TomBettle

It's a group choice Adam. We all love her to bits and would have no quarms about keeping her, but one of the guys doesn't drive, one now lives half a year in France another is always too busy blah blah blah. We have been keeping her as it costs very little to own her, but it's got to the point where I get frustrated sitting looking at her knowing that either the fishing is rubbish until "X" or I don't have time until "X" or I have a wedding to pay for so will have to forgoe "X". It won't stop me boating as I am still out on different boats several times a week and it won't stop me fishing as I will maintain my club membership and also get out on charters more too. As I said though... just entertaining the thought right now, nothing definite.

Looking at all options, but it is a prviate job and not via the marina / brokerage. The owner was planning on doing it himself, but doesn't want to come over and then be here for days waiting for a weather window. There is no rush either. She can go anytime between now and Easter, not that sea temperatures will be much warmer.

Maybe... Not sure... Just toying with the idea... As is something of a standing joke, I hardly use her anymore and it's a shame to see such a magnificent boat sat outside my office window and barely being used. I keep her as she costs me almost nothing to own, but selling her would free up extra cash and with a wedding coming up and who knows what else it would earn me some serious brownie points. Those brownie points would probably result in me being able to fish far FAR more often, either on charters or as crew for some of my friends on here. ...but then I do love to be skipper... grrr what to do? So to tentatively test the water here are some basic details. She's not a cheap example, but is definitely one of the best with a completely unique specification geared around angling. She is currently full of our clutter, grubby and in need of a cut and polish and depending on final prices we can discuss this being done. If being kept in the water she'll benefit from a coat of antifoul and new anodes too. She has just had a comprehensive engine service, but as with any (all?) boat she's got a couple of very small niggles which again will be discussed with any buyer and possibly be sorted out depending on sales price. Suffice to say, everything known about the boat will be discussed, complete with a very comprehensive handover. Please note that she is the only 695 in the world fitted with a 175Hp engine. The short block has covered about 60 or 70 hours with the boat as a whole completing mid 400s. Spec includes but not limited to: 2005 Boat Nanni 175Hp - Short block supplied by Nanni end 2009 / early 2010 Reserve Fuel Tank Hydraulic Steering Raymarine C120 Display Raymarine GPS125 Raymarine DSM300 Fish Finder Module Rayamrine 2Kw Radar Scanner Raymarine 54E DSC VHF Raymarine Smartpilot Autopilot Navionics Gold Card for English Channel CD Stereo / FM Radio 12Kg Brittany Anchor 15m 8mm chain 330m warp Lines & Fenders Removeable filleting Table made of teak & stainless Stainless anchor retrieval pad on stb side Bennet Trim Tabs with dashboard gauge and switches Deckwash with connection for livewell pump Alderney set up for anchoring 3 x spare 20ltr Jerry Cans for additional diesel Tek Tank Livebait tank HUGE Coolbox (good for 5 days in Alderney, I think 242 litres) Various boat bits onboard like boat hook, anchoring black ball etc. As I say, just testing the water, but now would be as good a time as any to move her on so any interested parties would be free to PM or call me for an open chat and possibly to arrange a viewing. Tom

Just as an after thought. I was surpised about not flying in to Bournemouth, certainly used to as I've done that route before, but it would have to be Jersey to Southampton and then the train back to here.

Certainly a chilly journey across so wearyour long johns. I am hoping to persuade the new owner that he should invest in the extra cost of a flight for a second crew man with a view to safety etc. If not... hence the cheeky request to see if anyone fancied it. Don't have a date yet, but of course, it will be totally weather dependent and can wait for as long as need be for a calm day with good vis. Apart from a flask of coffee and your sandwiches the journey over will definitely not cost anything and is always a good learning exercise, even for those of us that have done it a few times so anyone would be welcome, probably enthasis given to the channel crossing virgins just so they can lose their cherry with me! Going on my own? I'd rather not, as much for company as for safety, but with safety in mind I would make sure that time of departure, eta and check ups in between were all covered with a proper passage plan and VHF checks with the coast guard, telephone back home call on arrival etc etc. A water proof hand held strapped to the waist band of a decent lifejacket with spray hood and crutch straps would be a must, as would the kill cord. Don't worry, I am aware of the risks of boating solo, but there is as much chance as (sorry PJ) PJ falling out of Marineboy and being lost in the run as there is of me coming a croper mid channel or on any other delivery journey I have had to do and will no doubt have to do again in the future. It's not a nice thought, but it is a risk of the job.

