TomBettle

Bob If you like I can ask for a quote for a complete set of two as you saw. They are rake adjustable and height adjustable, but both moving mechanisms are rather basic, although the seats are very comfy. I imagine they will be rather expensive compared with off the self jobbies though. If of interest I may be able to check out a few trade catalogues for you too... Tom

Good luck with your Chrimbo pressie Dave Tom

Hi Kam I used to have a Dell Quay 15 which was a super little boat in calm seas, at anchor and on the drift (stability was great for such a tiny boat). The downside came when trying to make good headway in any form of chop... ...It slammed like a goodun. The Dory and Cathedral style hulls have some great benefits and they can be like fishing from a pontoon, but such a wide entry bow is bound to make for a bumpy ride in a chop. If you go for this style be very careful of the amount of freeboard as usually it is all but non existent (on the Dell Quay anyway) and you may want to consider fitting extra rails for safety. With regards open boats generally, the more modern centre console stye do tend to offer a level of protection underway (to varying degrees depending on console and screen size) and on a clear winters day are not realy any worse than open cuddy styles, however if the heavens open you have no real place to shelter (the bigger ones have sit in consoles) and still see your gear. The huge plus to them is tremendous all round space, great for drifting, uptiding, retrieving the anchor, taking the family out etc etc. The majority are quite sporty and will also double up as ski boats etc should you want them to. You are welcome to come and have a quick blast on the one I used for the PBSBAC training day. I am not suggesting for one minute that this actual boat would be the boat for you as, relatively speaking, it is huge, however it will give you a very good all round impression of an open boat. This model is produced down to 17 feet rather than the 25 footer here. Tom Tom

Hi Pual As Richard said, register! It is well worth it. The wrecking is much better than it was at the beginning of Feb. Back then I did a 60 or 70 mile trip for one Pollock! The fish should now be there in numbers and reports from the middle of last month confirmed that, however with bad weather hampering things it is impossible to say 100%. Ling and Pollock are starting show in good numbers, but the boats still have to head way off mid channel to find them. The biggest of the Pollock will thin out as they spawn, but there should be plenty of good doubles, great fun on light gear. Plaice time soon! Saves on fuel, different tactics and a load of fun if they are biting. We won't be heading off 35 miles by the middle of March. Tom

Hi Mark Pleasure meeting you and your friends earlier. Hope you enjoyed the run out and that she will be all you are hoping for. All the best Tom

That was me Simon. Was wondering if that was you. You were motoring reasonable well and backed off slightly at the same time as I stopped outside the marina to put my lines and fenders out. That was most definitely snow. It was odd though. It didn't seem to be sweeping along in the wind. From Hurst I could see it over Bournemouth and through to St Albans Head. With the wind, I expected it to hit me around Christchurch, but it kinda hung there and I dorve to it, rather than it blew to me.... ....am I rambling? ...I'll stop now... Tom

Went to Pebble Beach on New Years Eve and the food was great, but I did feel I was part of a Saga Holiday crowd. ..."Club 70 90". Well, back from another trip with no company . Lovely journey around this morning, almost flat calm. Very cold! No problem, me thinks, I'll turn on the heating. Bugger it's broken. The salt had barely cleared the ice off the windscreen when I arrived. Coming back was a different story. Wind over tide through the Solent was OK. A bit like driving on cobbles, but nothing concerning. Buggerme, coming around hurst and across towards Hengistbury Head reminded me of the Alderney Race in a big Noreaster. Poole Bay was lovely and flat and I caught the tail end of a snow storm calming past the piers. Back to work! Tom

Mike Have you been spying on me! Of course you forgot to mention that those long legs go all the way up to their armpits, each one is a fully qualified geisha, to attend to my every need (whilst sipping G&T in the hot tup and on autopilot - See Jacks post). Oh and they are in extremely skimpy bikini's. ....lastly, it in't just in Summer that I have hndreds of these beautiful girls onboard. ...Why do you think I only had room for one of you! Tom

Simon Service was quick!

