TomBettle

Neal Try calling Mark Banks at Just Fishing Boats. Mark is a trader, but is often very generous in his bids. He buys boats for cash. Can't guarantee he will be interested, but you never know. Tell him I gave you his details and call him on 07917414576 Good luck Tom

Alan I have the same windlass and anchor as you and it is all I use. I have added 110m of multiplat warp to mind and have never yet had the anchor slip in up to 150 feet. I do not Alderney ring my anchor simply as the standard bow roller is not suitable (ask Graham Gear). It is very strong "up and down", but not designed for the side to side stress created by driving the anchor out. The downside is that I do need to go up to the foredeck and it does take practise to drop using the windlass. It isn't as hard as it seems though. I would get a stack of multiplait spliced onto your existing set-up and start learning to use it effectively. If you do still want to Alderney it I would consider changing the roller or tying off to the forward cleat prior to driving out. The Brittany anchor works brilliantly for me.

Hi Guys Yes the Jeanneau site is a mystery all of it's own. Trouble is, we have to take a lot of our data from it. Actual maximum beam of the 585 is 2.4m and loa is 5.75m For Coddy, the 655 max beam is 2.62m and loa is 6.66m (excluding optional platform). Engine is actually a Yanmar 110Hp for 2008 models.

When Troms Explorer comes round on her way to Norway, I am so tempted to stop and catch a few mackerel off the Bill just as my little poke in the eye at the idiots calling the shots. At 13m would I really be being that naughty?

Would be fascinated to give it a proper Winter session at some point. ...As most know the main sharking season up off Scrabster is January / February so why do we expect them to only be a Sumer visitor down here?

Yes it certainly felt like being sat on one of those fairground rodeo rides whilst being in a submarine and staring at the washing machine window. Didn't even realise you were behind us! The original forecast gave the harsh weather from lunchtime tailing off by the evening. We all set off nice and early to be over at the island before lunch. Trouble is, nobody told the weather what the forecasters had decided and it hit fairly hard about 09:30 / 10:00 am... ...almost exactly as we stoped feathering some bait up at Portland, so we ended up running the whole crossing straight into it. Not pleasant and not one to be repeated too often on a small boat. I'd agree with Ahoy and Duncan that given the choice a tailng of 4 would most sensible.

Martin What was the weather we had on that crossing when I joined you guys with Quest II and Duncan came on Phaeton? I wouldn't want to cross in any more than that. It is no longer fun. I seem to remember that was about a 5 on the nose????? It dies off nicely by the afternoon (after we had made an early run for it to miss the forecast of it arriving at midday) Tom

Sonny!!! Cheeky bleeder. I got called that by a prospective customer the other day when he asked what trim tabs did. I explained and then he proceeded to tell me how he knew everything about boats and didn't need me telling him anyway, sonny!

I'll certainly hope to make the journey aboard Quest II from Weymouth. I didn't make it last year as I was too busy, but I nw have an alteria motive and if a multi boat trip was planned I would be very keen indeed. Charlie, this is not exact as, of course, fish can be caught at other times, but. Flatties from the end of April with a neap tide in May being ideal. This ties in nicely with some good Ling on the wrecks too. Bass on any of the Summer Springs and Bream on anything from May onwards. Tope from June and of course as the Summer progresses some of the best sharking potential in the English Channel. I would need to try and find space in the diary as Spring is rather busy to say the least, but I am definitely keen.... if I haven't sold Quest II by then (I am not exactly trying hard, but she is tentatively for sale through lack of use). If I have then I'd be hoping to crew.... please. Tom

I am not 100% sure, but am of the impression that these guys are the actual supplier to Solent Plastics. www.powellmailorder.co.uk Some really interesting (as far as plastic drums can be) drums on and around page 352 of their catalogue.

Happy birthday Paul.

Thank you Peter. Yes I am fat and greying rapidly, middle age hit about 4 years ago. I had yesterday off Alun, but it was a bit of a bussman's holiday. I am about to (hopefully) become an RYA instructor as another string to my bow so I spent the day out with Keith from Cruise Control and Tony who is ex Poole Marine Police and now a Trainer (he trains the instructors...) having a wee bit of an assessment on my ability or lack of at the helm. Great fun in the harbour in the rather windy conditions on a Rib. Tom

Just remembered my favourite Winebox is almost empty... hope Abbie has noticed and treated me to a new one.

Thanks Very Much Guys. ....Having a great day so far stuck at work!!!

