Paul D

Quite possibly for one of the days on the weekend. Depends if Helen wants to go or not - but I fancy a go in the Solent for some smoothies.

Have a day off work tomorrow. Planning on a trip from either Lymington for the Smoothies or from Wick and then out for the bream. ( tough wood ).

Duncan, Pop it on E-Bay - I sold my old ICOM for

This weeks front page is Martin's wonderful Turbot.

That looks a well nice turbot Martin.

I was searching for a tachometer which I could attach to the Honda and found a small company in the USA which makes small tachometers. They have a UK supplier, so I decided to pop off an e-mail to them and see how much they were in the UK.

Can you collect my car while you are over there

Probably down the pub

There is a difference. A marine engine is designed to be operated at a particular RPM range at WOT. Get the prop pitch too small and the engine will indeed wear due to too high RPM. Too small and excessive load will cause poor fuel consumption and strain = bearing wear. A car engine being floored and red-lined is doing too many RPM's with too little load = wear and is equivalent to running a marine engine at WOT with a prop which has too small a pitch. A car engine being driven around all the time in 5th at low RPM will cause wear in the bearings and is equivalent to running a marine engine at WOT with too highly pitched prop ( too low RPM and strain on engine ).

Kam, I beg to differ with regard to engine damage. I have the owner manual ( from the USA of all places ) and there is not a single mention of any limit wrt. WOT operation ( apart from recommending for fuel economy to operate at less than full throttle. ). The engine itself actually contains a rev limiter which if engaged you should allow the revs to settle and then once again apply full power. ( their words not mine ). I am sure Honda would mention if continuous WOT operation causes engine damage - especially in the USA of all places I suggest therefore that my engine doesn't have any WOT limit. Besides, if it were 1 hour, I don't think I have cruised anywhere flat out continuously for an hour in any case. Finally, I would suggest that greater engine damage / wear will be brought about by using a prop which continually places a high load on the engine - bit like driving around everywhere slowly in 5th gear with your foot on the floor .

Also have to bear in mind that the waters are somewhat more hazardous than those we are used to. It is well rocky and shipwrecks abound ( not for no reason ). But there again, if I had a boat capabel of a cross channel trip I would be well up for it.

40 turbot - blimey, that's around 3 or 4 each. Glad the weather is holding out for them this year and I do believe I am starting to get a little envious now Could always nip out one evening and try for a bream I suppose

No fishing for me, there is a rather important game on at Dean Court on Saturday..... ( I await the quips from Loyal Royal )

Sounding good. I am glad the weather is looking better than last year. ( Although that isn't hard ).

BTW : On the subject of Magnet, we saw its affect on the Mullet in XChurch harbour. They positively love the stuff - so some possibilities there.

Nice one Alex. I bet your dad was impressed with the fight from the bream ? As Sam said, what is your boat's name - will be able to keep a look out for you. Do you keep her moored in the harbour or was it a trailed launch ( from Wick ? )

Using MY fishing rod I hasten to add

Your welcome - Next time it will be Solent to blank on the smoothhounds ( Hopefully should catch some ). It was a pleasant day to be afloat though, despite the lack of fish.

Would it be anything to do with the :- "- less suspectable to roll (I've had her at nearly 90 degrees and she still didn't capsize)" comment from Bob by any chance Paul ?

Kam, Paul J has got a Hilux Surf.

I just knew some bright spark would make a joke about being electrocuted -

Kam, Wearing rubber soled shoes = some protection from lightning is in fact a myth. The voltage from lightning is that high that it will simply go straight around them. Air is quite a good insulator yet lightning travels fine through it

I'll let you know Actually, I got electrocuted by lightning whilst fishing by the old 4 knots sign at Stanpit ( the big one ) about 10 years ago. Tip 1 - dont lean on the sign with fishing rod in one hand and electric storm in the distance - the current tracks a long way !?!