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Had booked to Fish Saturday, Had arranged Crew Woke up Saturday morning with stinking Migraine Cancelled trip Unable to fish Sunday due to committments and no crew available As booked in will hand over my

Damn, Should have kept shtummm Peteg

Thanks Paul, I knew you wouildn't miss me off the list wen there was money involved Peteg

Ah Ah Now I have working lifejackets back I can get out to do some fishing this weekend. Might as well enter the comp and add another fiver to Dom's Pot. I have yet to arrange crew and they will probably be non club members so only a fiver to the kitty I'm afraid Dom. Will be fishing either Saturday or Sunday -Not a true competition competitor but will be getting my Tuna tackle sorted out on the off chance Peteg

If my memory serves me right my dad told me there were quite a few boats taking tuna charters in the 1930's At the time he was based in the Brighton area and I'm sure I 've seen a photograph of one of the upper crust sporting ladies of the time famous for her big game fishing displaying a huge fish caught in British waters. I seem to think it was a North sea fish Or was I having one of my naughty dreams again Peteg

Paul, My Mariners been sorted for quite a while now and is running like a dream. I'm on a pontoon berth and find it too tricky to carry out a proper flush using the waste bin system and backflushing doesn't get to the parts that matter without taking the thermostat out or at least ensuring its open. If they've revised the design then the problem is resolved on new engines . On my engine which I think was repaired with the previous design of parts I am expecting 4 years more usage without experiencing the problem again. Just to reiterate the problem was deformation of the o ring providing the seal between the power head and gearbox leg through which the cooling water is pumped through the engine and exhausted through the propeller. This deformation was caused purely by the build up of galvanic corrosion solids . Its a great engine when running to spec. Peteg

Les, Sorry to hear about your Mariner problem. I think flushing will at best only delay the issue and unless they change the component materials to those that don't galvanically react with each other the problem will continue. It will be interesting to see how the 5 year warranty will cope as without flushing there should be a considerable number of claims within this period. They may of course have solved the problem on the newer engines hence being able to provide the 5 year warranty. I hope so because it seeems a simple fix of component materials could solve this issue once and for all. Glad to hear you recovered the parts costs anyway . Problem is theres still a big labour bill to pay!

Happy Birthday Charlie, I'm also sorry its a bit late. I wish my excuse was the same as Aluns' But have only just managed to get on line for non work related issues Peteg

Graham, I agree with Paul and Toms comments and recommendations and here are a couple of my own. TIP 1 FIT BIG ANODES If you are moored in Cobbs Quay or in another particularly brackish water environment make sure you fit extra large anodes to each tab. I had a new anode about 65mm dia fitted to each at the start of the season but about 8 months later the trim tab STAINLESS STEEL screw heads on both tabs were corroded away so badly that on one I ripped off the tab on the way back to harbour. I now have 2 anodes on each tab. the original plus a bigger one around 90mm hopefully these will last the year. TIP 2 USE METAL ANTIFOUL ON THE TABS Part of the reason I Lost the trim tab was that I couldn't see the anode for all the weed growth that uses the tab as a sort of hydroponics garden base. I had even antifouled the tabs with the same same stuff as the boat. This year Holes Bay Marine have put some Black Antifouling paint specially for metals on the tabs and so far the brown algae just sweeps off with a couple of strokes of the brush .The rams however have not been antifouled and are starting to collect the green weed although at present this to is easy to remove. Re the TAB position indicating LEDS I would love to have them as like Paul I sometimes have to lift tabs right up to get a starting point for rebalancing equally The LEDS were not available when my tabs were fitted and its an expensive retrofit as the cylinders have to have sensors fittted etc. I can't do it with the boat on the mooring Peteg

Anyone fancy joining me on Reflections 2 this weekend I will be leaving Cobbs Quay Marina around 9.30am Saturday and also it may be the same time or a little later on Sunday. Can Take 1 or 2 either day at the moment If Interested PM Me. Apologies for late post ------ due to late change of plan Peteg

I'm trying my new anchor out without tie wraps or set up for tripping Don't worry its not as stupid as it sounds, the anchor a 7.5kg Manson Supreme has got a slotted shaft that should allow the shackle to slide to the back of the anchor allowing it to pull out from the rear. (if you pardon the expression) Well I've got to give the design a chance haven't I The first signs of a difficult recovery and I'll be back to the tripping regieme So far this beast has held as soon as it hits bottom without the need for a 3 to 1 rode and I've managed to retrieve it via my Anka Yanka system although I have noticed it puts up much more of a fight than my 4kg folding grapnel which is now a spare. Peteg

