Mike Fox

In days of old I used to sometimes use a snap link to drop an extra trace down towards my end gear. The secret was to have a stop knot or similar above the main gear to avoid tangles when it arrived. Hardly a boom, but two snaplink swivels lashed to the wires in the triangle bit might make a French boom into a slider? Mike

Baillon's, I'd agree. Aren't they lovely? Never saw one before 2 years ago, now find them all over the place. Mike

Hi Peter, There's "safe" windows on both flood and ebb when the inshore passage is workable. However, the wind can blow the race inshore, and the inshore passage can vanish if there's much South in the wind, and SE is particularly bad. Even moderate winds can and do move it, and can make the passage vanish. I've had to stand off 6 miles in poor weather...and it's still lumpy beyond the charted position of the race, so there's no straightforward answer for small boats. Check the tidal stream diagrams in the almanacs and charts to calculate the various "windows", and these are usually recorded as being offsets from High Water Dover. It's not an area to mess with, unless you have absolute faith in your boat and engine(s). Mike

I did a temporary installation of a twin-frequency transducer using a block of moulded plasticine 3 years ago, and haven't bothered to make this permanent yet. Permanent installations involve either glassing/epoxying them in, or using an oil bath for full immersion contact. I haven't had the urge to try either. Avoid silicon sealant etc, as it's so soft it absorbs the vibrations, allegedly, and you get a very poor echo. Mike

Wise call...we were out today, and it was decidedly whumpity. Tomorrow is supposed to be friskier too. Mike

Impressive bits of kit the Targa 31...was on board one earlier this year, and was much impressed. Definitely the 4x4 of the sea, able to take almost anything the Channel could throw at it....and still get you home comfortably! Mike

Controversially....I've deliberately NOT given myself any ideas of a dream boat....as in the past this has caused me much dissatisfaction!!! Frisky ticks so many boxes for me, it's not true, and was bought following 14 years of boat ownership, and after a 3-year search for the right model - then the right example of that model. Yes, I'd like to replace some of the older fixtures and fittings that are looking tired, but am doing these progressively, and I have no plans or desire to change in the next 30 years or so. She's the right size for friends and family - or solo if needed, might be a little slow (but this allow me more time afloat), and has that "ideal" compromise between performance, accommodation and seaworthiness for our needs, and hopefully I should be able to moor her somewhere in retirement that doesn't break the bank....but that's a while off yet! Mind, there is an urge to have a Warrior 175 (or Raider 18) on a trailer as well.....but I think that's just being greedy. Mike

Definitely worth avoiding !!! Mike

Respect !!!! Mike

Great fishing Paul and excellent pictures! You can get Bluefish in the Canaries too. Took a light telescopic rod over to Fuerteventura a few years ago, and despite being smashed up several times, managed to land the smallest I had hooked of 3-4lb. I'd agree with the aggression, they hit most things chucked at them. A local fish restaurant on the beach cooked it for us all, after a little negotiation, and it was grilled in a casing of rock salt. I posted the recipe a few years ago, which works superbly for bass too. The best day of that holiday! Mike

Found this and wondered if this is another contributory reason why anywhere near Poole seems to have fished badly in the last few years... http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/...000/8708318.stm Mike

Decided NOT to go with the wind and gusts not being ideal for drifting or anchoring (we break out on our small fishing anchor), so had a morning on the motorbike instead. Will re-group and try again Monday, perhaps on the 7.30 a.m. bridge. Anyone else out there? Mike

Am not quite up to an Alderney trip yet, but was wondering about working the tides tomorrow to have a trip to Southbourne Rough, and maybe take in a few nearby marks as well. Anyone tried that area recently, and does anyone have any advice about what to go for ? If anyone is thinking of doing the same, perhaps we could help each other out with where the fish actually are ? Thanks, Mike

Hi Dan, Re your question 2. I had a window like you describe in my first boat, and changed all of the windows. The soapy water and string trick failed for me too. It sounds like you have a fixed seal around the window opening, with a lip inside that for the window to sit in. Within the outer face of the seal is a groove...for a rubber insert which tensions the whole system up. It was this that I couldn't get in. I bought a tool like a screwdriver with a diamond shaped hollow tip, through which you pass the rubber insert ...which is a tight fit within the "diamond". By soaping up the groove (no sniggers at the back) and running the tool tip slowly along the groove, you can lay/insert the rubber insert neatly in place. Best to start at the top dead centre of the window, to avoid the risk of a join at the bottom where water can collect. Make the final cut slightly over-long to get a tight fit. A smart man could make such a tool from a wire coat-hanger (part of everyone's on-board spares kit I hope!) and a pair of pliars. Not sure if that's what you have, but if so, good luck! Mike

Have fun and stay safe! Braye is not protected in a NE remember, but St. Pete is ok, and Diellette is good if you take your passports and Euros. Mike

Cracking fishing chaps! Not sure how you weigh them on board, but I think for tope there might be some good length/girth tables available that will give you a good estimate of the weight. Is it practical to carry a tape measure and to use it? Mike

Good luck all who fish, Frisky is out of action with a broken throttle cable and due to a bad back, I couldn't fish anyway! Hope those who do both win the big prizes! Mike

Well done that man ! Mike

I'm just waiting for the picture of the angler standing up to weigh it... Mike

Good advice Charlie, but the isolation valve is next to the fuel tank...in the main cockpit locker, and readily accessible in the event of a fire. Might get a service kit just so it's available if ever needed...good suggestion. The real problem was me down below, steps removed, diesel everywhere, and kicking myself for not turning it off. I did know....just too keen to get on and sort. All worked fine today, decent tickover, started quickly from warm. Just cold starting still an issue....as ever with this model (pre-glow plugs!). Mike

Well, after just 2 weeks ashore, Frisky went back in last weekend, and I serviced the Volvo 2003 diesel for the coming season. The lift pump seemed a little sluggish, and I really struggled to fill the secondary fuel filter before fitting it, but I thought nothing more of it till I tried to start the engine. Even with a warm engine block, it was very hesitant to start, and tickover was very low. I popped to get some replacement filters as spares to keep onboard, and mentioned this to the marine engineer who advised at 20 years old, the engine probably needed the injectors servicing, or the valves regrinding..as this is a common problem...and quite expensive. We spent a while discussing the cold-start mechanism (no glow plugs), and he suggested the cold starting problems might be fuel supply related, and suggested removing and stripping the lift pump as an easy check. I've never had to do one of these before, but went back to the boat and removed it. ...with diesel siphoning everywhere until a spare latex glove and cable tie stopped it (stop cock on fuel tap is in a deck locker and too deeply buried...need to plan a better arrangement!) Stripping it open revealed a spring inside had slipped out of position, and replacing this, and reassembling in reverse order appeared to work. Tickover and starting is much improved. A "10-minute" job took me an hour, and I was delighted to be lashed to a static pontoon and not in the middle of the shipping lanes with no wind. Will have to pop down to the boat today and see if it fires from cold better, but am hoping that's the cause, and then tomorrow go for the first shakedown trip Anyone else had similar problems? Mike

Sorry to see Enticer go too Gordon, a cracking boat, in great condition, and well skippered. Hope a replacement comes along in due time! Mike

You might like to check this 9-day forecast periodically... http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/avnpanel1.html It's the site I use for 400-500 mile trip planning... Mike

How many miles to the galleon again ? Mike

Looks like a Taurulus bubabis to me. http://www.carolscornwall.com/On%20the%20B...kpool-fish.html Mike