TomBettle

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.

I disagree with that entirely. Braid is lovely to use, soft on your hands, coils beautifully. You don't need it to stretch at all as it will be the length of chain that offers the cushion between the boat and the anchor. A long enough length of chain will correctly drag the anchor in (horizontally) to the sea bed and also only the end attached to the warp will rise and fall with the waves leaving the section shackled to the anchor simply giving some horizontal pull.

Lovely pictures Adam! Amazing to see the colours.

Very good hull if given the chance to perform (not with a 25!). One of the ugliest boats ever to have been produced, but the hull is good. With that engine it has been built for the river or for very VERY gentle estuary / harbour work. Anything on open water and it will be painful and rather juicy to run.

Hi Martin I have no problem with it at all. Our site is certainly much easier and more pleasant to deal with than some of the others! I don't think Ian ever meant to bend any rules. As it happens, I know he is selling these priests for a mate... I saw it on another site. Not even sure if he is making a profit from them. Not a lot of difference from (and not singleing anyone out on purpose), for example, Trevor's smokies which I for one was extremely pleased to find out about! As far as I can tell, he is simply a new member trying to find ways of getting involved with and getting the most out of the club. Not sticking up for Ian at all. Don't know him at all well, in fact he and I have had a big bust up before, but I think we should try and welcome our new members a little more cordially. Ian has a wealth of knowledge, specifically on species hunting and inshore fishing to the west of our territory. He does also make bleeding good rigs which he has been known to supply as prizes in our comps. As far as I can tell, Ian and his newly refurbished 15 foot angling boat is a genuine addition to our membership...

Unfortunately no Glacier Bays! ...still trying to persuade the boss to stock a new brand that uses a concept (cats) that hasn't yet been widely accepted amongst private boat users whilsy in a recession. For some reason he is not too keen on the idea? Do have several Arvors in stock though. A 190, a 215AS and a 280. The 190 and the 215AS are both the end of the last production years stock, still brand new, but will have very good deals on them. Anyway, less of the selling! You'll be welcome down to have a browse if you wanted to take a stroll around the marina. All the best Tom

I haven't but it was Roger Bayzand that bought one (and his South Cat) as a result of being completely out handled when on his old monohull charter boat by Roddy Hayes in the Alderney Race. Roger's boat was in the region of 10m+ and Roddy was on a very much smaller Glacier Bay and running rings around him. It is a huge amount better constructed than a Trophy (my opinion) and works on the displacement hull theory (same as Troms Explorer) so is both fast and incredibly economical for the power used. As for space... depends on the model you go for, but essentially it is a centre console which has masses and masses of all round space. Far more suitable for drifting than the silly "cuddy up front" concept that us Brits tend to work to and automatically losing all that available space. Fine at anchor, not much use on the drift... Even the cuddy versions have deep walk arunds to get forward and whilst the cockpit space will be akin to a typical Pilot House (rather than a pure fisher) this will give the benefit of have the benefit of offering a much more comfortable helm position (less movement further aft), the benefit of almost zero roll, the stability of a cat, the smooth ride of the cat, the efficiency of the cat..... Tremendous boat, without the downsides of a Cat (due to good design) such as sneezing or a tendency to try and broach in a following sea (NB: not all Cat's do this, but it is a trait). Price.... no doubt it will be fairly shocking at the moment with the exchange rate against us, but the cuddy version of the 2270 with twin 115's will be in the region of

If looking at Cats, then yes, the Cheetah is very good. Sean has been building them since the first marine ply one was built and still (I believe) being beach launched at Ventnor to this day, some 14 or 15 years later. However, in my very humble opinion, the worlds best small catamaran is the Glacier Bay. I am in the luck position to be able to order them in as an unofficial Dealer via their Eastern Atlantic distributor and parent manufacturer, World Cat. Seriously, I have an interest in them as they are the absolute dogs danglies of catamarans, complete with the massive benefits they bring, but maintain all the ease of ownership of a mono hull. Look at the smaller cuddy versions such as the 2270. Go with the model in the picture and add a set of clears to the T Top for complete cuddy style weather protection. http://www.glacierbaycats.com/show/boats/m...2270_cuddy.html Two living legend skippers have each owner a Glacier Bay for their private use. Roger Bayzand and Roddy Hayes (incidentally, both good friends) cannot say enough good things about them.... I trust their opinions implicitly and if I ever had the spondoolies, I would invest in the 2680 Hardtop with their Alaska Pack closing wheelhouse door... http://www.glacierbaycats.com/show/boats/m...ed_hardtop.html

Hi Ian For a very small fee you can sponsor part of the website and have a proper ad up. never realised that how much is the fee for I can do that? Speak to our Chairman, Paul Jennings (PaulJ). I used to sponsor part of the site when at Southern MB and it was really inexpensive stuff.

Hi Ian For a very small fee you can sponsor part of the website and have a proper ad up.

Ultimately Ian... this is what it is all about.

Hi Tom, I am assuming it will be easier to ask a question on here and get a decent answer unlike the other site never had chance to get to your Chandlers this week, spent the day in hosptital in London and was not particularly in the mood. Woody, if I get the boat ready by the September boat comp do you fancy jumping in? I will see you tonight anyway unless is rains hard. All a little more cosey and friendly over here! You may have seen that I have given up over there in my own name and now just float gently about in the wings with a nick name. Much nicer bunch here. We are a genuine, smallish angling club with this great website to help keep those of us on the interweb together. Join in and get the best out of it. Shame your boat won't be ready for the early Bass down this way. All the best Tom

Hi Ian Welcome to the best local club in the South Coast. Chilled out, easy going and nothing more than some very genuine banter. Along with some great info and tips. I am still hoping to catch up with you and Ewen at the end of the month, hopefully to weasle out a Bass or two. All the best Tom

Reckon I may be able to get a copy ........

It will be if you get out on Charlie's boat, "Alfresco", as your arms will have been pulled out of their sockets by all the fish. Welcome to the Club Mike.

Not as big as the picture looked Fred, but still clonking! Well done mate.

Awesome stuff Billy. Fantastic fishing by Sam! Tom

Craig.... For future reference, we have diesel at Parkstone Bay Marina. And petrol too

Nice fish Fred!!!!! Gotta be pushing 90lb????

Dan PM sent and Alun thanks but don't think I could take that lot festering nicely until Thursday. Thanks to you both. Anyone else with "Frozen" blood and guts or coming in with some on Tuesday or Wednesday? Cheers all. Tom

Oli Don't have the times yet, but we aim to be heading towards the back of the Needles area somewhere off St. Catherines (so Chris from Pursuit tells me). That said.... We are going for a magazine review. Don't know what mag (suspect Sportsboat and Rib), but freelancer, Simon Everett is writing it. Think it will be on the boat first and the fishing second, if we catch anything. I am guessing that you would be very very welcome to drift with us.... two slicks are better than one! ...I wasn't going to go at all, but a day on that boat with or without fish will be amazing. Tom