So that's where my missus went on her night out

Team Aquafresh are definately "The Men" Great Start to the season guys Lets hope it can only improve

Glen, Re the "dolphins" on Saturday . I initially made the same mistake thinking the dark black shapes seen in the distance were dolphins or pilot wales broaching. The strange shapes turned out to be rising waves due to either currents or wind against an almost mirror calm sea. It was very disconcerting at first but very explainable when you managed to get close to them. My Saturday Trip onto the patches car park in a newly serviced Reflections 2 proved to be a first rate Christening exercise. 1. it was the first time out for the new Cyclops Radar Reflector-(I swear I saw the Car Ferry alter course when entering Poole Harbour) -He must have spent ages trying to find this oil tanker on his radar 2. I christened my new Manson Supreme Anchor which dug in as soon as it hit bottom and I even managed to drive it out .The engine did load up a bit before it released. This seems a serious bit of anchor technology so fingers crossed I wont end up losing it 2.I christened the Alba Rod and abu 5500 reel recently purchased from Tom at the AGM-- Loved the combo Tom. They do work well as an uptider pair. Had a number of Bream to just over 2 pound a pouting and a mackeral. 3. My Crew an ex work mate managed to catch some nice bream on his second trip out with me having blanked the first time. The boat went well and the new hydraulic steering cylinder worked fine although not really a good test under such perfect weather conditions. Like Charlie and Coddy I have got a "secret" ground bait recipe which certainly works with both bream and whiting when anchored over the patches and the rough Can't wait to get out again soon Pete

Got the topic date wrong should be Saturday 10th May At the moment still open to offers but expect to fill by Friday if no takers. Pete

Reflections 2 should be back in the water this week and am looking to take her out for a combined shakedown and bream/mackeral trip on Saturday Morning. Any one fancy crewing I have room for 2 max If anyone has radar I would be gratefull for a report on the return from the cyclops 3 unit just fitted' The sea state looks smooth so I'm hoping for a good result from quite a few miles distant If any one interested pm me or email me. looking to leave cobbs quay pontoon at around 9am

Wel Done Charlie, Glad to hear you've sorted out Star Turn and the outboard. I'll keep a special lookout for an overtaking shetland next time I'm Out Bet you can't keep off the throttle for long Peteg

yep that's a beaut

If Only I was able to think that fast................and had the nerve

James , Ever thought of using a black painted helium filled round balloon on a length of string. Practical or Not? Only a suggestion

Don't look now but I got a feeling I've cracked the groundbait formula.

or One day, a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very sheer nightie. 'Tie me up,' she purred, 'and you can do anything you want.' So he tied her up and went fishing.

Adam, I've got the Baystar (Teleflex)system on mine and have had a few problems with it http://www.teleflexmarine.com/index.cgi?type=int Basically when its in tip top order its great the faster you go the heavier it gets so when at speed the steering is heavily damped and requires a fair effort to turn the wheel. At low speed its well balanced and turns my 115hp outboard over its full range effortlessly. Problem I experienced was that there was insufficient fluid in the Steering Wheel hydraulic Hub and this meant that the Hydraulic cylinder had less fluid in one side to the other . (as its a double ended cylinder with different fluid volumes web site should explain further) This caused great anxiety at low speed manouverings as to turn to starboard only required 1 turn of the wheel but to turn the equavalent to port required 4 turns of the wheel. Topping up the hub initially sorted out the problem but exposed the true fault in that the cylinder rod seals were leaking............ At the moment the boat is out of the water being serviced and the above repaired by Holes Bay Marine Initial investigation showed it wasn't possible to replace the seals without removing the whole outboard motor off the transom or deinstalling the cylinder,but was possible to replace the cylinder complete by just loosening the motors fixing bolts and tilting it backwards a tad. Replacement cylinder costs around

I was walking past the mental hospital the other day,and all the patients were shouting ,'13....13....13' The fence was too high to see over,but I saw a little gap in the planks and looked through to see what was going on. Some b*****d poked me in the eye with a stick. Then they all started shouting '14....14....14'...

COME ON EAT ME I DARE YOU