TomBettle

OK I've been playing again. Enjoy!

I thought "Big Girl (you are beautiful)" was perfect for big beautiful Blue Marlin!

Derek Both Dreamin On and Lani's were stunning. Dreamin On is a Garlington 78.. 82' overall and owned by a gazillionairre family from the states. The Captain is Randy Hodgekiss. He lost his leg in a drunk motorbike accident not to a shark. First mate is Lincoln Funk. Really nice lad with a passion for boats and big game fishing. Here's Lincoln with owner, Warren Kainath, in the chair.... A small Blue of just a few hundred pounds is attached. I was lucky enough to be invited to join the guys for a day. When with them we had a "poor day" and only tagged and released four Marlin for 12 strikes. That said, we achieved the incredible feat of actually leadering all three fish in a triple header. This is a once in a lifetime achievement that anglers and captains only dream about. This final shot of Dreamin On, the business end, is I believe the current front cover for the Sports Fishing Club of the British Isles year book. SCBi is not just about Big Game, any sports fishing (including coarse) is welcomed. Anyone keenly into big exciting fish would do well to join. The year book alone is usually worth the membership fee, but it is a great bunch of like minded guys... A bit like PBSBAC! Here is a good article written by Lee Stevens (co-founder of Marlin Magazine). I met Lee in the airport bar at Sal island on my way home. He was on his way out to join the boys on Dreamin On after hearing about the incredible success we were all having. It's worth the read, flick through to page 23 for the story... http://en.calameo.com/read/00003084645b2af30710f The next stunning boat is Lani's. She's a Viking 74, owned by Kumar Dadlani. Anyone who has been to Lanzarote and nowadays much of Spain will be familiar with the chain of "Lani's" restaurants. Well this chap is the owner and he spends his profits fishing. Amazing guy. Very funny and a real gent. Most anglers / crews release billfish by slowly dragging them along by their bill to get oxygen in their gills. Kumar dons a pair of flippers and freedives down with the fish, literally swimming them down 25 to 30 metres to get them going again. Not a bad read is this article on Viking boats website. It is the story of Kumar's delivery to Lanzarote. He and his girlfriend, Virginia Escobar, drove her themselves via Northern Canada. http://www.vikingyachts.com/valhalla/Recor...tting_Lanis.pdf

My first ever attempt at Youtube. Not exactly pro quality, but a bit of fun. Hope you all enjoy it. Tom

Now sourced! What a brilliant club this is. Thanks so much. Tom

Hi guys I need a new buff! After deciding to ditch the windlass on Quest II and go back to the good old Alderney Technique I am looking for a large ball fender to do the job. If anyone has a spare, I am prepared to pay sensibly for it. It needs to be a minimum of 60cm in diameter. PM or call me on 07780687795 if you have a spare. Many thanks Tom

As Charlie said, the fishing wasn't great by Alfresco standards, but we each got our rods well bent and managed at least a couple of fish. But, more important was that despite all of us looking rather tired, the banter flowed and the laughs continued through the day. Big thanks to Gordon for the great Hot Dogs and of course an enormous thanks to Charlie for the invite to John and myself. ....John may be from Bristol, but he can't help that and despite what other websites may suggest, he's not all bad and a very keen angler who is doing his best to get his PB's up. I think he was top rod too? Anyway, thanks Charlie. Once again, a real treat to be aboard Alfresco. Tom

