Adam F

Gordon, You are more than welcome out on BW. Once the weather improves we'll have a crack at the cod / whiting. Hope the engine doesnt work out too bad - I was there 3 years ago and it cost me a new engine As for the 2 vs 4 stroke - I'm still firmly in the 4 stroke camp - although Ill admit to the etec's being impressive. If you looks at the popularity of 2 vs 4, in recent years the 4 wins hands down, quieter and more frugal I think...just to confuse matters. PM me your number and Ill call you re. a trip, although this w/e looks out due to 6 mtr swells!

Mike, Mark B has had plenty of experinace of these. The 580 is what he has at the moment I think (or the 560?) the 630 is a stern drive version of the 640, which Mark has also had. Personally, from the few trips I've had out in them, I like the set up and the way they look, but this is all shadowed by the way they handle the sea - fine in a head sea, but I didnt like a following sea - I feel the COG is too high with the big wheelhouse and outboard. The 630 should be different. I would also look at the Arvors in this size which are exactly the same, but are inboard, with a lower COG. Also have a look at some of the range Tom sells. Just out of interest, why are you upgrading?

Jase, They are all much of a muchness IMO. I have an IMAX, which looks good and is well made, but the cut leaves alot to be desired... it's all out of proportion - but thats on a lanky beanpole like me. Penn do a nice suit. The Sundridge ones are OK, but I feel they try and be too technical with the features. 90% of the year I wear goretex sailing clothes which do a far better job and bung a liejacket over the top to make me float. When it gets really cold for the dozen or so cod trips over the winter out comes the suit. Go down to your local shop and try a few on.

BW's Day: With the success of previous years in which both James and I have figured well, we were both confident and looking forward to the comp. A little thing like a F5/6 NW wasnt going to put us off our Plan A either! The first boat away from the slip - a little keen as we forgot to pick up our cuttle from KAM (DOH!) and warp factor ramming speed across the clam bay and around to Durlston where the sea remain settled - this all changed soon through as we rounded the headland and the big atlantic swell began to roll in. We decided to stop at St Albans and take a view as the sea was v.lively and banged the hook in 200' water. 1st chuck for me and I landed a lovely 3lb 15oz spopped ray - not a ad specimen, but decided to throw back as was so confident of a better fish later in the day. A 7lb thornback next cast followed by a 7/8lb bullhuss and a surprise 7lb smoothhound - all in about 45 mins!! Anyway, we now decided to play the trump card and head offshore to get some big eels. Out at the wreck Fair Lady had already beat us to it and the 15-20' swell and white horses suggested we shouldnt be their!! We anchored bang on to start with and eels came instantly, but as the tide built we swang off and started catching doggies. As the sea was so lively re-achoring safetly wasnt an option, so off to anchor wreck - plan B. James soon banged a 23lb eels onto the deck, but the pout seemed so active....it was also getting rougher so the last hour was spent back in the deep hole where I squeeked another spotted ray and a small eel out before we headed for home at 4pm. An enjoyable day regardless - Many, many thanks to Paul J and the comittee who worked hard not only on the day in the months before hand to create another faultless event - and also the sponsors, a superb prize table even if I didnt get near it!!

Neoprene sweats alot - warm at first but once the sweat cools, they become very cold. As someone who has perminatly cold feet from Nov onwards the only boots I use are Skeetex. About the same price as the hot foots - they look clumpy but are easy to walk in and they have been used by Rannaulph Feinnes to the poles... Top boots.

Of fishing tomorrow.... Forecast looks good - 31c with light winds and clear skys.... Anyone fancy it? Plan is to chuck the fly for a few hours, grab a swift rum...afternoon nap and then throw a few more... Bonefish the target....off to Antigua for 2 weeks fishing and diving!! See you in 2 weeks!

Fred, did you take my blanket off the boat!!

Coddy, I found that the whips fitted to the 165's are about the best you can get for our boats - lightweights and strong - I suspect the reason for it breaking was the top end loading from the flags etc..

