Paul D

Kam, As Coddy says, it is OK to switch from 1 to Both to 2. However, it is NOT OK to switch from 1 to OFF ( or 2 to OFF ) whilst the engine is running / charging the battery. The reason for this is that by switching off the current whilst charging can cause the voltage to leap to a high level ( due to inductance ). This high leap in voltage is capable of destroying the diodes which are used to rectify the a/c current from the alternator. A battery switch will have 4 positions - 1 -> BOTH -> 2 -> OFF The thing to remember is to never switch to OFF with the engine running. regards Paul

Bob, According to Sterling ... " 1)There is no such thing as a marine battery. If you see a marine label on a battery it is simply words and may as well say Mickey Mouse." and for you Kam "3)

Duncan, I am with you re: Leisure batteries. It is not true that a leisure battery cannot produce a "lump" of power. try shorting the terminals ( NO - don't do this ! ). Take a look at the following link and read through, makes interesting reading ( esp. Section 7 ) Leisure / Marine / Battery information 7)Watch the term leisure / deep cycle as it simply does not exist. The standard so called leisure batteries are simply starter batteries with extra support for the active lead material. This may increase the life by 5-10 %, but does not turn a starter battery into a deep cycle battery. True traction (deep cycle) are not available at a sensible price and are uneconomical to use for standard leisure use. However, if you plan to live onboard or travel the world, then do look at 6 v or 2 v traction and build your battery bank up from those batteries, but expect to pay about 3-6 times the price of so called standard leisure batteries. On a daily use cycle, the standard so called leisure battery (which is a starter battery)will last you as little as 6-8 months where as traction would last 15 years. But on a leisure rating (2 weekends per month and about 4 weeks holiday) then you would get about 5-7 years out of a standard leisure. That's if you charge it right using advanced regulators, and constant current battery chargers.)

Good publicity for the club again as well. I wonder if it will appear in the online version in due course ?

Alan, That is the sort of set up I use ( apart from no buoy ). When I say the warp is tied to the cleat it is the end of the rope passed through the bottom of the cleat and a knot made in it ( ie. 300 foot of rope between the knot and the anchor ) I am still pondering on how a tanker is going to creep up on me - surely I should be keeping a look out and see it coming - especially if I had a boat called "lookfar" ? Seriously it has got me thinking though which is good.

Kam, I lost my first anchor on my first trip out. Do you have the anchor so that it will trip ( ie. Chain connected to bottom and tie wrapped to the shank at the top ? ) Since doing this I have not lost any anchors, although I have had a cou[ple of occasions where it was a bit "touch and go" pulling it out.

Anyone want to crew on Neo at all ? ( The telltail is now emitting water - just the bilge pump and steaming light to fix now ). Does anyone know if tehy comp can be fished from out of Mudeford after checking in ?

Kam, I learnt quickly in a similar way to yourself to always have the anchor warp tied to the boat. This way you will not lose the whole lot ( I assume from your post this is what you did ? ). In my case I was lucky and managed to tie mine onto the cleat before I lost all the rope ( I now have plenty of rope and the nylon stuff is so much better than polypropylene ). Now I have the end of the rope tied through the cleat all the time. Glad you are all OK.

Kam, The guy me and Adam bought from ( and I can highly recommend ) is :- BarryEdwards999

Rich, I bet it was drier than the trip you had aboard Neo

Couldn't resist what ?

Jack, I think you will find that Adam actually paid a qualified mechanic to check the engine......

The link below has masses of detail regarding the planned dredging of Poole Harbour. I found the 10. Fishing Activity link very interesting as it mentions where fish are targetted and I also thought that the commercial value of the catch was lower than I imagined ( ie. The money spent on boats/Recreational Sea Angling would beat the value easily ). Shellfish values are over double that of fish. Poole Harbour Dredging Details

It is the Poole and District Sea Angling Association. ( I think ).

Thinking of fishing the cod comp on the 30th Dec, but need to get some crew and also can it be fished out of Mudeford / Wick ? ( ie. check in at Poole Sea Angonig Centre 7 AM - back to mudeford/wick - lines down at 9-30 fish until say 15:00 then back to Poole with the 31 lb cod ? Is this allowed ? Anyone want to crew at all ?

Bob, The solitary bass I caught, I noticed that it was swimming up at a phenomenal rate. It was a good little scrap. The wrasse, I was well impressed with - particularily the way it decided to make a dive to the bottom when it was half way up. I shall definitely be going back for a spot of Wrassing. ( PS : My wrasse was 3 lb 12 Oz - to within 4 oz. as measured on a spring balance as opposed to Adam's high tech digital scales ) and also is my PB ( as only ever caught one wrasse previously ).

Myself and Helen shant be able to make the flounder comp. Off to see the In-laws.

Fished out of Weymouth with Rich on Neo with Blue Warrior ( Adam and Bob ). Drifting the race ( which I thought was quite impressive ). Fishing was slow for us to start using Storm Lures. Took a big wave over the side which soaked Rich and left a 1 1/2 inch pool of water in the bottom of the boat. Steaming light not working - bilge pump stopped working - tell tail on the engine appears to be blocked and boat had something "unpleasant" festering somewhere !! Still we heard from Adam that Bob had been doing really well on the sand eel lures, so switched to them and had a fish each on the next drift. Tide was near the end of the flood by now sow we headed off for some wrasse fishing. Rich had a couple of wrasse and I had a single fish which weighed in at 3 3/4 lb which is a PB for me. ( Bob had one bigger on BW ). Still a good day out and many thanks to BillyBoy for the hermits. When I got home found the source of the "festering" - it was a squid left over from the open comp which was in the bottom of a box at the front of the boat. As I was wondering how to dispose of it the dog solved my dilema as he sneaked out and ate it

Talbot Frozen Foods in Christchurch were doing them at 6 boxes for

No problem, I have offered the place to Rich as "substitute". Another time perhaps ?

OK, I can't promise anything yet but will post tomorrow if I can get the day off. I will need to be back home by 6:30 PM ish. though.

If I can wangle a day off on Friday, would you fancy a trip out to the needles or Christchurch Ledge ? I can only take one of you though, since it will be too cramped with three onboard. Launch from Mudeford, Wick or Lymington.

Sam, Had around 35 ish whiting with Paul J ( we put back over half of them including 2 1/2 lb fish). Still looking for the big one to break that record of yours. However, I think it is safe for a while !!

Kam, I have a GPS/Plotter with an internal antenna. I get a reasonable enough signal despite the roof, however, I cannot yet pick up the WASS satellite which is low on the horizon. The signal is affected by the roof but I get around 5 satellites comfortably. In retrospect I think I would have gone external though, if only because it looks slicker but at $100 diff ..... By the way are you buying form the states. I got mine from a comapny called boatfix - very very good.

It was a great days fishing ( despite the lack of cod ) and good company. I ended up putting 2 1/2lb whiting back we had that many. I wonder if the skipper of the boat which anchored within 3 boat widths from us reads this board ? He was that close he must have heard my conversation on the phone with Adam. Lucky I wasn't uptiding. Still we had the last laugh as I decided we were either moving forward or he was dragging his anchor off into the distance