Remind Tom to wear sensible footwear. ...Stiletto's on Saturday

Thanks for all the tips chaps, really useful stuff (even Pete's ). We love the house. It's not ours, we are simply renting it from the Drax Estate so any investment has to be based around the fact we are improving someone elses property. Therefore the expense has to be justified. The double glazing is something of an oddball. I have no idea how they allowed it and it is a real mishmash of windows. Clearly fitted on the cheap and I guess without asking permission. I have to say, they are rather drafty, but I am struggling to know how to fix that. Paul's comments about the "Chimney Effect" are interesting. With the living room door shut and the fire on you can stand by the door and feel freezing cold air shooting through the gap underneath, literally being sucked in to the living room from the rest of the house. The problem with the rest of the house is that most of the doors don't close properly. The few that do, don't seal to well and so I guess that is the next job on the list. Anyone handy with a planer want to offer some assistance over the next week or two. Sorting out our doors (with me as labourer and tea maker) in exchange for a trip out to the Summer Cod marks next year? Draft Excluder, doors closing properly and make sure any gaps to the loft are sealed properly (I know of a couple right away - the one where the spiders the size of saucers comes through will be first on the list). Thanks chaps Tom

Point taken Colin. I've got, Husqavarna Chainsaw Boots, Stihl Chainsaw Jacket, Chainsaw Trousers, Helmet, Visor, ear protection and gloves. And will be very careful!

Hi Mark Loft is well insulated already, but the doors (front and both back) whistle nicely and could do with draft excluder (no probs, I can do that!). The windows are double glazed and all barr one is UPVC, but they were fitted rather "simply" and they all need sealing around the edges (I can probably do this too!). The oil costs? Only bought it once and got myself 500 litres just to kick off with. That was about

We don't do that sort of thing anymore Thanks for the help guys. So.... At the moment, I run the heating for a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the evening. And when I do, it is just the three radiators (dining room, Natasha's room and the bathroom. If I understand correctly I should really: 1) Turn all the rads on full pelt to get the system running nicely. 2) Bleed any air out 3) Now turn down and rads that are in low usage areas to just above "brass monkies" and keep the other (the three previous) rads to a comfortable setting 4) Run the heating in this fashion 24/7? Or just for the small amount of time I am at the moment? 5) Use the woodburner for additional warmth and cosyness! Sorry for wanting to get this right, but I am rather skint this winter and want to spend as little as I can get away with. Tom

Is it in Vectra boot sized (with the seats down) pieces? I'll come and get it if it is. Alternatively, I can bring the chainsaw round and chop it up sometime in the next few days. ....I'd prefer hardwood but beggars can't be choosers.

Thanks Martin! Now, we don't have a wall mounted thermostat, but from what you are saying (?) if you have TRV's then the wall mounted jobby sort of gets in the way anyway... The boiler does have a temperature setting on it. 1 11 111 1111 and I have it set at about 111 which seems to get the water good and hot, without actually boiling. So the question remains... Will I use much more fuel (oil, gas, whatever) if I turn on additional radiators around the house? Or Does the boiler simply use up it's energy to heat the water regardless of how many radiators are in use? Cheers Tom

Hi Dave Got a woodburner and love it - hence the comment in my PS about firewood. Got a good supply of old pallets too, but their is something very theraputic about watching a nice log burst into flames. It keeps the living room beautifully warm, but doesn't warm the rest of the house through. The main house is some four hundred years old and a mix of brick and flint. It is grade two listed, but oddly has double glazing (mainly upvc). That said, it is rather drafty. The loft is well insulated, but the walls have no cavities - they are about 18 inches thick. It is only a rented house so I wish to keep any fixing work to a bare minimum. Happy to fit draught excluder around doors etc, but any tips on economical heating using the boiler would be greatly appreciated. Cheers and thanks for your advice. Tom