Bang it into Google - that should give you the numbers, it's well dived.... Maybe a few small late pollock on the betsy, but both wrecks too close inshore for any serious fishing. Have a good trip.

Paul, Yes do have MSN.... Using Outlook, not express.

My Outlook is broke! For over 4 weeks now Ive not had any mail. When I hit the send / recieve button it appears to process but no mail comes through. I have looked at all of the settings and all 'appear' OK. I am online and connected as I can use Explorer fine. I can also send emails OK and they get delivered. But when I attempt to send an email from my work pc it gets bounced back with an undeliverable message. Help?!!?!

Should be a bolt through the hole.....

Cheers guys - it is actually for Scuba weights - not fishing I managed to source 1kg of black powder coat from the web for

I need/want to coat/cover some lead weights in some kind of plastic or thin rubber coating? Loctite to a product called Colour Guard, but I cant find a weblink to anywhere in the UK that sells it. http://www.loctite.com/int_henkel/loctite_..._colorguard.pdf Does anyone have any ideas / suggestions as to alternatives?

HI Terry - I have also spoken to you on WSF. Welcome to the club's forum. It looks the like guys are keen to do a trail-away, and I'm more than happy to organise one. What time of year would be best? Adam

'YACHT' I wouldnt bother with either if it is mearly a cutting board - it will become kanckered quickly whatever you do - you have MG ply, so dont worry. If you are wanting to be a tart - seal it with oil to further impregnate the ply's and then give several thin coats of yachy varnish - allowing it to dry hard after each coat (or youll end up with a soggy mess!) BW's cutting board is impregnated with oil - from squid and mackeral!!!

Would need to see some photo's - but sounds like a plan....

Do they have a website? The 6.8 looks promising....

What is it replacing Andy? I have noticed these for some time in the mags - but thought they were similar to an Orkney 520 - clearly not if they are rated for 100hp. What length / beam are they? I must say the hull looks very seaworthy - clinker simulated hull and flared bow...

Happy Birthday Mate! Have a great day Too windy to go fishing, might as well have a drink for four!!

Mike - If you want your materials supplied give me a call, I may be able to help. Adam

Yes Rich - would be well up for that - either on BW or Nibbler. Mid-week could be good, better chance of finding a weather window too.

With a 1/2 decent forecast, sun out and decent tides Gord and I launched BW at 4pm yesterday with a plan to fill the frezzer and fridge with a few macky for dinner and winter bait, bag a few fat autumn bass and settle in on the ledge as the light closed in early for a conger or three. Well - we were stuffed from the outset as the macky seem to have gone home early! Feathering for 2 hours bought just 5 macky By now the tide was well out so coming in early was a no go, so we started a drift with the few baits we had. I had a decent fish on straight away which fought wierd and then let go at the boat! As it was getting dark off to the conger reef for a hour to wait for the tide and use the 3 baits up we had left! On the way however I picked up a floating pot rope around the prop. Upon clearing it, we discovered that the srting of pots was still attached, so hauled these in (only 4) and the re-attached them to another buff - having done our good samiriton bit we settled in for a snake. Plenty of bits, but they seemed very cagey - and only one mid 20lber to me was the result. Anyway, back home and showred by 10.30. Seems alternative arrangements need to be made for bait for now on in!

Bizzare!! We were up to 2lb of lead at 3pm, and this was flying in the tide unless you trotted back - when we up anchored to come home we had nearly 3 knots of drift - and we wernt that far from you guys!!

Coming back in with tide and wind up our chuff we had a fast exhilarating ride in down the swell and waves kicking up. Now, as all 165 owners will know they ride pretty nose high - so burying the nose is a rare event - unless the waves a BIG and you are running at full chat......which we were! Thinking we had cleared the worst of the swell I opened her up but soon saw a 'biggun' approaching - 'hold on' I told pete - of course thats not what I meant - ' take cover'more like!! - as I successfully managed to play submarines with BW! ....well it washed the deck down lovely! Well Pete and I had to strip off as we were soaked, and met with strange looks from the crew of Maverick as they approached us in the harbour as we stodd fishing without shirts on!!