TomBettle

Totally agree with Martin. For the type of fishing we do, we do not encounter fish requiring a gaff. If you do plan do gaff conger then in the mouth and out of the lower jaw is, I believe the suggested method. However, in practise, trying to do that to 60lb of spinning angry eel is not easy. Get a big net, or simply get good at judging the weight by the side of the boat. They make an awful mess when brought inboard and even for me an estimate of 45lb is close enough. I would hope I'll be within a few pounds.

Ancasta have the rights to brokerage in Cobbs and would charge any other seller 1% of the final selling price (if they caught you!). Try: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk http://www.boatshop24.com http://www.rightboat.com All of these are really worth a go. In addition try deepsea.co.uk's classifieds.

The early D3's had a lot of teething problems (in fairness most new engines do, but the D3 was prone to them). The transition from a car engine to a boat engine wasn't quite so straight forward. Volvo had a habit of forgetting to do simple things like change the car versins paper air filter for a marine one and they had a habit of overheating, something due to the wrong coolant.... More recently (the last 6 months or so) I have seen far fewer niggles with any mini problems being sorted out during the PDi stage. It does seem to have a lot of torque compared to the more traditional lumps and is also really quite frugal on fuel. If fitted to an outdrive then really keep an eye on anodes. The same applies to shafts, but outdrives are hugely expensive to repair if they corrode. Also double check the installation, particularly if bolted to an American outdrive leg. Check the pito tubes (water pressure speedo's the yanks use, but we don't) as enthusiastic installation engineers have been known to fit the pito tube through the transom, then realise they don't have anything (a dial) to connect it to so leave it coiled in the bilge. Usually they are sensible enough to block up the end of the tube, but a bouncy boat has a habit of bouncing loose tubes and cables onto hot things like turbo's. Then you get a few gallons of water in the bilge. Not a problem and easily handled by a bilge pump, but it would be best if you didn't have the issue in the first place. So, if you find your pito tubes neatly coiled in the bilge at the transom, cut it off fairly short, block it up with the original bung and then clip it up out of the way of anything that may cause an issue. I like the engine, once any little problems are fixed. Tom

....just a little hint. Why does it need to have sponsoons down the sides?

Permanent "Loan" mate Help yourself. They are well used, but should be working fine.

Gordon I have a spare in the office you can "borrow" on long term loan. I haven't checked the electronics, but now I have got rid of the pick up, I am unnlikely to be dragging too many boats aruond so you would be welcome to it. Tom

Arrr but Martin we can fit livewell's, bait boards, insulated coolboxes, rod holders. Customisation is the key. Prestige 46 complete with outriggers and fighting chair. Now that's one I shall work on my boss for.... Hope I can catch up with anyone else who pops down. Tom

Hi Mike Just a thought, but the anode will need replacing (assuming it was the anode) otherwise you may find that whatever it was protecting will start rattling too....

Hi Harry I used to live in the tiny cottages behind the Ship Inn. My back garden was the slipway and given practise, it was a dead easy one to use. Word of warning though.... Do not stray either side of the gravelled slip. On one side is a steep drop and the other side is very thick deep mud. We've managed to lose a few trucks in the mud and needed several pick ups and a tractor from Moody's to pull cars out in the past! Best launch times are either right at low water when the slip shelves off steeply or at high water. You can launch throughout the tide. Other slips include a realy good one at Warsash by the Rising Sun pub. This one is best at low water, but watch out at any state of the tide for the tide to cause you problems getting on or off the trailer. Directly opposite the Warsash slipway is Hamble Point. A nice, managed, concrete slipway that is easy to use. It does cost something like

Would have loved to Martin, but I have to work the boat show.

Plop!

Find a leaning post Mike. If you try your pontoon idea I think that H&S at Davis' may have something to say. The yard won't be too pleased when several thousand pounds worth of pontoon are mangled and with that amount of force in the wrond direction I suspect they will be mangled. It does sound very much like your shaft anode. I hate shaft anodes and try to simply have an anode on the end of the prop. Shaft anodes always wear loose and rattle, bang and vibrate, not to mention, serve absolutely no purpose whilst they are loose. Tighten it up again and it will be fine until it loosens again. Do it sooner rather than later as that clattering and banging maybe against the gel coat of your hull which won't be doing it too much good. Tom

I always called you an old fart, but now you really are one!

