TomBettle

Little pre new year bump

JUst to add to Wedger's comments. You will find that any insurer will take your money and send you a certificate, but if you had a claim and the assessor found the engine was bigger than the manufacturers maximum then your insurance would be invalid. That's a pain if you have sunk your boat, it's a prison term if you have caused major injury to a third party. As for engines. I very much doubt your boat is drawing 2' unless you mean that with the engine down. Most 19' planning or semi planning hulls will draw 1' to about 14 or 16". Some may have a small skeg on them making them more semi displacement / semi planning and I guess if yours had this it could bring the overall down to 2', but unlikely. Anyway, that's by the by. IF the maker allows an engine as big and a 50 is giving you 20 knots then a 90 will give you +/-30 knots assuming the hull is a planning or semi planning hull.

Just a heads up guys... Hope it won't affect the service you receive at Rockley, but I hear Andy has been made redundant. I would say come to us Sean, but we are 3300 for dry berth, a little more for pontoon.

NOW SOLD!!! Quest II has been used in many magazine articles and has proven herself over and over again as one of the finest private angling vessels afloat. Hugely specified beyond the makers standards she includes a full suite of Raymarine electronics including 12" plotter, digital fish finder, radar, autopilot, vhf. Unique is that has been fitted with hydraulic steering on commissioning, as with Bennet Trim Tabs (including the dash board gauge). She has also been fitted out with a reserve fuel tank, fully plumbed in which makes those mid channel (and beyond) trips not only easy, but very safe. One of the finest features about her is that after a very unusual engine failure in 2009 she had a replacement engine fitted at Christmas / New Year 2010. This engine has covered just over 70 hours and has been serviced by Poole engineers, Saltwater Solutions. The standard 695 cruises at between 12 and 16 knots. Not Quest II. She is the only 695 in the entire world with the Nanni 175Hp engine (the largest rated engine for the hull) which gives her a genuine fast cruise of 18 knots when fully loaded. Category B for 7 people she is a proper offshore vessel and spends almost all of her time afloat some 30+ miles out. If you boat on the south coast then a whole stack of VERY good numbers will come with her along with her English Channel Navionics Gold card. The boat lies ashore at Parkstone Bay Marina where she has been dry berthed for the last four years. She is a awesome in every respect. Loads of spec, come and take a look. Here is the ad I have just put on Findafishingboat. Stacks of photos and some youtube stuff taken on board on request. http://www.findafishingboat.com/jeanneau-m...her-695/DB39529 In brief: 2005 Merry Fisher 695 that has 451 hours overall 175Hp Nanni engine fitted Christmas 2009 with just +/- 72 hours Massive spec that includes full Raymarine suite of electroncis, autopilot, trim tabs, Alderney set up for anchor, total of 250litres of fuel capacity, twin batteries... She wants for nothing

Dave B is pretty good at checking copyright. I haven't seen the picture, but guess it is a stock photo from a previous article unless Adam has recently sneaked out a nice Pollack and not told anyone. If it has been previously used (with permission) one would normally assume the permission is allowed to roll on when they wish.

The old ones are the best!

Apparently this one arrived as a zip file and looked rather like a PDF (just explaining what our office lady said... I never saw it). She was flat out busy with other jobs so just clicked on it, believing it to be real...

Colleague at work just had an email to one of our work email addresses. It purports to be from UPS and states they tried to deliver a parcel on "X" date. "Click here to view details and print off a note to take to your nearest UPS depot". ...Or words to that effect. Don't click it!!!! Her computer is now dead as a dodo and the "System Fix" files that come up afterwards are actually from the people who sent the virus.

Just a thought, but rather than making statements from experts or specialists on an open forum that effectively slates the build quality and processes of one the most popular small boat manufacturers in the UK you should talk to them first. I am not a Warrior owner, but I believe they are better built than many other brands. That said, I am not a great fan of them and don't believe them to be perfect. Making public statements about shuttering ply, no stringers and lack of hardwood keel on an open forum without backing it up with any evidence is potentially slanderous and if proved incorrect could cost the op and potentially the club for allowing it a lot of money indeed. With documented evidence it is a different story, but doesn't necessarily make it right. A private discussion with Warrior would be a far better place to start.

A 2002 Trophy is no longer really a Bayliner and certainly not from the era where they became known as "Binliners" She looks a pretty good boat, but ask for the Hull Number as she looks a little older than 02. Could be the photos doing her an injustice. Don't like the add on radar arch, but that is just opinion. I don't think that would have been a factory extra, looks like something the owner had made. Etec's aren't my cup of tea, but it is a good engine however expect that engine on that boat to consume about 1.5 to 1.75 litres of fuel per mile at 20 to 22 knots. Up to about 26 knots though, the amount of fuel for the distance travelled won't change much. Just to add, she is VERY cheap. There is almost always a reason why.

Hi Dan Not many of the marine finance houses still lending and bizzarly those that are, are interested in amounts of

Yep, sounds about right!

Good luck anyone having a crack today. I am stuck at the office and wishing I was fishing. ...My money is on a surprise big Plaice in the harbour taking top spot.

Will be a b1tch to handle around the marina. ...no bridge wings to see astern.

Had the same directed to me via the Sport Fishing Cluib of British Isles asking for members to go to the 15th December meeting. I'll try to get there.

Give Cobby a shout. That should just about polish out.

I am either getting married or working on every single date you choose. This time it is working!