Well once again, guess I am going on my lonesome Loch Fyne was pretty good, but never quite as good as I would hope. Terry, I used to go to the one in Oxford quite a lot and also the other (name slips my mind, but it was run by a friend) in St Clements. Loch Fyne in Oxford was definitely better than this one, but my old mates was top dollar (except for the time we were all poisoned by the oysters ) To all those who don't want to come for a lovely "summer" cruise tomorrow, but are more interested in Loch Fyne at Canford Cliffs: 2nd visit now, both times good, but not exceptional (you would expect exceptional by the prices). First time had the Seafood Platter which was very tasty with the exception of the Lobster and Crab which tasted a bit like old cardboard due to being frozen and not fresh. This time had the battered oysters to start (thought I'd try them as not a fan of oysters normally in the raw form). Actually they were very nice, but had shrivelled to a bit of nothingness. Next had the traditional fish pie. Not a spot on the old stuff I knock up at home with a bit of old Pollock or something. Mash was very watery, as was the sauce. Needs to be far creamier/cheesier than it was. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but am always a little dissapointed from some of these places. I have been told about a really nice seafood restaurant in Poole somewhere and can't for the life of me remember the name. NOW: Martin, you normally spend half your life in my office drinking coffee and openly admit the other half is doing little more than delivering paint and plaster to your team. How come you can't come tomorrow. Arrrgh, sod it, your all a bunch of girly old whimps who can't take the cold. Tom (with his feet up by the fire)

Lies it's all Lies! No fish left in the sea. LIES I TELL YOU

Sorry Mike Coddy has first dibs on it, but if he fails to produce the huge wallet of wonga I am after then you are next in turn. Tom

Anyone else.....? Going out for dinner now... ....to Loch Fyne (I am soooo Posh). Will check again when I get back. Assuming there will be a mad rush the first to say yes gets it. Tom

Welcome to the forum Mike. Great cluib to be part of so I would throughly recommend joining "fully" if you know what I mean. It will be

OK If anyone wants I have a space for one to join me on a run to and from Southampton. Itinary: Leave at 07:00 sharp from Salterns on a Merry Fisher 655 (with heating fitted) to deliver to our Southampton office. This boat is 100% uncommissioned and a couple of minor faults are apparent, but she seems to run fine and we will cruise round at around 14 knots. Get to Southampton for around 09:00ish where you can have a relaxing coffee, nose around our other boats and do whatever you fancy while I have a brief sales meeting, performance review(! !) and then return on a Merry Fisher 695. Back to Salterns for late lunchtime. Safety bag is carried with life jackets, flares etc. The 655 is a little noisy as she still requires some sound proofing in the engine room. If you fancy it, I would welcome the company. No fishing (sorry), but a fun trip although you will be hanging around for a little while at Southampton. First person (if anyone ) to say yes is very welcome. Tom

Dave You have a pm Tom

Hi guys I have "acquired" a builders bucket with off cuts of lead flashing. Guess it weighs about 16lbish and it looks reasonable stuff. Anyone want it for a fiver? If you do I'll have it in the truck for Thursday's meeting. Cheers Tom

Simon Martin and myself are going up and I think another car is going too, so we will be there from mid morningish. My number is 07780687795 although I will be chatting to a few people through the day so not sure how much browsing around I will get to do. Tom

Charlie Just chatted to my man at Denovo and he was quite honest and said: 1) He recommends Craftinsure for older cheaper boats (Denovo don't get involved for sub

Charlie On Quest 1 I was asked for the same and they simply one someone in the industry to provide a valuation of the vessel on headed paper. If you would like I can provide one based on a "Proposed Part Exchange" Valuation. I would need to know all the details though so I can do it properly! Give me a call and I will write one for you. 07780687795 or 01202 706943 (office). Details I need: Make, Model & Hull Number if you can get it (usually etched in the hull on or around the starboard quarter), year of boat, any extras fitted to the boat, overall condition of the boat and what value enhancing features you plan to put on. Engine, make, model and year. Price you paid, price for insurance puropses etc. It would help if I can take a gander at the boat, but this may not be practical so I would appreciate photo's if you have any. From the above information I can do a bit of ringing and searching, get a true valuation and place it on letter head. You should find that will suffice. Alternatively, if all that sounds a load of hassel I can get one of my insurance "mates" to give you a tinkle and he may be able to run it through without that info. He is from Denovo Marine Underwriting at http://www.insure-my-boat.com All the best Tom

Try and get galvanised chain Charlie. Steel chain makes a hell of a mess when it starts rusting. It isn't overally expensive and worth the little bit extra. Most chandleries will sell it, as do builders merchants etc. Usually about

Matt Give me your very best price before you buy and I "should" be able to beat it. I'll see if I can get you one close to my cost. Tom

Glad you got a result in the end! Just had a little peak at some of the Cobra stuff and it looks pretty good, certainly tops for the money. Plotter: If it uses C-MAP NT MAX it can't have to bad a screen and some of the features looked pretty good. One of the online chandleries are doing a deal to throw in a fixed VHF with a plotter. In my book that sounds pretty good value. I know Charlieannear has been looking for some inexpensive kit for his new bateau. If anyone see's him let him know as this could be the right stuff for him. Terry: If the Cobra Dealers suddenly get strangely busy, you may wish to point out the reason why! ...the PBSBAC website again! Tom

Nice link Coddy