Hi Guys Sometime in the next few weeks I need to deliver a White Shark 225 and Mercury Verado 250Hp to Jersey or possibly Guernsey. I am happy doing the trip on my own and the boat is great fun to drive (45 knots in the right conditions), but it's always more fun doing these with a companion / co-skipper. Would anyone fancy joining me for the run? I'd be happy to let you do as little or as much of the driving as you wish and it is good experience for any channel crossing virgins as the boat is only 22' and open (but fun). Bring your own sandwiches and warm gear (very warm gear) will be essential. The downside is that you would need to cover your own "Blue Island" flight back at the other end, but I'd get us picked up at Bournemouth airport. If anyone fancies coming for the experience then it would be great to have you along. Tom

I also cant wate. My list of jobs finish the brakes. Have the engine serviced. Abode will be polished about ten times before see goes back in. Also crews sorted my son and his mate. Need to stock up on a lot of tackle.... Service on engine done. Fix leaky trim tab ram Boat MUST be cut and polished she looks shocking Hope to have new duo drive system installed Note to self to send Mark at AA the deposit for accomodation Note to not buy any gear until we get there and then get it off Mark at AA (nothing like supporting the locals!)

It's a tough one Martin, but if you are four times as good you only need to run your boat a quarter the amount of time!

The Poole charters seem to be hard at work wrecking by those dates, but they have vastly more experience than me as to where to find the fish. ... I have to also point out (before Niggle does) that they have vastly more ability too!!!

Will do Nige. I don't profess to fully understanding it yet as I have only seen the pictures, but my boat is not the most efficient (the best yes, but not efficient!) and burns iro 25l/hr at 16 knots. If I can bump the speed up to 20 knots (maybe optimistic due to hull shape) for 20 litres per hour with almost zero shaft maintenance then I will be a very happy chap. Watch this space. It's not 100% defo as I have to provide various measurements to the manufacturers, but the principal does sound very interesting indeed.

I have been asked to take part in some pre product launch tests of what appears to be a very innovative new drive system. Initially designed as a simple(ish) bolt on to be retro fitted to shaft drive boats if the product does what the manufacturer claims then it may absolutely revolutionise shaft drive systems at the point of OEM boat manufaturer. The manufacturers claim to be able to offer between 20% and 40% better fuel efficiency and running efficiency (speed for rpm?) with there gizmo and the idea seems fabulous. In addition handling should also be dramatically improved. 1) a little widget fits between the gearbox and the stern gland 2) a new shaft facility thingy runs through the old stern gland and cutlass bearing 3) twin contra rotating props fit on the end of the shaft facility thingy It's the twin props that make all the difference as anyone who has moved from single to duo props on an outdrive will tell you. My first concerns will be the longivity of the system - will it be as robust as a simple shaft and propeller? My second is how messy could it get if a rope is picked up? It's hard enough to sort out with one prop, will two make it worse or will some form of rope cutter come in to play? My third relates to fishing line getting between the props... those with outdrives know what a pig that can be and that it can be expensive! Will it be similar on this system? So, my question to the esteemed members of this forum is that if the system is as easy as the manufactures reckon to fit and if it provides even the low end of the savings they suggest, without the headaches I am hoping it won't have, do you think it is a product you might consider? If so, what do you think it is worth on the sort of shaft drive boats we own? As a closing thought, the manufacturers do have real test data from a couple of other vessels including a fast twin engine boat. Tom

