Graham Nash

I have only needed it once (just recently) and I can say I was very pleased to know someone was so close to me if i needed serious assistance.

You are asking for a clip round the ear Brian .... I didn't laugh, honest!

Re coming back half way through the night ..... I have come back after they have shut and have left my boat on the pontoon a few times and have had no problems. I have also had them drop it in the water the evening before i use it if i want to start off before they get in. It did worry me at first but I have seen some MUCH BETTER boats on the pontoon than mine (one of which was on it last night) and have heard of no problems.

Ha Ha ...... very good

As I would have been on my own today due to my crew having been summoned by his little lady to assist in the festivities i decided to give it a miss today (also my dogs were not that well and could be doing with company). I popped down to the boat but the hull was frozen solid and like an ice rink. I don't think

Simon, I was going for dry stack at Rockley but was not sure what to do with the trailer. The guys down there suggested I leave the boat on the trailer and they launch it as normal. It works a treat for me. They normally leave around 4 in the winter (although I doubt they will stay that late today, they were gone by 2 yesterday). If you want night fishing you just arrange it in advance and they drop the boat in for you, then remove it the following day. By the way I think they charge me on hull length and I paid in a one lump sum (they certainly dont charge me on the length of the trailer)

I personally find exactly the opposite to Gordon. I find it so much easier to phone the boat yard and have the boat in the water ready for me when I get there. I park a few meters away and load up then I am away. On the return I tie the boat to the pontoon and remove whatever i dont want to leave, I then drive off home for my shower (or whatever). When I was trailing I found it all such a hag (especially in the summer), unlocking the rusty brakes, manouvering my boat out of my yard and negotiating past the inconsiderate parking down a narrow back street of Poole. Then fighting for a place on the slip (hoping there was enough water to launch) and then trying to get the idiot that was tying his boat to his trailer smack bang in the middle of the slip to move out of the way, then there was trying to find a parking spot. The return could be twice as stressful when there were millions of jet skiers all anchored in the slip way and there was always someone who couldnt get his boat back onto his trailer causing a massive back log. Having said that ..... it was never dull

Will do Tony and thanks. I have been watching windguru and they have dropped it to force 3 to 4 with minimal swell. I dont do swell so wont be taking any chances.

I did tie a buoy to it and marked it on my plotter. I will pop out there tomorrow and see if i can get it back. Any ideas when slack water out towards Poole Patch tomorrow?

I have my son visiting with my new grandson on the 2nd Jan ..... I wonder if i can persuade him to make it the 3rd??

is looking better ..... but cold

I used my 5kg and 11 met chain once!!! The boat wouldnt start and I couldnt lift the anchor by hand in the worsening conditions so I had to cut it loose!!! I am now back to my old faithful danforth for now :-(

cant see it being on if windguru is right. force 10 gusts with 13ft waves!!

Jay Kay .... I have only been into boating for the last 2 years, in that time I have bought 4 boats, an inflatable, 2 kayaks and numerous engines. I have lost a small fortune in wasted purchases, but have learned some expensive lessons along the way. A few of these lessons are ... I am NOT a boat builder, so don't kid myself that I am. Buy rubbish, buy twice (or more in my case). Get the best and more importantly the most reliable engine you can find. I would seriously suggest you get out on a few boats before you decide on the boat you think you want as they all have different deck spaces, handling, performance and characteristics, speak to owners at the slipways and see what they think of their boats. I had a couple of displacement hull boats, which were great cutting through rough seas, but rocked like a pendulum at anchor and took all day to reach the marks. I now have a 17ft dory type boat with a virtually new 15hp outboard which i use very occasionally within the harbour (or just outside). This is great, very light to launch and has masses of deck space, but very low sides so I wouldn't take it out of the harbour if there were any waves or swell. I also now have my bigger boat for use outside the harbour, which I use much more since I have had it at Rockley.

I am pretty sure i have one lying about at my factory .... will have a look tomorrow. There are actually speaker brackets that do exactly what you are wanting.

I was talking to someone fishing the Wednesday Flounder League last night and he told me there was an 8LB Cod caught in the harbour on Saturday. It could be a fishermans tale, but I have no reason to doubt him.

that made me smile .... wish I had thought of it.

Excellent Colin ..... we were just uptide of you and left around 3. Fantastic day to be out and to catch a whopper like that is the icing on the cake.

Fantastic conditions Paul .... we were out, anchored just down tide from Fugazi. Ended up with about 12 whiting (most of a good size) a few dogs and a half decent bass. Great day to be out and i can't wait till the next jaunt! I also heard of an 18 & 14lBer being caugt, but not on my boat i'm afraid.

I will be out ..... non member as company.

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/871...s_biggest_carp/ a beast!!!

and yes it was freezing!!

Shame but probably the right decision ...... bloody weather!!

I have dived in areas of natural beauty and I'm afraid that I would happily refrain from anchoring in such areas (nothing to do with being a goody goody or preacher, just a personal opinion).

I was having my lunch on the cliff tops at Barton on Sea this afternoon and i could see quite a few small boats all parked about 4 or 5 miles out ....... lucky beggars!