It's that time of year again guys and gals. The one and only Southampton Boat Show kicks off next Friday 14th September for 10 solid days of boaty fun. I will be there for the duration and you'll find me at the Guinness tent, the burger van, the champagne bar (If I have just sold a biggy), chatting to the guys from Warrior or just maybe on my own stand which is, as always, down on the water on berths 033 to 038 and immediately the other side of the pontoon walkway on berths 367 to 372. For those looking for the Warrior boys, they can normally be found just a boat or two further along. As always, all of you are welcome to come and have a look around anything we have on display and it would be great to say hello to anyone from the forum. For those who may be interested in a nose around one or several of the boats from our range of well over 30, we will have on display: Cap Camarat 755WA Merry Fisher 625 Legende Merry Fisher 655 Cruising Merry Fisher 705 (World Debut - face lift and more version of the 695) Merry Fisher 805 Merry Fisher 925 Prestige 30 Sport Top Prestige 32 Prestige 34 Sport Top Prestige 36 (Face lift model) Prestige 42 (Face lift model) Prestige 42 Sport Top (World debut - IPS drive Sports Cruiser) If you have any interest in boats then this line up will be great to have a nose around and once again, you are all welcome. If anyone (I know a few people have contacted me directly) wants to look around anything specific that isn't listed then ask as we may well have it on display at our office on the river Hamble (10 miles away) or possibly at Poole (35 miles away) or Weymouth (50 miles away). See you at the show Tom

Have a great Birthday Mike.

The boat show is best, as is mid week. During the weekends everyone is out for a day in the sun (hopefully) with the family. During the week you have much more space to yourself and time to look at what you want to see and the sales guys will have time to show you properly. Also look at Nanni for the smaller engines. Good value and decent little lumps.

Ian If a boat is more than throw away money then always have a survey. I am supposed to know what I talk about, but I would always have a survey done on any boat over 12 months old. Boats are often illtreated and live in a very hostuile environment. They are not built in the same way as cars and so whilst boat number 100 maybe perfect, number 101 from the mould may be an absolute "Friday" boat. If the money you are paying is more than you would be preprared to lose then get her surveyed. Expect to pay +/-

Not sure what to say to that other than Tom That said, I do know a "nice" (not a word I would use) Quicksilver 640 with Mariner 100Hp 4s for sale. Complete with trailer and ongoing warranty work...

Mike For that all up weight there is only one choice and it is available with or without patio doors, sometimes photographed with my very ugly mug driving it and viewable various south coast locations. All the best Tom

Hi mate Big welcome to PBSBAC. As with others, a good all round angling platform, basic, but useable. In my opinion Orkneys are too light at the bow which is where the hard ride maverick described comes from. This also can make low speed handling interesting (when the wind gets hold). That said, it is a good boat at a sensible price. Tom

Hi Mike No it is not practical to tow a big inboard like that regularly. One or two people will do it once or twice a year (family holiday, winterising etc). You would still need one of the bigger 4 x 4's to do it. Shaft drive boats are harder than sterndrive boats as you automatically require a steep, deep slipway. I don't have the exact law to hand, but I think the maximum trailer width is 2.3m wheel to wheel and then the overhang each side can be up to .3m? Most cars will state the maximum towing weigh in the handbook. Very roughly: Dinky car like a Corsa etc, would be able to tow up to about 750Kg Medium small car like a Focus will be able to tow about 1250Kg Family car like a Mondeo may well be up at around 1700Kg MPV like a Galaxy and the smaller 4 x 4's like the Honda CRV are around 2000Kg Pick Ups are usually a little under 3000Kg (My L200 is 2700Kg Big 4 x 4s like Land Rovers etc are usually 3500Kg. Tom

Excellent first boat and well worth a peak! One word of caution, I get the idea from the post that it is being shifted off the drive way by an ex girlfriend who may not actually own it? If that is the case, be very careful who is being paid the money for the boat. If you pay the ex girlfriend for the money and she chooses to keep it then the ex boyfriend could quite rightly come and claim it back if he so wishes (this would usually involve the police and all sorts of unpleasantness). If, however, the bvoat is owned by the ex girlfriend and she is a good'n (the boat not the ex girlfriend), then grab her quick. Tom

The advise from all above is absolutely spot on. Stay at 15 foot minimum ideally 16 foot plus. The microplus is a fine starter boat, as is the Shetland range... the 535 for example. Both can be had for sensible money if you look hard. Remember the engien that is bolted on is as important as the bit that floats and also remember you will need to put some of your budget aside for saftey gear, like lifejackets, flares, first aid kit, hand held VHF. The Dejon is actually OK, but is purely for use as a lake boat or flat estuary / harbour fishing. It isn't built for going to sea. Tom

Ooops Yeah, the title does kind of give it away! Great fish.

Beauty! Any weight given? Estimate 18lb from the picture?