Go for a small to medium tide as late in the Spring as you can as we seem to be in an odd spot that finds fish much later than our friends to the east and the west of us. There will be fish there earlier, but it will be real hit and miss fishing. You can do 100 miles for no fish or be very lucky and stumble on a wreck stuffed full of Pollack. Leave it until late Spring and all of a sudden it can feel like the fish are jumping in the boat on many (not all!) of the wrecks. Sure the late winter fish are generally the BIG ones with a true chance of a 20lb fish, but I think many of the boats had mid doubles on the late Spring Alderney run we did last year. Biggest to our boat on the two days wrecking we had was in the region of 16lb and I heard of a couple of others of similar stamp. Those that went on that trip will also recall that when we all bunched together on one wreck the fishing went right downhill. When we fished one or two on a wreck things were still great. Another tip is to give each other plenty of room as different fish finders can completely interfere with each other if you are too close. It completely messes things up for the boat whose fish finder is being zapped. For me, February is too early as whilst you can seriously strike it lucky, that is what you will be doing. It's an expensive jaunt around our section of the English channel if you don't find the right wreck/s. Odd as the Pollack and Ling fishing will normally be spectacular SW of Portland and SE of the IoW. My first serious look would be April, but I would feel more confident by May. Also.... I may just be beta testing a new drive system designed to bolt on to standard shaft drive boats that apparantly gives the performance and economy (close to) of the equivalent Hp outdrive, but without any of the service costs.

Thanks Oli I've just emailed Mark asking for him to Pencil us in (3,maybe 4) and pointed out we are happy to bunk up. Tom

Little dicky bird tells me to head to deeper water Dan.

Perhaps it's going to be a magazine article Sorry for the lack of response. No Internet connection at home means that firstly I didn't see a single response and secondly I have only just had the chance to reply. Thanks to all those that did make the effort. At the boat for 6.30 where Chris and Malcolm were both waiting. My hunch was off to the Spoil Grounds just off Old Harry, Chris wanted to give the Needles area(ish) a go and so with not much of a plan we headed to a mark in the general direction of the Needles, just East of the Dolphin Sands. As we backed the engine off there were fish showing a little way off the bottom in sporadic patches so things looke promising. Down went the anchor and out went a big Ilex Cod bait and a smaller Whiting bait each. An hour went by and two cups of coffee later the only thing we were getting was irritated by the red weed that seemed intent on finding every knot and swivel on your rigs. By this point the boats were starting to pile up South of the Needles so we decided to join them, albeit a little West of the main bunch. Within moments of repositioning we had a couple of good sized Channels in the boat, but the Cod baits were motionless bar a couple of extremely greedy dogfish who refused to let go despite not even being hooked. With the VHF crackling away with various club boats chatting over the other side of the bay we decided to head back and join them. Half an hour later and re reanchored. Again, not right in the throng, but in a spot to the north of the main crowd (I counted 27 boats fishing the general area) that we had success on last year. Within moments the Whiting moved onto our baits again and our final tally of good keepers was 37 between three of us. Sounds like loads, but that's only 12 and a fillet each which my family will definitely enjoy over three or four meals in the coming Christmas break. Once again the Cod rods remained still save for the odd bump as the boat swung in the small tide. Still that is until Chris exclaimed with excitement that his Ilex baited rod had sprung to life. Sure enough there was definitely some interest as it nodded and then twitched and generally bounced around. He lifted into the fish... Nothing. Blast, he'd missed his chance of a Cod. Then it was back and as his rod twitched, so did mine and then Malcolms. With these big baits we all gave the Cod plenty of time but none of us made contact and on reeling in all three of us had hunky chunky seemingly untouched squid mantels on the hooks, but with heads that had had the tenticles completely chewed away... Whiting! Bleeding pesky Whiting were the culprits and were making the rods bounce as they tore away at the tenticles! From now on all "Cod bites" were ignored. The idea was that we would wait for the rod to literally heel over. At that, Chris' rod buckled and clearly a much larger fish headed off with his Ilex bait. Nod Nod Nod, nothing. He'd dropped it. Apart from offering to stand by for Charlie a pretty uneventful trip. The trim tabs packed up, but with the calm weather we didn't need them anyway as the boat is very stable. At about half three we bouyed up the anchor and turned for the short run to the swash. Tied up in the marina and went to wash the boat down to no avail as the hoses were frozen up despite the milder weather... Whiting for tea tonight alas no Cod. Tom

I am finally getting out after so many cancellations, work and all sorts getting in the way. Tomorrow will be my first crack at the Cod this year. The question is where should we go? Way East to the pointy sharp thing Halfwayish East Or a little South and East of Mr Pirate? Answers on a post card please. Failing that, here would be good.

