duncan

Sorry to hear that Dave, these things can strike from anywhere at anytime. Whilst the theoretical ability to get some basic control by tying a rope off from cleat to leg to cleat in these circumstances exists it's definitely not for that area at that time as you say! hope you get it fixed without too much hassle

I think it's important to keep any discussion alligned - Pretty much all diesel can have 5% bio fuel mixed in - the resulting fuel is not considered bio diesel. It complies to EN590:2004 and may or may not be designated B5 depending on where you purchase it. Red diesel has had seperate regulations (BS rather than EN) with BS2869:2006 but this also permits 5% biofuel by volume. As the sulpher content of this coverges with that of EN590 it's likely that we will end up getting diesel to the (more) common EN590 standard in time. All the above is history - the concern seems to be the impact of the proposals to increase the permitted proportion of bio fuel in 'standard diesel' to 7, 10 or even 20 (if you listen to some of the arguments being put forward to the ESO). Many would say we need a lot more facts from the sustained use of B5 in a range of engines and conditions before 'moving on' - others claim the environmental benefits of such an increase more than make up for any minor risks to mechanical parts...(lets not get into the wider macro economic arguments the other way!!!) Given that we boat owners probably check our fuel filters 100 times more often than car ones, and carry spares etc, it's the wider issues like seals and other potential corrosion issues (associated with bio fuels) that worry me as they will be expensive, potentially dangerous and difficult to monitor.

this is a bit of an ongoing issue a 55 isn't going to ask a lot from a battery so the question becomes what else and how long and when will it be charged and how long will it be left................. my advice has to echo that given before = buy the cheapest with the best warranty and keep the receipt

temptress - good tides and weather for a number of options then?

Charlie, Alderney works great for the 48hr - just ring in your results before heading back on Sunday evening! (and this without looking at the tides for that weekend so if they are big forget I mentioned it.....)

good advice Dan (and others) rule one in such a set up has to be to consider not only the weather but the tides that will interact with any breeze, and the local 'traffic' which can, and will be, less than sympathetic to the needs of small vessels anywhere off the coast.

just an observation on 'value' - you may have done well in Nov - Feb, even early March but right now most boats of the sort you are looking at are priced at their peak because more people are looking now (than in Nov and Dec!)

I tend to go when things like tides, weather and 'the urge' all fall into place... planning these things in advance is vastly overrated - keep the boat fueled and shipshape to see more days like this overr there ........ the fish will be there for a few months yet (although maybe not in the numbers we saw this trip) bass become a pest from July! overall we were very very lucky with the weather and conditions for the 4 days...

the answer has many variables but the approach I used to take in setting up my extending arms (standard as part of the trailer) was initially to have the board across the rear of the hull and the number plate to one side to clear the engine lower unit. a very reasonable discussion with a gentleman of the constablary who requested I join him in the M27 services one fine evening, was that I would have been better served if I had the tariler board as the furthest back element of my rig. Not a requirement he was at pains to point out but a recomendation based on the problems people have at night when trying to judge the distance to the rear of your boat / engine / prop etc. regarding the skeg etc I was always told to tow with the engine almost fully down, supported on a wooden wedge across the rams. clearly if your trailer is set up with no clearance this won't work for you and it was a function of taking the load of the hydraulics with large engines (90 and 175), but it made the above positioning a lot easier.

with the bream I guess..........

as above Phaeton, Awol or Phaeton and Awol departing Rockley as soon as practical on Friday.

Adam My 'barometer' has swung to the extent that I am extremely likely to be there now. Initially improvements in my back and AWOL's problems got me to take some steps to make it possible (as a natural and very flexible back up to AWOL) and so far everything has gone forwards at the necessary speed. I understand that the gel and AF have been done (may need to finish on the bits the cradles covered prior to launch) and the batteries have been charged, the VHF checked and I've a HH plotter here with everything on it in case the boat's systems don't function as they should. Some attention to the fuel system remains a 'must do' and then there is a long long list of should do's and like to do's.......and the usual large tool and spares kit! It also means that if AWOL has some fundamental problem it will be Phaeton +3 for the crossing over! Friday 'when we're good and ready' is the current loose plan.

they are all starting to agree on the general synopsis, but there is still a timing issues around Thursday/Friday. overall it certainly looks extremely promising!

if you are getting close to the engines max revs when the throttle is wide open and you have getting towards your 'light loading' ie the lighter end of your normal loading ic fuel, then whatever you have is doing it's job. if you are getting within 10% of max revs (but no more than max revs) I wouldn't change it if you are getting over 10% less it's worth considering in more detail. overall I would have thought that 7000rpm is a little above the maximum rating for that engine - but I can't find the spec on the web anywhere right now..... off the top of my head I would have said 6000, with a 5500-6000 target range as above but it's only a guess

no - they don't work like that but there is an internet conversion aplet somewhere - will see if I can find it again well hidden............. decca conversion application

"we have been to plan F and back already." how apt!

