Graham Nash

I have a POLISH Raider Wheelhouse. There is much written about the differences between the newer Polish and the older English ones. I would be interested to hear/see a REAL like for like comparison. I am game Tom, and I dont mind constructive criticism either

half price ......bargain!!

This could be a possibility but most unlikely. I cannot imagine anyone switching the isolator switch to on, lowering the engine ready for removal then re-isolating the switch when they realised they didnt have time to complete their task (or once they saw the locks). Surely they would have left the isolator switch in the on position?

I was rather hoping to catch something a bit bigger too Graham but the point Adam is making is that if I catch a 40LB Tope and a 12LB Turbot on the other side of the channel, it wont come close to beating a 3 1/2 Bream just outside the harbour (which I did about 4 or 5 weeks ago).

Exactly this

I have a friend coming down from London for a trip out tomorrow but he really does not "do" lumpy water If there are any white tips to the waves we will almost certainly stay inside the harbour and try to find somewhere out of the wind.

Although I am hoping to get over to Alderney Mike, I have had my 3 best fish (so far) very close inshore. A 13lB 8oz Pollock just off the Needles, a 9 1/2lB Bass INSIDE Poole Harbour and a 3lB 9oz Bream just off Ballard. Of thise I think the Bream was the best specimen. I will be entering the comp, but more to add to the winnings rather than in the hope of winning it myself.

hope you had a good day. paint balling

I have booked a trip out on True Blue for the middle of July. I am sure I saw on his website that you dont take masses of fish home, we limit it and you put the rest back. It was for that reason I booked with him.

Looking at the link in my last post I think my problem is the angle that I motor to lift the anchor. I am pretty sure I motor just to the left of the rope, certainly nothing like 30deg.

My understanding was that the chain travels through the ring and counter balances the anchor preventing it pulling the chain back through and sinking back to the bottom. http://www.fishing-boats.info/Anchor.htm Makes it look so easy!

Charlie i look forward to gaining some of your experience in skippering and fishing in a couple of weeks time and am praying the wind blows it's self out by then. On a recent trip around Christchurch Ledge, we were attempting the Alderney retreaval method and the buoy went under but didnt pop up, instead the front of the boat dipped and felt like it was trying to turn back on it's self. It would be fair to say that it was a but-cheek clenching moment . Anyway, we ended up turning the boat round and drifting back towards the anchor while retreaving the anchor rope. We then manually lifted the anchor and noticed it had tripped our cable ties (we assume that was US manually trying to free it that had tripped it). I have not attempted the Alderney method since

Ha Ha ... I see he managed to come second in the bream comp and didnt know anything about it!!

Thanks for the offer Nigel & I would have loved to take you up on it but I have arranged for a friend to come down from London to come out for a days fishing. I would have loved to see some of your tactics too, you seem to have got it right this year.

disgusting and pure greed

Maybe we can arrange a day out Coddy and you can give me some pointers?

Nigel, I use the Alderney method when I have crew. One of my crew keeps an eye on the rope to ensure it stays well clear of the engine. I cant imagine how I would do that without the reasurance of a crew member.

Partly agree Charlie, but I am wondering how I would do the Alderney ring method on my own?? Also once the ring was caught between the prop and the cavitation plate I can imagine that it needed to be pulled "seaward" to release it. I have often thought about popping out alone on my boat, but it is the anchoring and retreaval that concerns and stops me.

Those guys & girls do a fantastic job ...

With all the sadness & trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person which almost went unnoticed last week. Larry La Prise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Cokey" died peacefully at the age of 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into his coffin. They put his left leg in, & then the trouble started.

Gusting 6's all weekend with windguru

quite possibly a different thing altogether Paul but when my citroen ECU died I was quoted over 1000 for a new one. I searched citroen forums and found that it could be sent away and repaired, which I did and it cost me less than 200. May be of no help at all but it might be worth a look on google or etech forums etc. http://www.dixiemarinesales.com/ecuemm.aspx

and you are STILL top of the species hunt list!! Lets hope the wind drops now you are nearly back in the water.

That WAS the clean version!!!