TomBettle

Very good. Managed 660 before I threw up.

Sorry I got out of bed the wrong side this morning. Maybe a "pig" is the wrong way to describe her, but we had an exact replica as a px a couple of years ago and it was an odd driving experience to say the least. Very lively "bow up" even when trimmed in and in a head sea she would get pushed around from side to side very easily not to mention mroe than a little uncomfortable. Pretty boat though and in diesel will be very cheap.

Due to cancellations there are two places to come and sea trial the 585 on Saturday (subject to weather) with Sea Angler magazine's Dave Lewis. Ideally you will have a wish to trade up (or across) sometime in the nearish future and you are looking at the alternative boats on the market. You will actually be helping to compile this boat review for the magazine so a little preparation is needed. In essence: The 585 is a Pilot House style boat. Jeanneau are one of the bigger (and better in my opinion) builders of this style. Many other builders try and give as much space to fishing as possible. Jeanneau tend to focus more on onboard comfort than trying to balance as many people onboard as possible. The 585 has cruiser comfort, with a deck space that is plenty for two to fish, three if you are sensible with your gear. The boat you will be testing has a 70Hp engine. She is rated to take up to 90Hp. Please say if you fancy coming along to take part. Please ask any questions you wish and I will try and let you ave the details before Saturday. Tom

Hi Adam ...before anyone shoots me down, these are approximations and not pin point accurate: 1) The Boat: It is a the little version of Duncan's boat. Now Duncan's flys along and is very frugal on DIESEL. It does drfit a bit odd when there isn't much tide and it can give a fairly harsh ride in heavy weather, but it DOES get through it as was proved when we went to Alderney. ...The 630 Top Moraga takes all the plus points of the 780 and throws them out of the window (with the exception of speed as it is quick). It handles like an absolute pig and will put several vertebrae out if you try and drive with any gusto. Oh, the petrol version will cost around

I wouldn't want to get a hook caught in the sides of that..... ....or a net around the prop..... errr props.

Hi Dan Nice to meet you last night. A really big thank you to the organisers and to B.A.S.S. for the effort they put into getting us a great presentation with som,e really interesting thoughts. Dan, I am with you in that I have always promoted keeping the "medium" sized fish and returning the lunkers believing that these would have stronger genes, immune system, tenacity etc (survival of the fittest). In fact I now feel a bit of a plonker as I have just been asked to write a bit for the SFSA Christmas News Letter where I did go into one about returning the larger fish too. Slightly confused here as I have always, certainly in recent years, been proud to return a bigger fish and happy to keep what we are now being tolled are the best fish. It will be a bit of a shame if I have been doing wrogn and now need to swap as my "large" Bass catching ability is well known to be pretty poor at the best of times, not to mention I don't believe the larger Bass taste any good.... It would be great if one of the B.A.S.S. boys couild put us straight. Tom

Ooooo Ooooo I know, I know! A very close second IS listed and didn't get a single vote Tom Bu@@er, just given away what he hasn't bought.

Jason dear chap.... ....come and see me for a slightly biased, but very open chat. Of course, I will try and steer you to what I have on offer, but I will also go through all the different plus points and minus point sof alternatives. Obviously we will have certain considerations you will need to prioritise, but I promise I can help as well as anyone, maybe more.... so long as you don't mind me talking about my own boats too. Cheers Tom PS: The kettle is always on.

I am not saying a word.... ....accept I have nothing whatsoever to do with what Martin has to say although I kind of helped with some ideas and discussions.

We do actually have one or two literary marvels within the club and the sort of reviews we see on here would make great reading in some of the mags. It is a shame that the mags to pick up on the opportunity. One problem is they do want specific types of photo's to go with any review, hence they prefer to have their photographer tagging along...

OK An executive decision (Dave doesn't want to get his camera's wet). The trial has been postponed from the 8th due to the impending cr@p weather forecast. It has been rearranged to Saturday 16th. All other details remain the same. Adam, Paul, Terry, Mike: I hope you can all make the revised date as we are looking forward to doing it. As before, anyone else will be welcome down to see the boat, but sea trials will be limited to these guys. Guys, please change your diaries accordingly. Any problems at all please let me know ASAP so that I can make alternative plans. Cheers Tom

Hi Charlie, how are you? Good to see you on here. Are you enjoying the boat? All the best Tom

That screws us lot up for the review then!!!! Terry in a thong Paul in suspenders Adam in a miniskirt Mike in a negligey I have to say Paul, you are being a little cynical about Dave's reviews. I have done qute a few with him now and, in someways, unfortunately, he does truly like the boats. So it always seems like we have paid him a few quid to say nice things. The truth is, everything he writes is usually exactly what we have discussed and chatted about during the review. This is one of the main reasons for asking you guys to join in. Some of you will like it, but it won't tick the boxes for you, some of you will hate it and I hope that some of you truly fall for it. See you Friday! Tom

