Graham Nash

What about a Cobra Tourer? http://www.directboats.com/cotoka.html 15ft of sleek polyethylene beneath me :-) or a maliby pro explorer like this one???? http://www.malibukayaks.com/kayak_explorer.asp

Oh decisions decisions ..... I have some money that is burning a hole in my pocket and I am not sure I will be able to restrain myself till the 3rd.

Thanks for the offer, i will pick up a dry suit and give you a shout soon. I seriously want one (as I used to do lots of canoeing when i was young). Give me a shout if you hear of anyone selling something you rate. Graham

Phew .... that's a distant memory. Thanks anyway :-)

many thanks Zippy, and I will be at the meeting on the 3rd. My young lady however has claimed me for the 5th to take her and the kids up to London to see the lights and Hamleys, so although I tried everything in my power to ba able to come along on the 5th it was obviously not enough to get the better of "er indoors". I must be honest, I am gutted that I wont be able to make it but I suppose I need to keep her sweet for when this blasted wind dies down so I can get out on the boat without too much grief from her. I will keep my hand firmly in my pocket for now and will make sure I set aside a little time to chat to you on the 3rd. Many thanks.

I had a look at an Ocean Kayak "Caper" today, complete with seat/back reat and paddle ....... any comments from you lads that know your stuff??? Thanks Graham

That is absolutely disgusting and barbaric.

I missed the Southampton one so am intending on visiting the London one. I Will probably get busy that week as always but I hope to go.

I will find out for you Bob. Failing that I know a few people that have 2 kayaks.They might be willing to take one down for you to use I have looked at buying one since the demo, but cant see any at the sort of price the guy mentioned ...... Do you know of any of your Kayak guys looking to sell one maybe?

its not looking good for the weekend :-(

I am very rarely in the area on a Saturday owing to my young lady living out of the area (which has up sides as well as down ) but I will be trying to be about for that one. I would love to give one a try. Graham

Agreed, It was very interesting. I was amazed at the weight of the things (or lack of weight to be more precise), and I am thinking that maybe I will be buying myself a little prezzie early in the new year :-)

The sunshine motivated us to get on with the work, but once it was completed the heavens opened and remained open all summer! Pictures of our progress. http://s513.photobucket.com/albums/t332/graham241060/

Hi, I am making room for my next project so have to clear some space. I have a Fletcher 14ft Speedboat with no trailer, steering or engine that is on ebay and due to finish Saturday evening, I really do just want it gone and am expecting it to go for around

some of the photography was amazing ..... the seals and the sardines looked like a Walt Disney Cartoon.

they have the neoprine and rubber ones up at The Range.

Exactly. The one I use is black!

good idea Rob. I have always been a little reluctant to use a rope between the trailer & car in case some jet skier decides to do their normal "speed around the struggling fishermen trying to retreave their boat" trick. I suppose of it is nice and brightly coloured they shouldnt really miss it. It would also help immensely in trying to pull the boat & trailer back out once she is on there ok. At the moment we have 3 of us pushing & pulling and it moves very very slowly.

I looked at those rear swinging cradles yesterday at Trailertek, they were about

Freddie, someone recommended that method a while ago to me and i have used it with great success against tide since, but when there is wind and waves I can get it onto the trailer but as soon as I turn the trailer to pull it back up the slipway the waves lift the boat off the trailer again. I even tried strapping the boat to the trailer in the winds last Saturday but the waves actually lifted the boat AND the trailer making it pretty hairy at times. I think once I have the decent winch, the rollers and a lower pulling location I can PULL the boat onto the trailer in shallower water thus preventing the waves from lifting the boat off the trailer. I will probably give it a miss tomorrow (although if we could get it on the trailer tomorrow we should be able to do it almost any time) Graham.

many thanks all for the advice and even an offer of rollers !!! I visited Trailertek this morning and spent another leg buying a monster new 2 speed winch (with braided strap) and some rollers. I am going to try the rope from the gunnells route that Rob suggested before putting an eye in, simply because i would hate to pull a hole in the front of the boat by not doing it right. I will be putting the winch and rollers on tomorrow and will have a little play on Baiter slipway and let everyone know the outcome. Once again many thanks for the advice. I am quite looking forward to seeing if it makes a difference.

good ideas Rob, i think the rope from the gunnels has to be worth a try. As for the swing mooring, I did have one in holes bay but I am not a great believer in human nature and I was constantly worried about things being taken from the boat while i was not about, or even my tender being taken while i was out plus at over

agreed Gary concerning the winch post height, unfortunately my boat does not have a low level eye to connect to so I have to connect at the top of the bow at the anchor roller, this is about 3 feet above the winch, but without fixing an eye just above the waterline I cant see any way of rectifying that. A longer winch post would help but the winch would be about head height then making winding just as difficult. I am intending on picking up a 3500lb winch and wire tomorrow from trailertek while i am there. Maybe someone could advise me how to get a more appropriately positioned eye??

I looked at those too and was tempted, but to be honest I already have the base for rollers to be fixed to so i am sure i can do it much cheaper. (I paid