Hi Bill Santa Maria isn't actually a resort it is the main town on the island of Sal. Plenty of big fish to catch out of Sal, but it isn't the Marlin destination that real Marlin Aficionados go to. Marlin are there in very good numbers, but the boats cater primarily for tourists. As mentioned, contact Georgio at http://www.caboverdefishingcentre.com Georgio is a really nice bloke and the centre is based in Santa Maria. I would be tempted to try a half day messing about on the reef with one of Georgios smaller boats. Make it clear you want some proper fishing and not just tiny half pound Bream and if that goes well maybe book a full day after some serious string pullers like Amberjack or possibly even Tiger and Mako Sharks. There are locations around Sal where Tiger shark, Bull Shark, Bronzies etc can be caught from the shore. These are mainly up on the north coast. The hardest part is keeping a bait out there as the wind is NW and pushes a ballooned bait straight back onto the beach. Keep a big bait out there using your strongest beach gear and hang on.

He he he! That was more to do with my comments about being a tackle tart and then being jabbed by Rob. And as none of it has ever been cleaned, let alone serviced they are starting to show signs of needing shiny new replacements. As for the Ugly Stik. That actual model was my first ever boat rod. Given as an extra special birthday gift by my fishing uncle who got me started on this mad hobby. I have to agree that it was an amazing rod, just weighed more than a modern 50/80 nowadays. I am not quite sure it was the best rod "ever", my Alba 6lb class kicks it's butt in all aspects and weighs a few oucnes by comparison, but it was an incredible piece of late 70s / early 80s rod building engineering.

I am - we only postponed the Open twice so he could send us a prize!!! Ooops has it still not come?

An understatement from Tom!!! Hey, I'll have you know that all my kit is getting a little old now. Blimey, had it since 2007 it's positively vintage! I have a mate launching a new tackle shop and in time his own brand of gear so will have to hang on until his rods and reels are launched as they will be top line stuff. Keep an eye out for FishXL.

Apologies from me. I can't make it again.

Choice of tackle is very personal. Some like to fish with heavy gear in the belief that if they hook the fish of a lifetime they won't lose it, others have a specific preference for brand. I am a little bit of a tackle tart and like to fish lightish too. For me I loathe the modern Abu 7000 range. I personally am of the opinion that they are about as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Others love them... If I had to have one single medium priced reel and use it for everything it would probably be from the Avet range. I find the SX a little small for everything so maybe the next one up. My own reels are from the Penn TRQ range and I use the 100 for almost everything I do only stepping up to the 200 for BIG Conger, shark and other fish that could possibly break the 100lb barrier. The only other time the 200 comes out is if the 100 is on my main rod and I need to grab a second quickly after snagging up etc. I match my TRQ's with Penn Waveblaster travel rods in 6/12, 12/20 and 20/30 flavours. Alternatively, my preferred rod is an Alba 6lb class which I use for most of my wreck drifting for Cod, Pollack, Bass etc. The 6/12 has taken tonnes of really good fish including Conger into the 40s and Tope to in excess of 50lb It handles these fish with no problems assuming you don't panic! The 20/30 only ever comes out if I need to use more than 1.25lb of lead and it has handled many very big eels (current club record while fishing with Alfresco and many bigger fish still over at Portland). The above 20/30 would also be used against Porbeagle with the 12/20 being my preferred Blue Shark rod. I personally would only ever go heavier when I am talking seriously difficult fish to shift such as Common Skate or mammoth pelagics like BIG Tuna or Marlin. For Yellowfin Tuna I use an Alba IGFA rated 30lb class rod - IGFA ratings are much stiffer than UK ratings with a 30 being more like a UK 50/80. For Marlin I have a Penn UK80lb class rod (IGFA 30/50) which has taken fish to an estimated 750lb. These brags are actually pointing out that big fish come relatively easily on improbable gear if the whole lot is well balanced. The right rod, matched to the right reel with the right line and right drag settings. It's not rocket science just about balanced tackle. If you can't stretch to an Avet then look at a Penn 535. It is perfect size for uptiding, will handle shark and Conger, but will also provide sport against smaller fish like Pollack and Cod. It will sit fine on the rods you currently have, but will also sit on a nice shiny new 12lb class which will handle all your inshore and wreck drifting species whilst keeping a smile on your face.

Hi Bill I assume you will be in Sal or Boa Vista on a family holiday? If Sal, get in touch with Giorgio Assolari at the Cabo Verde Fishing Centre. He'll steer you in the right direction with tips for shore fishing and also a selection of rather basic, but adequate small charter boats for everything from scratching off the reef to BIG reef lunkers like Amberjack right up to the top of the tree with Marlin. It may be a tiny bit early for Marlin. I am sure they are there most of the year, but the true Marlin boats are probably not geared up for them or even running. They normally get cracking in March. I may be wrong... If you were over in Mindello (Island of Sao Vincente) then I would strongly recommend a frank chat with any of the Marlin boat captains, Zak Conde would be my own first choice. Ask them if you stand a real chance or will you just be burning fuel. Remember, I was spectacularly lucky on my trip, Marlin are truly tough to come by and nobody has come close to the numbers we had since we were there. That said, when the bite is hot in CV, expect a fish a day, often quite a few more.

Just in from my mate Zak Conde http://www.marlincapeverde.com/ of "Amelia" Some space for 2012 season. One week in March, a little left in June and July with realy good prices for July (it's when the granders have been coming). Either contact him direct through the website or ask me to put you in touch. Experience the same incredible fishing I have had out there. 27 Marlin in 5 days, 15 in one day. My best was +/-750lb on IGFA 30/50 Standup. This year 4 granders have come from Cape Verde, more than anywhere else in the world. One of those fell to Sea Angler magazines Dave Lewis. Please note I have nothing to do with the charter operation apart from having the trip of a lifetime with them and have since become friends with Captain Zak.