Paul D

Adam, Eastney is a good place to launch for Nab Tower. ( Remember I did a "recce" for a forthcoming trailaway ). The steam time is similar to that from Mudeford to Needles.

Number 8 - MilkFish ? Milkfish (Chanos chanos) is the only species in the Family Chanidae and is most closely related to carps and catfishes. Milkfish lives in the warm waters along the continental shelves and around islands in the Indo-Pacific. BUT just read the "All fish in club waters" message

The calculations are correct re: 40 hours BUT you will never succeed in getting this amount of current for that amount of time. If you had a fully charged 85 AH battery and drew 2 amps from it - you should be comfortable to do this for 10 hours ( ie 20 AH used ). However, I would always be personally a little worried that maybe the battery wasn;t fully charged, maybe you forgot how much current the electronics were drawing, what about the light fro night fishing etc. For this reason I installed a second battery for peace of mind, although I keep forgetting to switch to run on a single battery ( saving the other for starting if needed ). Still when the E-Tec comes I won't need to worry about having a flat battery

Tom, I havent got a fish smoker so am not replying with any "wealth of knowledge". However, I have noted that on other fish smokers the burners run on meths. I suspect using paraffin is the problem and I have to say it is not the sort of fuel I would like smoking my food

Gary, You are correct re: the max engine rating being 35 HP ( it even mentions this on the plate on the boat ). However, I have been told by BHG marine ( who up to 6 months ago were selling 520s with 40HP Yamaha 4 stroke fitted ) that Orkney used to cover these under warranty but have only recently had a change of heart due to liability implications ( ie. They state boat is up to 35 HP and if anything happens with 40 HP engine - why did they cover this under warranty ). Having seen a fair few with 40HP Yamaha 4 strokes fitted, I am going down the 40HP route. My only reservation is the weight of a 40HP E-Tec is actually heavier than the Yamaha - ( not much but still heavier ). I will have a chat with Orkney when they are back after Christmas, to see what they say. cheers Paul

Had a nice days fishing on Enticer with Mark B. -5 degrees when I left home and towed the boat to Baiter for Mark. We followed Maverick out to the Pinnacle mark - Illusion was fishing on the mark, so anchored nearby. Straight into a whiting and then pout after pout. I got smashed up on my whiting rig by something much bigger. So stepped up to heavy mono with large baits. Nothing showing apart from the odd pout. Mark had a decent fish but the hook came out - but no problem as I had the same fish on and brought a Conger to the surface which we TBarred off by the side of the boat. Weather was by now getting lumpy, so we headed back to stop off at the Spoil ground ( getting the anchor up was tricky, since another boat had anchored rather close by ). As the weather was deteriorating, we headed back ( 29 knots through the harbour ). Still good to be out with good company and was great to see the look on Paul J's face when he realised he had won

Charlie, Not sure I fancy the idea of tying off the rope to the stern of my Orkney. ( I have pulled the last bit of rope up on occasion using this method though ) I normally pull the anchor out with the rope tied to the bow but take the boat at 90 degrees for a short spell so as the anchor rope is being pulled in a slightly sideways motion. This way if the anchor is stuck and the boat spins , I know which way the boat will go.

All the best Paul and does this mean you get a pass to go fishing today without becoming a single man

Nice one Alun, so nice to see you coming in same time as us again, complete with 2 cod this time ( last time it was just the one ) Next time I am following you out !

To quote from part of the BASS reply . "The total cost to BASS was over

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Dregding of the harbour has started. Harbour Dregde Date Published: Thursday 22 December 2005 Dredging starts in harbour by Robin Thompkins DREDGING in Christchurch Harbour, dogged by delay and controversy for more than a year, has finally begun. An excavator mounted on a 60-tonne pontoon brought in from Southampton Water has taken up station to dig more than 1,000 cubic metres of silt from the mid-harbour sandbar. The work, scheduled to be completed by Christmas, subject to weather, has been commissioned by the Christchurch Harbour Association to deepen the navigable channel for the benefit of sailors. But the dredging of the harbour bed and dumping of the spoil on nearby Stanpit Marsh has alarmed wildlife watchdogs, fishermen and local amenity groups whose objections have held up the scheme. They fear that the sediment in the water will upset migratory fish species and the heavy plant used to spread the spoil on the Grimbury Beach shore of the marsh nature reserve will damage the fragile ecology of the site of special scientific interest. But former Christchurch council coast protection engineer Frank Tyhurst, now engaged as technical advisor for the harbour association, said the sand imported from the harbour would help stem the erosion of the marsh fringes. He said the operation had the backing of the Environment Agency and English Nature and the method and timing of the work had been chosen to avoid disturbing fish and other wildlife. Harbour association chairman Charles Rossiter said: "We are delighted to actually make a start at last. Navigation in the harbour was becoming quite a trial." "We are compelled to do the work in winter to minimise the effect on migrating fish so we are hoping the weather stays a bit kinder to us for a week or two." The navigable channel will remain open to boats while the work is in progress but sailors are advised to watch out for the dredging rig and attendant barges and workboats. Meanwhile, further dredging upstream on the River Stour near Tuckton Bridge is due to begin after Christmas. First published: December 14, 2005

Kam, Yes - I noticed that advantage ( ie. No battery needed ) as well. Also,the charging current available is huge. Found a few posts re: vibration and apparently it improves after running for over 10 hours ( the EMM alters the oil mix after this time ). Even so will not be as smooth as a four cylinder ( or probably 3 cylinder 4 stroke ) when trolling at low revs but not much different ( apparently ). Trolling at low revs is another plus point apparently as well. I found a great review of one ( the 40 HP model as well ) here :- 40 HP E-Tec review Now off to save some money !