Paul What rod are you using?

Dave The Studland proposal has almost zero impact on anglers. It isn't aimed at anglers, it is aimed at the boating community in general who enjoy Studland as an area to spend sunny Summer days with the family and friends. WAFIs, MOBOs, RSA's all of us together. Boating is an enormous part of Poole's leisure industry and Studland is (although rather boring as far as I am concerned) where almost all of them go on almost every weekend. The bottom corner of the bay has nice sheltered anchorages in the prevailing winds leaving that corner feeling tropical, hence it's attraction. My own view is to sink LOTS of permanent moorings that are free to use. Enough for a busy, sunny, bank holiday. Boats will be free to come and tie up and enjoy their day as they always have been, but without the need to dredge the sea bed with slipping anchors. Once sunk these permanent moorings will actually have a beneficial effect, acting as hundreds of mini reefs and spawning their own micro ecosystems.

I have voted

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/show...d=1#post2971330 http://redirectingat.com/?id=2588X586419&x...1%23post2971330 Be very careful if you are or are planning on buying a boat from them. It looks like they may be in some difficulties.

Oli Where are your priorities mate!? In seriousness, the chances are that the first date gets blown off anyway so keep an eye out for a fortnight later too!

www.theultimatefishingshow.com Has anyone been watching The Ultimate Fishing Show on Freeview / Sky etc. It's shown on the channel called Quest and really is a good fun half hour watch. Matt Watson is the main presenter. He is the nutcase that tries daft ways to catch huge fish and many of us have seen his stuff on Youtube and the like. Do you remember Marlin from a surf board, Marlin by diving out of a helicopter etc etc. Matt and his team are genuine fanatical anglers who simply go and have an absolute ball. The show includes the highs and lows, but usually ends on a high of some sort. It is based in the Southern Hemisphere and so some of the fishing is pretty alien, but the show is an exciting breath of fresh air and is now on series link on Sky. Well worth a watch Tom

Don't get me wrong. The charter skippers love the big tides for an Alderney trip. It means they have a chance to seriously have a crack at Bass and Tubs on the same day. ie: Fish the first and last of a tide for Tubs and the main run for Bass. The downside to big tides is not the rise and fall it is simply that drifitng a wreck at high drift speeds inevitably leads to massive tackle loses as you cannot plan to hop over the iron work and end up stuck right in it. We've all heard of these mythical moster Pollack that have taken 20lb class gear on unstoppable runs that end up back in the wreck... Half the time they have been in the wreck all the time and it's the 5 knot drift speed which is doing it. Likewise, BIG tides make some of the other forms of fishing over at Alderney impractical. Those eddys can become rather elusive or instead of being eddys they become washing machines. A nice in between tide that sees drifts speeds mid channel sticking to well under 3 knots during the main run and Turbot bank drift speeds of 2 knots or less are my favourites. For anchoring mid channel, the smaller the tide the better. We will always have a crack at the Turbot. Like I said, they are delicious, but the sport fish are more of an appeal, that and the lure of a lovely, alternative venue and a break from the FPO for a couple of days!

I think what I am saying Nige is that the only dates that don't appeal particularly to me are BIG tides or the very beginning of the month.

There won't be many Bream to catch in Alderney then. Doesn't normally get going for them until August through October. I may well go over on the original dates we suggested anyway (12th to 15th). The extra couple of weeks will (hopefully) see more settled weather and another degree or two on air and water temperature which will make things a little more pleasant. Should be plenty of Turbot there for the early bank holiday weekend, but they aren't my bag (I prefer something to fight back) for more than one tide, not to mention I often struggle with getting bank hols off. Just a thought as an alternative, but why not a happy medium. That being Alderney from Sunday 8th to Wednesday 11th. Mixture of medium to small tides (great Conger tide on the way home Charlie). Mid channel drifting will be a bit hit and miss and it may be worth considering Sunday 22nd to Wednesday 25th which mirrors those tides. We should be seeing some Cod over the wrecks and possibly banks by then...? Oh I don't know. I just know I am not a fan of going to Alderney too early as it seriously cuts down on the additional species beyond Turbot. Nothing against Turbot, I love eating them, but they are so boring to fish for and catch.