Sinbad

Mike Didnt see you out ? - we were also out to give the Engine a decent run, and any other excuse I could find for a day off work in the sunshine. We started off at the Pier, drifting for mackerel - but nearly blanked except for the odd one or two, then spent a few pleasant drifts along with two charters between the Piers close inshore, but also were plagued by bait robbing bream or pout. I couldnt tell as nothing came to the surface. We were also getting bashed about in the cold breeze, and sitting under a big cloud, so blatted off to Old Harry and spent a few hours on the drift in the lee of the cliffs, in beautiful sunshine, but by now there was a stiff F4-5 (so much for metcheck's 8-10mph!!!) The mackerel werent in great abundance, but those that we had were real fatties, just boating one or max two to a string. Great to be out, as usual, but conditions were not up to the promises, and we came back in arround 6pm.... Paul

Charlie One more thing, which I had noticed a while back ...maybe others have as well.... your avatar has stretched much much wider.... is this presumably to get us all used to forthcoming photos of you holding fish off the back of your new boat ? Or maybe you're pulling on the wings of that Ray too hard !!

Jeeees look at the size of those scuppers!!! Looks very nice with those high rails, though... Well Done Charlie! Paul F

Just avoid the diced carrot and sweetcorn tonight Alun, otherwise is Deja Vu my old friend Paul

Mike I wonder how many PBSBAC carry an auxilliary ? I'm a firm believer not to carry an auxiliary, and trust to a regular service, a spare anchor, buddy boats, VHF, and membership of RNLI etc. But I'm willing to explore other opinions. I found that my strikeliner would be pushed along quite OK in no tide with the auxilliary, but no way would it get me back from the other side of the island in a decent sea and adverse tide (probably the limit for that size of boat) If its bigger than 6HP you are not going to keep taking it on/off the bracket, so it becomes another engine you have to keep maintained, and keep running . I found I never had the time either at the start of the trip or at the end to run it for a decent time, so it only got run in the flush tank for a few minutes. Id be interested if 'Seastart' is available for inshore Poole Bay and anyones experiences of this or other 'rescue' services. If I was in the bay, I'd consider trying to raise a friend before the RNLI to come and tow me back, provided the conditions were OK and I was in no immediate danger. What do you think ? Paul F

Yep - its a load of gibberish ( just text) to me regards PaulF

More chance of 'Skiing with Satan' than taking up your offer... the thought's there though Paul

Keith Many Thanks sounds like it'll work - I used the plain inserts - but did see these also and wondered about these... now I know - might try again. Tom Also Thanks for your advice plus the chat at the meeting - at the moment the sea pipe just pokes through the scupper when I need some washdown - and then to flush the engine the pipe goes into a big tub of fresh water. BTW - do you have these double clip joints inside the bilge - is there much risk of the hose coming off the pump and filling the bilge up? part of the reason I was keen to try an installation without fitting a seacock. When I get it finally sorted, I'll post a few pics no doubt. Paul

Martin Yep - I used the inserts to avoid crushing the pipe and the correct cutters - I noticed some joints had sealed better than others so maybe I need to try again - I think these fittings aren't expected to be under vacuum - best that has been suggested so far is a self annealing tape bandage arround the lot - which will look a tad heath robinson. Thanks Coddy - I've actually used the clear re-inforced hose stuff - for my temporary fix - but might now leave this permanently as it seems quite robust - and as you say you can easily see when it needs replacing. Thanks for your remarks.... should have rigged up the jubilee clip and hose from the off to test it out - then might have saved myself alot of money and bother.. Paul

Having fitted my second deckwash pump in as many months - after the first one failed for no reason... I relocated it and been less than impressed with the plumbing I used. Not having a dry space near the stern, the pump is fitted in the floor locker, and I've plumbed in the suction pipe under the floor as a first fix, using JG speedfit push fit fittings. Only trouble is there are a fair number of joints (not in the bilge I hasten to add!) The piping isnt leaking outward - but under the suction of the diaphragm pump air is getting in through the joints big time - so much so that the discharge is permanently 'foamy' and aerated - plus I get fairly poor flow. In the end I replaced with a simple 1/2" hose direct onto the strainer and it works fine. Would anyone in the know or in the 'trade' know how to get these fittings air tight, or am I wasting my time. I could glue them but it defeats the object of having a system I can dismantle if needed to clean - plus they arent cheap. so, any advice welcome.... inless I've answered my own question with the bit of free hose I cut off the garden reel at the weekend Paul