As an add on to To Rich's comment. The water circulation is important for pelagic species like mackerel, but less so with Sandeel, Prawn or other baits. The direction is important and is all wrapped up in science with the "Coriollis effect". Of course mackerel will survive without the water circulation, but they will not last as long as they need a constant flow over their gills.

Adam The waterpuppy is all but silent. I don't run it 24/7 more because it doesn't need to be run 24/7 than any other reason. It draws more than a bilge pump, but not enough to worry a big leisure battery.

Use the deckwash pump Jack. You don't run the livetank 24/7, just when steaming and for short bursts to get some cool, fresh water in.

Jack Why don't you simply build one the tried and tested way that works? You do need a round tank and the water will need to circulate clockwise. Simply putting nice corners in a rectangular tank and spraying water on the top won't make the fish very happy and they will croak it. A boat the size of yours should really do it properly. Get a skin fitting and sea cock banged in the bottom of the boat by a pro and then fit a Jansco water puppy inline coming up to hozelock connectors coming in at the transom. This will allow you to choose to use the same fitting as a deckwash or plug into your livewell as you see fit. Using the correct shaped tank. 1) Drill several (lots) of 5mm holes around the top rear side, some three inches down. These will act as the overflow and water will either drain through your scuppers if you keep the tank inboard or straight out if outboard. 2) Opposite the overflow holes, plump through a hozelock fitting to allow connection to the new pump fitted at the transom. On the inside of the tank fit a 90 degree elbow that points slightly downward and clockwise. 3) At the very bottom of the tank, as low as you can go, plump in a further hozelock connector with a hose tap on the end. This can be turned on to empty the tank at the end of the day. Fit the tank in your chosen location with a proper strap and it won't budge. Job done, easy peasy and happy fishes.

Hi guys Thanks for those that have complimented me, but I haven't really had much to do with it other than persuading a mag that doesn't do fishing to do fishing. Lester, is a decent guy who fancied doing something a bit different, so all credit to him. Tom

I think it is. Lester is a decent chap. Sure he spends most of his working life aboard multi million pound gin palaces, but think he was surprised by the number of guys at the registration. ...bleeding freezing, still dark, not much pros[pect of catching, but loads of people and laods of boats lined up.

Some of you may know that Motorboat & Yachting journalist, Lester McCarthy, took part in the recent open competition. Take a look at the link below for his report which is on their website at present, but likely to make it to print at some point too. If you then look at the pics link you may see one or two that you took yourself. http://www.mby.com/auto/newsdesk/20080025152830mbynews.html

Hmmmmm? Are we thinking sabotage or just plain jinxed?

I have been wonderingthat too Duncan, but it does seem that there is a simple electrical fault onboard this memebers boat. Doesn't appear to be anything serious (serious enough to break down) and will now be fixed very easily by someone who knows a little electrickery. Anyway, the member is safe and sound, his boat is too, it gave Simon, myself and Swanage lifeboat an interesting hour and a half just before dark and made me realise to recharge my hand held a little more often! Tom

It was nothing dramatic. One of our much loved and respected senior members has a duff battery that gave out the ghost on him while he was fishing some four miles or so East of Peverill. He dutifully called the coastguard who despatched the Swanage lifeboat (Let's be honest it was a lovely day and they fancied a day out of the office too!) and then he telephoned one of the Bosun's here at Salterns. Head Bosun, Simon Chalk, and myself decided that we would become super heroes (errr, like I say, it was a lovely day) and nipped out with a fully charged battery in one of my spare stock boats. We arrived at almost exactly the same time as Swanage Lifeboat ( we had three times the distance to run too! ) who stood by whilst I manouvered our boat and Simon nipped across and hooked up the new battery. Our PBSBAC colleagues boat fired straight into life and they bouyed out the anchor and headed back towards Salterns. A bit of banter with the lifeboat crew as we waited and then I heard Paul's voice crackle over the VHF. The trouble was, my handheld was cutting out due to accidentally leaving it on in my grab bag and not bothering to fish out the spare batteries from the bottom of it (don't worry, I would have done in a real emergency). I couldn't hear Paul, and he couldn't hear me, but it was handy to know that someone else was listening in just in case we really did need some help. So, no fishing for me, but we did land a rather nice boat safely back into Salterns. Tom PS: Whilst the lifeboat wasn't really needed, once they are called by the coastguard then they will come out regardless. It's good to know that the big orange boat is there.