margin AND the fact they are doing the sport some good. Then the same with the clubs (I can't see why the same deal couldn't be offered to the clubs either). A commission based rep visiting the clubs and doing exactly what Mark himself did last night, but including a presentation on what the AT will do for anglers and how the membership money will be sent. Just my opinion.

A little more information: The likely departure date is Friday 11th June. Assuming we have 6 days on the boat, 7 nights then the cost is relatively high at

And as for Oistein's rapid learning of the English Language. "Flook Awf!" Of course I will Martin. Not defo booking it yet, I need to get a bunch of about 8 of us together.

Gents I have been asked by some mates at the Sports Fishing Club of the British Isles to enquire to Holger about booking Troms Explorer for a week later in 2010. The booking will be for a week's full board accomodation, flights and 5 or 6 days fshing aboard the best charter boat in Norway. The dates are tbc, but I can pretty much guarantee to secure the best week available in the diary. When I say "best week", whilst I cannot guarantee a 50lb Cod, this week will probably give you the best chance. I don't know prices yet, but I will try and get them as keen as possible. It won't be cheap, but will be an amazing adventure. Expect something in the region of

If I was applying antifoul for the first time on a new boat of mine I would now not hesitate to use copper coat. A small slime coat will build up, but nothing worse and that will simply wipe / scrub off. I've not experienced any issues with it (as Charlie has) at all and have seen it applied to several dozen boats all with very good results. Oh, another good point is that I don't think it suffers if the boat is taken from the water for a period of time. Most traditional antifouls will begin to lose their properties after a week or two from the water. After a month or 6 weeks the paint will be all but useless. Expensive?!!! No way. It's an investment. Do it once at twice the price of normal antifoul and it will last ten times longer. In my mind that's +/- 1/5 the price of normal antifoul in the long run. The downside is that it has to be properly applied. Just my own opinion. Tom

Charlie, "Growing" it in the freezer doesn't count.

Can't comment on Towergate's expense account, but the company has a good rep. Have fun at the show. Tom