Charlie Do we have to 'book in' with our

Alun I'm at least happy once more after finding both batteries flatter than pavement chewing gum, last week and unable to get out. My friend assured me that you cant kill a leisure battery by discharging it, so after both were trickle charged over a few days, I now have both back on board - boat fueled up and ready to go. Hope your battery prob is now solved... seems like you are planning to keep it fully charged in the best way on Sat. Tight lines Paul

Well, I suppose if you are on the patches, then Xray wouldnt be too far or even southbourne rough. I'm no expert, but a filet chunk or round of mackerel , single hook, just nicked through the edge (not impaled) 40-50lb trace and fairly short (2-3ft), so its hard on the bottom would be my choice. Paul

Alun I can see it 12 Months from now.. Early Retirement... from educational administration (i.e administering education...) Prolific poster on forums - exceeding Adam F even.. Prolific Harvester of specimens - and Club Trophies.. Side-line in Gastronomy for profit Co-opted onto Committee...... A life of Admin once more, the Taxman and Accountant to serve.. Too busy to fish... Ha Ha

Landed almost at the same time top one is Aluns 4lb 1oz Paul

Great Day to be out - and thanks for the excellent crewing and company from Alun. Still dont know why we had two wire trolleys full of gear -beats the familly days out by one trolley! Memories will be of the drive down to the club with an open bucket of tuna and rice burley, a stinky petrol can in the back - Luvly!! Alun didnt mention the double smoothy was caught on fine wire 1/0 hooks and the Bream we caught was almost first drop - with no Burley!!! The Bream I took- weighed on the kitchen scales was 3lb 0 oz. Aluns 4lb + Bream

Hi All, antifoul dry.... trim tabs fixed (finally at 01:30 last night!!) deckwash pump - fitted, +endless jobs including filling up the teabag holder.... we're Ready... Paul F and Alun J - on Imagine - say hello on ch6 if you are passing. Will be fishing from 0930 to 1530hrs. Tight lines to all those who get out. Paul

I suppose you have choices in all of this. most of the cable in my boat is multistrand automotive, with crimped on end terminals -fit for purpose - but then these are in a nominally dry environment inside the cabin, and the DIYer has been busy with all sorts of mods since the boat left the factory. You are right about using the heat shrink glue filled connectors, and these are what are fitted on my battery - theres no risk of the salt penetrating under the insulation here - unless with usage - this impermeable seal breaks down. The wires I'm running will not be out of the moisture, but lie in the bilges - so I want to fit and forget, hence the main reason for using tinned cable. An electrician friend offerred to heat shrink the end terminals onto the cable for me. I dont believe I'm being ripped off, for only a few metres, the cost is negligible compared to the other components, but in your case with a whole lot more km to run, I dare say commerical pressures and life cycle costings are more important. BTW - having looked through Merlinequipment.com for their online ordering page - gave up (am I missing something like the link?) and ordered from Seascrew and www.marineelectrics.co.uk instead - cant fault the quality and rapid delivery this time. Regards Paul

So Adam's not likely to be out then ??? Unless the Honeymoon is somewhere in Poole The fish gods are smiling! I've got the boat out of the water for some maintenance, and cant see it going back in before next week..... and I'm looking after the children all this weekend!!!!! Browny Points will be overflowing for next week!!!!!!!! Yeeeeeeeeessssss! Paul

Nice to see these medium bream returned, provided they are lightly hooked, they go back really easily. Sounds like you had a great day out - well done !! Dont beat yourself up over missing the front part of the season, the Bass aren't showing in any numbers yet. I put my boat straight into the water without re-newing the A/F , and am now considering having to do it after only 2 months the barnacles were all over it. Regards Paul F.

The best cable for marine use, not the automotive kind, is tinned right the way through, and is still flexible. Oh and by the way, submersible in salt water indefinately. Thats what is running in my bilges, although not submersed I hope Its not cheap though, but saves having to replace it every 5 years or so. Take a look at http://www.Merlinequipment.com - they are in Poole cabot lane. Regards Paul Link made live

Brian, PJ, Pete, Shytalk, PaulD, Martin, and Tom - thanks for all the comments & Great advice, it seems hydraulic tabs have most written about them, with only a few sites offering electric actuators, and even fewer the fixed spring type. The biggest doubt seems to be the sizing - I'm trying to find someone else with the same boat/engine to compare - although magic marine seem to have supplied a few day anglers and pilot houses in the past. maybe I'll just go with their recommendation of 12" chord by 10" width - should help to lift the transom a bit. Perhaps I should just forget about 'cruising' - trim tabs, aft seats, toilet, loads of extra bodies - that buys alot of bait and fishing gear! Paul

OK, Ive got something (info) to play with now... I'm convinced that I need them, so its just a question of