Subject to the weather being at least "safe", we are booked for Friday 8th for a 10:00am start at Salterns. Anyone else who wants to view the boat will be more than welcome, but we will be a bit busy on the water to fit anymore on for tests. If we have to cancel due to dangerous conditions we will do our best to have an alternative date that suits all. Tom

We now have our fourth man all of whom can only come Friday so I hope that Dave got my message over the weekend to come on Friday!!! I originally wanted a team from PBSBAC and a team from WSF. WSF are the ones that cry on about a change to the magazine format, but when I invited them to take part they all went very quiet We have a motley crew of would be "customers". Adam F: For some reason I am nervous about letting Adam loose on one of my boats...? No reason for this paranoia at all as I know he can handle a boat well, understands the water and has some knowledge of the brand and style. Plaicemat: Now Terry is someone I am interested to see test the boat. He has been showing just a little more than a passing interest in the new model since we first discussed it earlier in the Summer. ....mind you, I am still nervous about him being let loose with it. Sinbad: Paul, I am fairly sure, will be positive and enthusiastic about the boat, but there is just a little something that makes me nervous about him too. Afishionado: Oh my god! What have I done!? Mike is coming to have a go too. Mike has all but made his mind up on a different brand, not to mention he is commonly known as something of a loony! (only joking Mike, maybe just mildly eccentric). OK, under normal circumstances, any one of these guys would be very welcome to come and have a go on one of my boats and then let me know what they thought afterwards. Feedback from a potential customer is always very useful, but now I am cr@pping myself as they will be giving their feedback directly to one of the UK's best known boat angling journalists!

As a passing thought: The three of you that are planing to come would be more than welcome to bring respective other halves if you or they are hoping to join you on the boat from time to time. It may be worth having input from the FPO....?

OK Guys So far the weather is looking like the review will be pushed to Friday 8th and I will try and push Dave Lewis for that. We simply wouldn't go if it was remotely dangerous on Tuesday anyway. I now have three names from PBSBAC for Friday. It should be fun and hopefully informative and just a bit different from the everyday Boat Test the magazines normally run. One guy has been toying with the idea of a change for as long as I have known him, but I don't think he ever really considered Jeanneau's until I started brow beating him about them. The difficulty he has is that he has a top boat at the moment which is easy to handle "solo".... ....but then a little extra comfort and maybe more range would be nice. The second, has fished onboard a bigger Jeanneau before and is familiar with the style and build. The 585, I believe, will be a step up from his current boat, but also gets credit from the FPO as more than just a smelly old fisher. The other guy actually approached me a few months ago enquiring about the new 585 and although I was wrapped up with someone else I spotted him routing around a different Jeanneau at the Southampton Boat Show. As a salesman I know he is keen, but is the 585 big enough for him? Should he go larger, maybe our 625 or is it simply that he needs a different layout? Tom PS: I don't know if any of the above made sense, but I want to get across what I hope the feature will come across like (depends how much space Sea Dangler give it). I know I have my three boat testers, but please put your names down as possible reserves. People drop out or I may not get someone from WSF.

OK I have had one taker so far from PBSBAC so there is still space for another. Mike, a lead keel comment would not be ideal and may involve a pair of lead wellies for you. Martin, I'll let you know, most helpful, thanks. Tom

Apparently, alledgedly and not confirmedly.... ...last week it was put back because the refit needed refitting due to the fact that the fitted parts they had just refitted coming unfitted and needing refitting. ...this week it is simply a bit too windy.

On the radio it said something like, "The ferry was due to open tomorrow, but has now been put back until next week". Whether that is during next week or another week I don't know.

OK Fellas 1st 2 to PM gets it. I am also going to invite 2 from WSF. Dates: Tuesday 5th (confirm Monday am) or Friday 8th Time 10:00am Salterns Marina Idea. You do Sea Angler's boat review! **** That is pretty much it. Anyone can come for a trial, but the first three will work directly with Dave Lewis to produce a review for a forthecoming issue of Sea Angler magazine. The idea is a more in depth version of the Roger Bayzand rod and reel tests. Ideally you will have a cuddy style boat or no boat at present and be considering changing to one of the several brands of Pilot House in the 18 foot bracket. You will have some knowledge of the pros and cons of a pilot house and be familiar with one or two other brands. You will need to have some basic boating ability and you MUST wear a lifejacket. I am not going to pay anyone to say nice things and "constructive" crticism is fine. Along the lines of, "I liked this oojamaflip, but I would have preferred a widget here". I would prefer it if those who take part are true potential buyers. At least that way I get the possibility of a sale too! Even if I don't get the sale, I will at least get your feedback as to why you bought something else. Hope that all makes sense. Please PM if you fit the above and want to take part. Tom

Viewing anytime at all, although we will probably discover as much out about it together as I am still to have more than a cursery open of hatches and look under a cushion myself. Demo.... She'll go in the water for just a few days maximum and I will give you as much notice as I can. Whilst she is in, you will be more than welcome to come out for a fairly short run.

.... a ruler? Why don't you just take the rod to the tackle shop and ask them to try a selection?