duncan

I too will be interested in your 'results' Simon - please keep me up to date with progress! I currently use the double battery / cabling system and work from my old garmin charts for the odd bit of planning but would prefer to use the Navionics chart actually on the PC. I have a backup of the chart file as I understand that if for any reason I corrupt the file on the issued card I can copy it back onto the MMC card and it will (may) work but as said there is a link between the chart software adn the chip it's initially programmed too to prevent copying.

Dave, I would echo the benefits of a fixed unit on even v small boats. The other great advantage is price - a 'cheap' fixed unit should deliver fine but I would go for the more expensive end on handhelds - better waterproofing, shock resistance and, critically, a good Li Ion battery. My Icom Euro 1V was fully charged 4 years ago and has been used on and off since that time, always on the boat, often chucked in the tender/beach bag etc and still runs fine! It's also very clear. 2 previous ones lasted less just over a year each before battery problems / lack of holding charge. Just my 2p

thanks for the input Steve. Certainly good to hear that you believe that constructive discussions can take place. It seems unfortunate that in recent years some indiscriminate actions against visiting angling boats have put of visits to Guernsey, St Peter Port, with Alderney taking the obvious majority of the financial benefit from visiting anglers in terms of harbour dues, accomadation, resreraunts and the odd bar tab here there and everywhere! A shame really as St PP has much to offer and a lot to gain; and isn't much further to the key fishing areas. Whilst we would not be caught up in the current proposals were we to visit again in our own boat I can certaily confirm that we returned more 'table fish' in our 2 trips over this spring than we would normally do. Whether this was becaue of the abundance of fish available or the general feeling that they migh, just might, be there to be caught the next time or not I can't really say. However the smaller, but sizeable, flats all went back and swam away very quickly. Duncan

voltage regulator kaput!

big tides - well you will have those! big baits this time of year

don't mention the weather - am here at home having cut the second August holiday short because of the forecasts!

Alun - I suspect that you will have many many great trips with Gastronaught. Enjoy.

Clearly a serious issue chatting to Chris and others in the Sailors over the last few days. Most obvious question I have as a starter is - Are there commercial quotas for either Bass or Turbot/Brill in the CIs?

so if you are looking at 2 months you might as well take the whole 6 of the winter season then. makes sense really thnaks for posting it all anyway Sam

Sam - do you mean 90 per week or is this the month? 750 the winter season discounted as you suggested earlier would seem closer to 90 a month..........

Bernard is currently away with his mate Herbert. right pair of bank robbers

ta

Mike were you trolling live mackerel or lures?

Charlie - I'm confidentially predicting the club conger record will exceed 80lb by the end of next year; I also suspect you will hold it!

Don't know Gordon - I have a snapped off key in a cabinet lock here at home and it operates the lock fine with a screwdriver! I can only assume it wasn't all the way in or in some other way misalligned.

what a fantastic layout in and around the cockpit - I am sure you will have great pleasure and much success with her. and an 85lb conger would certainly put the pidgcateons!

don't you carry a drill? I find a 24v cordless really usefull onboard. in this instance I would use the dremel with a view to being in a position to either notch the top and bottom of the remaining piece and lever it out (choice 2) or cut a slot in the top of the key to try and turn with a screwdriver (choice 3) Choice 1 would be to use a very thin bladed screwdriver or similar slid in beside the key and then turn it - the key releases the lock so turning the barrel will start the engine. I would probably 'sacrifice' a set of feeler guages, or one blade anyway, as my first try. Choice 4 involves wire and connectors/clips.

understand adn accept your point Gordon but a spare key and a good tool kit would have solved that problem just as easily - although possibly not fast enough to deal with divers in the water and a tide I agree. Did the aux make it all the way on the fuel in it;s built in tank alone?

first impressions - it's the wrong way round too high but, bottom right hand side of the bracket is stiking out below transom and will create turbulence - needs trimming too close to the trim tab however we all know how wrong first impressions can be

ah but worth it Coddy! if it's the 3rd I may well be able to fish it - i'll keep a watching brief.

if the main engine is a diesel then you have even less benefit from the auxillary OB! How much fuel were you planning to carry and how would you store any volume sufficient to get you home from your furthest point? Without doubt the best all round solution is to carry the appropriate spares for your engine and know how to change/fit them. Alternator belt, raw water impellor, 2 x primary 1x secondary fuel filters plus liquids (fresh water, oil, powersteering fluid, drive oil if on a drive with remote resovoir), some rubber hose repair capability. Carry a tool box. Install engine room lighting or have it available (those fluorecent tubes on long wires are really usefull on a fishing boat anyway and not getting hot are great in enclosed spaces!) Install and maintain a 2 battery system. Keep the fuel clean. Look forward to meeting you out on the water sometime.

looks a stunning job Mark - very nice.

I fitted a 4hp to my 660 Delquay when I started getting a bit more adventuorus........in tests it could deliver just under 4 knots but was never used in anger. In poor conditions you are looking to be able to make progress in your direction of choice against the wind (if the tides foul then anchor) but if you are looking to fit an auxillary to take you where you want to go when you want to do it then frankly you would be better off with a twin engined boat! Obviously IMO

think I would have rigged up a sail out of my boat cover and lengths of the boats stainless as spars long before then! What an ordeal.