Paul D

Alun, I was actually referring to using the Launce as bait. I have just re-read my post and can see my english was bad

Rich, You are a star, anytime you fancy a Solent trip then let me know or if Sweet Honey wants some company then I would be happy to tag along in Neo with either Helen, Elaine or even Sam as crew. Paul

Adam, The Garmin one is indeed read only. However, you can get a card writer a RAM card and buy the CD with all the maps on, then write the map to the writable memory card using a PC. Of course costs you more

Alun, What did you use to catch the pollack. I tried ragworm on a long flowing trace bounced along the top of the wreck, but had no success. ( Was on the ebbing tide ). Glad you found the launce and some herring ( I caught some of them last year ). Must say I have never caught anything using them as bait either ( apparently a fillet will take turbot, I think - and wish ).

Trailaway to Lymington ( like last year ) and Beaulieu is a short steam ( longer for some ) although I notice Beaulieu has a slipway as well - have you tried that one yet Kam ? Lymington is more convenient for me being closer than Poole/Baiter but I have no idea where all the marks are and when the best time to fish them is. For now I will stick to Christchurch/Wick as cheaper than Lymington and I know, roughly, where the marks are. Def. looking forward to the smoothhound fishing out of Lymington though. Anyway - back to the topic of this thread - It is a good idea to have a map like Solent site - I just need to work out how to do it ! ( and need some input as to where the marks are - send me all the GPS co-ordinates of your best marks and I will do one )

Happy birthday Adam, have a good one.

Took day off work to take kinds out fishing. Decided that it would be a waste of time fishing out of Christchurch given the National Boat Champion's lack of success the day before, so persuaded Mark and his friend that a trip to Weymouth would be good. Nice early start and managed to break my new glasses on the way out ! - this time I had one lens left so good enough for me. Sea was flat as a pancake and we caught the last of the flood. Few drifts and nothing then towards the end of the flood I hooked the first plaice ( biggest of the day at around 2lb ), then some 30 mins later just before the slack I caught the second plaice ( small ). Slack water came and tried feathering up some Launce ( no luck this time ) and then caught a dogfish on the plaice rig. As the tide ebbed had another Plaice of around 1lb ( kinds were getting annoyed now ). Mark then caught a small plaice, so he was well pleased. Mark then managed to wrap his line around the end of the outboard which I then found I could not reach ( and there was no way I was going to reach out too far over the edge of the back of the boat ). Fortunately, another boat saw our plight and came over to assist. Many thanks if you are reading this ( I didnt clock the boat name ). Headed back to try some drifts over the Hood. No luck with a long trace and ragworm. Went over to the "wrasse mark" and caught a Wrasse of around 1 1/2 lb, by now getting late so headed back to Weymouth. A good day to be out ( beats working )

Rich, I would be interested in knowing where some of these excellent Bass marks are - only managed the one from Lymington last year ! Also did you mean to say british record boat caught stinger ?

Sorry Sam, you would have been welcome on Neo on Thursday, but I had a full boat already. Roll on Sunday

Benny, If you get a large wave from a boat then point the bow of the boat at the wave and ride over it. Avoid taking the wave sideways on. ( eg. As I am sure Sam will verify the Condor Ferry wave at Weymouth was quite impressive size - no problem facing the wave but wouldnt want that sideways on if I could help it. )

Alun, Off to the Shambles tomorrow ( Thursday ), so will let you know how we get on. ( Taking my son and his friend ).

Bob, Regarding losing your track back, nearly as bad as me losing my glasses in a foggy Weymouth and then realising that because I had done so many drifts my plotter was busily deleting the track out/in to Weymouth harbour ( whilst the Condor Ferry was somewere out there ). Thank god for plotters ! I thought the football result might cheer you up Mark

I thought of you out there when I was at the football. It was sunny and all of a sudden the fog rolled in from nowhere ( which was a blessing in disguise as the game was awful ! )

I think that the fibreglass wasn't bonded properly to the wood at the top, so there was actually a gap between the fibreglass of the hull and the wood at the top which had then had gelcoat applied which subsequently cracked over time. We ( as in Paul J - I watched ! ) cleaned out the old gelcoat and applied a fibreglass in resin mix to the gap. I am 99% sure it is not structural but obviously needs filling as water ingress into that area will cause problems in the future.

Glad to have been of assistance. I could do with some steps for Neo as well. I suspect that the warrior ones may not fit though.

Actually Adam you are to thank for me finding the crack.... I decided that I could do with giving Neo a polish having seen how shiny BW was. I bought some Mer from Halfords and started polishing. When I reached the back, that was when I noticed the crack - easily missed otherwise. The last photo above is me trying to show that the cavity is hollow at the point where the crack is ( which was a real relief to me ). BTW: Having finished the boat I set to the car which is also now nice and shiny.

True - but still cgheaper than buying a small tube of gelcoat from the boat shop down the road I think ? ( Also I have now done some reading up and understand what the sticky tape stuff is all about )

Just looking back to see what the fishing was like this time last year and found some interesting things. On this day last year :- We fished the Swash and caught nothing ( having cancelled blocks trip ). ( Did Bob F do better this year ? ) Loyal Royal made her maiden voyage Shambles fished its socks off.

Just ordered some fibreglass topcoat and found the following site which looks to be very reasonably priced. ( Also contains some good stuff on what to use etc. ) I will let you know if delivery lives up to expectation CFS Fiberglass Supplies

Perhaps I could take mine in and complain that it is black and white and I really wanted colour - you never know ...

Ok thanks Charlie. I took the boat around Paul J's today and he kindly helped me out by cutting out the loose gelcoat and you could then see it is not as bad as first thought. ( Didn't help when Paul was saying "Ooh don't like the look of that - at first " I first thought that the transom wood was behind the crack, however, this is not so and there is a strip of wood along the top of the transom which the fibreglass bonds to and the crack was between the outer part of the hull and where it bonds to this wood. The wooden part of the transom is lower on the hull at the point where the crack occurred ( thankfully ). Having gouged out all the gelcoat around the crack Paul took some photos - so those "in the know" can assess what is happening - just in case it is worst than first thought. I pushed a key into the crack and you can see that it is hollow underneath. Now waithing for the fibreglass to set so I can sand it down and apply the gelcoat which Paul kindly helped me out with. Many thanks for the help today Paul.

Having taken a trip on Adam's boat, decided I ought to give Neo a polish. Got to the back of the boat and noticed a crack running about 3 to 4 inches long right at the top of the transom in the right hand corner. It looks like it may be just trivial and a bit of filler will sort it out. On the other hand could it be more serious needing more work. Photo below for those "in the know">

These could be of interest to you Warrior owners ? Boarding Ladder/Steps

Now that is one nice boat. Want one

Topey, There is a Fastliner for sale over on Hayling Island - Northney Marina. Tis a bit tatty but nice big boat with two engines. I would like to get a 590TT next.