Kam, Thanks for the info re: Ficht engines etc. I am aware of all this as have been doing some extensive homework ( the wonders of the internet !). The Ficht engines had problems with detonation ( amongst other things ). Apparently the Optimax had teething problems as well. But this is history and all I can find is good reviews and satisfied owners. I was wondering about the vibration aspects ( 2 cylinders compared to 3 ) but havent managed to find any reports on this. ( Southcoast Outboards tell me they are no rougher than a 3 cylinder 4 Stroke - but they would be a little biased I guess ). Still 2 cylinders means I save on a spark plug Mark Bessant is going down the E-Tec route as well, so would be interesting to see what his performs like. Mike, Seen those links and sent off for a quote as well. Their website quotes the 40HP E-Tec as

I have to say I am getting more tempted by the Evinrude E-Tec and the 3 year /300 hours no servicing. Searched the internet for reports of problems and they appear to be very reliable - found one report of a disintegrated gearbox but hitting a rock witha s/s prop didn't help ! I have had a quote for a Yamaha 4Stroke but carb engine, similarily for the Honda. The Evinrude are next generation 2 stroke ( similar to Martin's Optimax ) and appear to get very good reviews. Tempting ... ( and would be pleasing for Mike as I am heading down the path he advises ). Also the quote is around exactly the same price as the Yamaha. Even better - I got the quote from the dealers down the road from work at Northney Marina. However, stumbled across an Evinrude dealer somewhat nearer to home ( as in I could walk there ! ) - didn't even know these people existed.

I thought I recall someone telling me that Macro was a good place. Problem is I also recall that it might have been you who told me

The link here is quite informative Dedging - How it Works Probably better arguing over a couple of pints though !

Thanks for the advice - I am off to get some quotes from Suzuki as well now. So much to choose from. I have to point out that I am not imagining my Honda failing to idle by the way - was fine and just started doing this during the November comp. Took it to SAL marine and told them service needed and idling was impossible - result was "throw away fuel- it is off",

Simon, My Honda 30 is 8 years old and getting long in the tooth. It has never run particularily fast and has been getting slower each year. It does not have power tilt / trim and I keep thinking the number of hours I use the boat ( 60 hrs engine use in last 9 months ) , I might as well have something which will last me another 8 years +. Also, I could do with an engine with power tilt and trim and what puts me off Honda is the cost of my last service ( had carbs cleaned out as idling lumpy - and still is .... ) which was a "mere"

Decided that a 40HP engine is wanted for Neo. My existing Honda 30 has no tilt and trim and is not powerful enough to push Neo beyond 14 knots when two up. Having discussed with other Orkney 520 owners, it is evident that they fly with a 40HP engine. It was either get a bigger boat or new engine. Given I can just about singlehandedly launch/retrieve Neo, I am loath to get a bigger boat which will be harder to launch / more expensive to run etc. If I can get 20 knots + out of Neo then my fishing range will be transformed as well. Now the difficult decision. Shall I stick with Honda or get a Yamaha or Suzuki or maybe a new E-Tec engine. The Evinrude E-Tec claim to be lighter than the corresponding 4 stroke, but not for the 40HP model from what I can tell - and after all it is a 2 stroke still. But there again less moving parts - longer service interval ... decisions, decisions. The Yamaha 4 stoke seems pretty popular. I went down to BHG marine in Lymington and they were very helpful and I was also pleased to hear that they had sold a fair few 520s with 40HP Yamahas attached. Apparently Orkney covered the warranty as well - up to 6 months ago when they had a change of heart ( not because of warranty claims but due to possible liability ). Currently it is a toss up between Honda or Yamaha. I know the Tohatsu engines are much cheaper but surely you get what you pay for ? and I like the idea of having a big dealership nearby ( a good selling point for the Yamaha )

It is the same as last year ! and Martin did changed it - nought to do with me but happy to take the credit

Nice fish Adam ( zzzzzz ), Wish we had steamed over to the island now, but probably would have come back empty handed still. We had a few whiting ( and they are getting bigger ) and Alun had a small eyed ray at the end of the day - interspersed with the usual doggies and monster pout. Beautiful day to be out as well. Did anyone hear what sounded like quarrying - I was wondering later if it was explosions from Hemel Hempstead - surely not.

Adam / Terry, Myself and AlunJ will be launching Neo from Mudeford at 8.00 AM, so should get to the Needles about the same time as yourselves I know Paul J will be out as well but is leaving earlier I think.

Happy Birthday

Added some pictures of the presentations for the Open Comp to the front page.