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Happy Birthday Kev I echo Charlies comments about staying off the roofs in this wind too windy for fishing too I think What will you find to do on your birthday I wonder? Peteg

As you say Mike ...Food for thought With my luck and fishing skills i have full confidence that I could never be photograhed in this situation But what will the future hold???? Peteg

Forgot to mention Major factor for choosing the lowrance over the dragonfly was the NME A0183 coms facility of the Lowrance so I can have position connected,displayed and if necessary transmitted on my DSC VHF. There are no such facilities available on the Dragonfly. I have connected the coms from both plotters in parallel to the DSC vhf so either will provide the data if switched on. Peteg

I eventually opted for the Lowrance Elite 5 HDI and bought a Navionics Gold Upgrade microsd card and download pack from .http://bluev.co.uk/ It now means that my old SD card still functions as a backup (but cannot be upgraded) and my new micro sd card with the Latest Full UK map can still be used on my old plotter using the microsd to sd card converter that came with the upgrade kit. I haven't used the new plotter /sounder in anger yet but first impressions are very good. It is installed on a pedestal bracket on top of my dash and swivels nicely if cables are left long enough and left" flexible" My old plotter was still playing up and flashing like a mad thing yesterday.It also has the anoying habit of switching itself on by itself so I have removed the power plug to it..It was driving me nuts when trying to set up the new unit The contact cleaning suggestion didnt work so Looks like I may have to trawl ebay for a working replacement. I like the Elite 5 hdi though:- although probably would have opted for the extra screen size of the 7hdi but sufficient funds not available at the time.

Feel for you Nige Hope things get sorted to your satisfaction as soon as possible Peteg

Brilliant Where can I get one????? Peteg

1, Kingfisher 2, Fisheagle 3, Slice of Life 4, Awol 5. Reflections 2 Hopefully will be able to use boat a lot more next year so please keep comp. going. I would like to get into double figures Peteg

I'm also really depressed I wonder if Is it worth keeping the boat and paying the ongoing repair and berthing costs ...big bill to come :wacko: . . . . . . . . . Yeah .....Course it is!!!!!!!!!! :D Well for the next season anyway :rolleyes:

Thanks Kev This is my semi reirement birthday so hopefully much more time available for fishing from now on Peteg

Terry, Thanks for the advice I'll give the contact cleaning option a go next time I get to the boat.....I might get lucky I dont have a lot of spare room on the top of the dash but reading the sales description of the two pedestal mounted combo units I have in mind they are supposed to tilt and swivel. Just need to be able to get my hands on them to see if they are suitable. Rob ......Dont have an Iphone.......... :( Agree with you about the dark world though Peteg

Rob, I have an old Globalmap 3300c which is regularly exhibiting the dreaded flashing screen syndrome .When it behaves itself it works fine. It is running Navionics gold on an SD Card which doesn't help me on the more modern units which take microSD's so I thought It might be time to bite the bullet and get a new combo unit which would also be backup for my old Lowrance x65 greyscale sounder which is working perfectly but not as well as a hybrid downscan Colour unit of course. With a new pedestal rather than cradle mount combo plus my existing units I would have 100% backup redundancy. and be able to view displays from bow area.(if they can swivel far enough ) I have just about enough room to mount either of the pedestal units on the top of the dash when I remove my old Eagle backup sounder Tending to favour the dragonfly at the moment but really nothing in it as far as I can make out from the sales pitches and reviews...UNLESS SOMEONE KNOWS DIFFERENT.... Peteg

Graham, Any results or negatives yet? I am close to chosing between the dragonfly or the Lowrance elite 5 HDI . Can the Dragonfly display be rotated a full 360 degrees(ish) after instalation? I want to be able to view the display from the foredeck through the cabin window as well as on th helm dashboard inside the cabin so need it to swivel probably 180 +degrees Any info greatfully received. Peteg

I have signed the petition . I have no doubt that the car park scheme is yet another short termism proposal from the bean counter mentality that is ruining many aspects of this country. I eally hope WAC manage to resolve the matter in their favour

Done

All this talk about open boats and cuddys BRRRR I think I'll stick with my nice warm cabin thank you Its got allround visibility sliding doors fore and aft, 4 windscreen wipers front and sides, a lovely diesel heater for the winter and a sunroof for the summer and I can see my rods from the comfort of my helm seat. I knew there was a good reason to buy it in the first place :lol: Peteg

Ditto

Dont knock the bathing season It focusses the water utility companies to be additionally cautious and restrict their more cavalier operational practices that could result in detectable water quality consent breaches as they get inspected more rigorosly during this period. I wont say any more

ooooouuuuuuuucccccccchhhhhhhh What's the odds that it can get worse and another squirrel goes for his nuts

Christened my 2.4m 10-12lb rated Dam Inliner rod yesterday on Poole Patch with a couple of bream. I loved the rod it is very light and takes a hell of a bend. It is very sensitive to the slightest vibration on the end of the line whether from fishes or scraping the bottom ; I could feel everything. Only two problems found : 1. The butt cover (over the Gimbal fitting) fell off as I pulled the rod out of the rod rest and was lost overboard....don't need it anyway. 2. The mono to Braid knot tends to "catch" in the top ring during casting .It pulls through ok but snags during the cast limiting distance. I have overcome the issue of having to re-thread the line by tying a long enough mono leader to a link swivel and zip slider/shock bead combo which allows the rod to be split /taken apart when not in use or during trsnsportation. OK you cant use the two compartment rod bag but who uses them anyway. I liked using it so much I decided to buy another ..They are great value at only £31.99 plus £0.95 insurance and £4.95 postage + packaging There are heavier duty ones available in the range but I really like these. http://www.askari-fishing.co.uk/__WebShop__/product/fishing/rods/boat-beachcasting-rods/dam-steelpower-red-inliner-downrigger-240-fishing-rods/detail.jsf Heavier duty ones are currently £34.99 to £38.99 depending on size http://www.askari-fishing.co.uk/__WebShop__/product/fishing/rods/boat-beachcasting-rods/dam-steelpower-red-inliner-210-260-fishing-rods/detail.jsf Has anyone found any long term usage problems with these? Peteg

I was recently shown a 2005 ETEC which was writtten off due to corrosion between the power head and the drive leg. The reason for the write off was that etecs do not have wear plates between the power head and drive leg (like Mariners and Mercury's and Yamaha) which can be easily replaced when corroded. The etec required a new power head £5600! The guys that had stripped the engine said that they would not recommed the Etec range due to what seem to be cost saving design and build issues. Sorry to be a bit negative about them but I saw what I saw!!

"I do the same with a Battery 1 -> Both -> Battery 2 -> Off switch. I steam out with both batteries in parallel charging and then when anchored switch to one battery to run radio / lights etc. If switching for say Battery 1 to Battery 2 it is important to not move the switch through the "Off" postition if the engine is running. (It risks destroying the regulator diodes ) Switching from Battery 1 to Both to Battery 2 is fine." Me Too!