the RYA don't seem to hold whole lot of records, from bitter experience! it's certainly worth giving them a ring and hoping they can trace you from the details they should hold against the certificates issued - They use Initials + Surname, Address, Country of Birth, dob and Nationality Good Luck

I am amazed you haven't built them in .......... I have two which, obviously, I use to store hoses, oil change pumps, cutting boards, cleaner, BBQs, etc etc as I never seem to catch anything.... On fishing trips I tend to start with the big coolbox 3/4 full of ice and 1/4 full of beer and supplies (bacon etc) gradually exchanging first bait, then catch, then fillets for supplies as the trip progresses. Works really well as a system as, if we don't catch (or meet up with Dean) the beer stays in the box!

none of them do Terry you have the same engine and revs available, so you only really need the relative gear ratios of the leg you took off and the one you are putting on to give you a relative starting point. and that should probably be the same pitch as the one you are taking off if the ratios are the same DP doesn't really change the underlying formulae but you will get less slip at outset and more efficency carried through the range - this can mean that you need to go lower if the engine can't get to turbo revs before the hull speed becomes a limit (previously it would simply have slipped the prop with the avaiable power but now it may not be able to) - or it may not. from there it's fine tuning on the various choices you have available in that range for which a calculator really won't help!

OK - whose hacked into the Metcheck site and arranged the F0 crossing on Friday with nothing but clear skys and sunshine for 4 days after that? ridiculous

I have always used a simple running ledger to a wired lead. Seen all types of hook arrrangements but as it's primarily a self hooking rig I favour either a pennel or circle depending on bait.

my thoughts exactly Oli - it's always a tough call about stopping off at areas you are passing over (but probably wouldn''t go all that way just to visit unless you were TB!) but at the end of the day it's the banks (and the odd beer, warm sunshine, clear water and crac) that is the main event. last years club trip was a disaster from me fish wise as I didn't even get a single flattie bite, hooked and lost a probable porgy (30 sec after it swam off towing the boat it bit through the wire biting trace) and whilst I landed the largest fish of the trip it had wound itself up in my line so much it couldn't fight........... but normally if you work at the banks fishing properly you will be rewarded. on your own boat you can fish light and enjoy the fight in a way that wouldn't be acceptable on a charter boat. I use a light but firm St Croix rod, 14lb braid and 3oz bomb which equates to about 20 mins of great action with a 10lb tub, and pound for pound the brill seem to fight even harder. One from a 2007 trip

Charlie - thanks let's see how things develop Oli, As Charlie said the forecast last year was for the worst anticipated conditions to be met head on leaving Poole - which is personally the best way because you can try a few miles and make your decision based on reality! Personally my normal decision points are 1. leaving home based on forecasts, light vessel readings, web cams 2. leaving Poole harbour entrance (normally covered off by the Bournmouth surf cam nowadays ie I see it live before I get there) 3. 5 miles clear of Durlston Head - experience tells me that before then I have a lot of inshore tidal influence, and that I'm not really exposed to the channel conditions at all. From there it tends to remain constant for the next 30 miles although obviously tide changes and wind direction have a say in that. Generally if it's SW and I'll be crossing in the flood the above is 'solid', NE or NW and whilst I won't' get the full effect of the wind until much much later I don't really mind when it's behind (unless against the tide). This is also where I call up Portland and advise them of my intentions. Last year the conditions the evening before were excellent, with the SE4/5 coming on the next morning - so I decided to run over in the evening and I don't usually stop to wreck anyway. Whilst it happens to be club people heading over it's not a formal club event and, as always, decisions are the responsibiity of each skipper. Over there it's every boat for itself in the rush for bragging rights - only kidding.......... there will be charter boats fishing the same areas at this time of year as well as the club boats and the 'marks' are pretty obvious in the main with the tide marking the banks pretty clearly as well - a bit like the small rip off Old Harry in most cases. You will get your bearing pretty quickly when over there, and just get it fixed in your head that slack water is around half tide - not at high and low as you might expect. Even if the weather does kick up unexpectedly it should only cost time, and possibly a bit of fuel, as you head back at 8 knots. Some club members have been known to enjoy a flat crossing so much they run all the way back from Guernsey at 5 knots - but I think that's taking things a bit far.

So was I Martin - it all went tits-up 5 days later in a big way (despite being fully rested at the time!). Making progress with the symptoms again but I just can't see it resolving in time right now. I guess I do have one tiny tiny plan X revolving around just dumping the boat in, changing the fuel filters and going - then hauling out again afterwards for antifouling & grp work !

you have 3 choices - 1. approach a distributor/installer of Cobra units and ask if they can do it if you bring in the radio and the letter from Ofcom 2. approach the nearest general electronics installer to your boat and ask them the same question but hoping they can do it in situ 3. contact the manufacturer's main distributor in the UK by phone and ask if they can arrange for someone to talk you through it if you fax over a copy of the Ofcom letter first. This is marathionleisure and their details can be found here Cobra UK distributor there are a number of possible people to approach in the no 2 category who support the club and members - others may be able to name names better than me.