Hello all you wonderful people (in particular plumbers and heating engineers). Up until this autumn I have always lived in a tiny house or flat where bunging one radiator on will warm the house through in no time. I now live in a fairly large, very old and rather drafty farm house and I am trying to work out the cheapest possible way of keeping the house warm - ok, not warm, but marginally above freezing. The central heating is oil fired and there are radiators throughout the house, complete with thermostatic valves. There is no wall mounted thermostat though. At the moment I am simply turning on the radiator in the large dining room down stairs and also one in my daughters room and one in the upstairs bathroom.... This means the rest of the house is like a scene out of some arctic, tundra adventure, complete with the wind whistling down the hallway. Am I right in thinking (probably not) that when our boiler kicks in to life it is basically at WOT or nothing? Am I right in thinking that to push hot water upstairs to the bedroom and bathroom means that it may as well also shove it to the other radiators in the house for little or no more oil requirement? I think what I am getting at... is it false economy to have the heating on and only one or two radiators? Will it cost little or no more to run the others too? Any tips on heating a dafty old farm house cheaply would be greatly appreciated! Cheers Tom PS: Man with chainsaw available to tidy up any fallen or dying trees from your property. This will be a free of charge service and all I want in return is the wood to use as firewood. Done at my risk with nopayment expected or wanted. Will not do any job that could possibly cause damage to property - at that point you need to call in the pro's!

Hi Martin This isn't meant in anyway to be picky, but we need to be careful when "recommending" anything that is FSA regulated. Although we are not a business as such, the insurance company mentioned to sponsor the site so we gain in some way. We are not allowed to actually recommend, just suggest reasons why we like them. That last sentence in mind: I use Denovo Marine Underwriting in Lymington. 01590 670055 www.insure-my-boat.com Personal Contact is Dean Shaw on 07919400119 Why? 1) I can vouch for the fact that they have a good claims department. My recent claim has taken a very longtime, but that is far more to do with me being on mates rates at the engineers. 2) Whilst they can be a smallish percentage dearer than some insurers for our lower value (compared to gin palaces) boats you do very much get what you pay for (check the small print of your policy and see what you are and are not covered for - my own claim involved a snapped crankshaft in the engine). 3) They are fractionally dearer, I think, due to the very personal service you get. If you call Dean, he will handle your quote and enquiry. Call the office and Shelly answers. Call the following week and Shelly answers again. Shelly will also send out your paperwork. The point being, it isn't some massive call centre in Mumbai, but a small, Lloyds backed, firm based locally. For me, the personal touch makes it all very much more worthwhile. If you do decide to insure your boat through them, please do me one favour. I have to declare to all of you that if you mention my name as your introducer, I will get a small bung. It is small, but it helps buy me a few beers for angling friends at the club meetings! Tom

...Charlie Wouldn't she make a good workboat?

The boss has a late 90's Zodiac (3.1?) with an air keel and air deck that is for sale. It's sat at the office and has been 3/4 inflated for about 2 months and is staying with the same pressure in the tubes. Can't make any guarantees, but it seems to be pretty sound and still looks fairly smart. He is being unrealistic on price, but I reckon it's worth

I found that in the past they arrived in the harbour with the first proper frosts. It seems a bit early for them yet, wlthough they are often sporadically caught in mid Summer just offshore with the mackerel so why not?

Welcome down Alan. Glad you made it at last.

Well done to all of you. Huge congratulations! Best wishes Tom, Abbie and Natasha

He's hardwood... can't afford that!

Have a chat with the guys at Marine Ventures at the entrance to Cobbs Quay. All the Merry Fishers come in with a piece very similar to that wedged up in the patio doors. On a different note, but still pertaining to wood.... Anyone know where I can get up to 2 x 8 planned all round? I need a fair bit to make a large, chunky, farmhouse style dining style table and side benches. Cheers Tom

Hi reg Glad you succeeded even if not by the spectacular poundage that we all hope for when the magical word "Norway" is spoken. For other people going, this may be useful. Credit for the website link has to go to WSF member "Norseman" who posted this link on their website. It's a superb site that will really help self drive boaters find the right spots. Tom Norway depth charts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is depth charts of Norway from the Norwegian Geological Surveys. The site is unfortunately in Norwegian, but under the link I will post how to get the depth charts out. http://www.ngu.no/kart/arealisNGU/ When the site opens, click the tab "Kart", and then mark "Dybdedata" You can then zoom in on your area. The more you zoom in, the more details you get. Should be okay to use for planning trips. If you need more detailed instructions, just post here And I will try and lead you trough it.