Adam F

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!!

Well with no reply from the Burnham guys, and a worsening comp it was with some trepidation that I readied the boat last night. Waking at 1.30am this morning to heavy claps if thunder and teaming rain I was fully prepared to cancel in the morning. 5am came and the rain persisted, and I must admit to not being 100% up for it when I pulled out of the drive wth BW in tow!! But upon reaching Pete R's house the sky was beging to brighten with the morning light and the rain stopped. At Weymouth the sky still looked grey and the wind fresh - only confirmed upon us all reaching Grove Point where a fresh breeze against a strong spring flood heaved up a big sea. Splash out, BW, Maverick and Nipper were the only boats to turn up - and we scarpered to the inner harbour to asses our options and catch bait. Come 9am the sun was poking through and the wind eased, so off east to some banks it was. On BW we had constant Bullhuss action from the off - nothing massive, but good fun and better than doggies - a reasonable bass also put in an appearance - Bonus!! After lunch the tide eased so 5 miles further south to another TS mark, and we settled in for a big ray. We didnt have to wait long and my big rod was firmly connected to what was obviously a big ray in a big tide with a big lead!! A good 30 mins to battle the brut to the boat had my arms aching and a decent blonde went into the net - a little skinny - but a new PB nonetheless - 18lb 8oz. Next drop is a decent conger pretending to be a tope and then a smatering of 'bits'. Back into the Spyglass for a swift beer and home for 7am - we made the best of what looked a poor day! Adam

We are going regardless!! I have sent several emails and made numerous calls without any response so I'm not sure. If Burnham dont turn up we will be having a PBSBAC awayday anyway! See you at 7am!

The forecast is right on the edge at the moment - Southerly 4-5 with light rain. I havent heard anything for the guys at Burnham - I have lost thier numbers, so emails only - but silence!! I guess we will need to make a call later today. Adam

OI!! Leave it!! Looking on the bright side, if I get another invite next year to fish with Crazy at least I might get a chance to sleep in a seperate bunk area and not have to put with the grizzly bear in the next bunk!!

Sounds like a plan to do another training session one weekend whent he weather is crappy?

IMHO handhelds are only useful if you only ever venture 1/2 miles offshore in the regular company of other boats close by (less than a mile) I have had mine for 4 years and only found it useful once or twice. A fixed unit is better valuable, more useful and when you need it most (Mayday?) will be the kit you rely on, even on an open boat the ariel neednt be an issue - a simple foulding mount is all that is needed. Adam

Yes, a window has appeared!! As for tactics on the day - I'm a little unsure until I get down there. The tides will big springs so the overfalls on the race will be sizeable even if the wind is low - in this instance smaller boats or more unsure skippers may want to give this a miss - 5 knots + of tide, plus 10 feet or more standing water can be pretty daunting and dangerous. On the slack the banks to the east of the Shambles will be worth a look, as will the Lulworth banks. If anyone wants inshore wreck numbers I will give them out on the morning. The reefs inshore around the Bill will produce Wrasse, and the mussel beds will still have Bream. If you do fish the race - live macky on a Portland rig, 6-12oz of lead will be the tactics. Anything else?

Well done guys - sounds like some good catches. I was gutted not to have been able to get out - Rachs' birthday unfortunatly... Looks like the big blondes are aorund!

Well, will we ever get a comp against the guys from Burnham?? After having the last two comps cancelled, the long range is giving it nasty again this weekend - stong winds from the south... Fingers crossed for a change.,..

Happy birthday you old fart! 31 Today!! Have a good trip tomorrow and catch the winner for me. Adam

I have one name in Alan, provided we go later, and myself. I am therefore 6 places short, 7 if too late in May as I cant go. I will leave this post open until the end of the weekend - if I havent had any other serious interest by then I'm afraid that I will have to contact Chris and decline next year. Adam

Onslow, Their is no way that your mate is getting 28 knots with a 50hp engine on a 165 (stand to be corrected now! ) I have run my 165 with both 50 and 60hp EFI 4 stroke engines and downhill, light with the wind behind the best Ive ever had is 27 knots (thats also with the tabs fitted) Are you sure he doesnt have his GPS set to MPH - the usual explination. I would rekon about 32/34 knost on a flat sea with your set up. Adam

Julian, As is the policy aboard BW - both the biggies went back and swam away powerfully to fight another day. Rule is that any doubles go back - no question, all other bass are fair game priovided sensible numbers are taken - I think the most I have ever bought back is 4 fish in a session. Maybe next time she will be even bigger - they both had the potential and now is the right time of year!! Adam

Here she is - Nokia piccy so not the best...

Correct ...and be warned - OK if the wind is offshore and light, but anything with S in it is not good IMO. Is is a crap drive down the narrow lanes, a steep awkward slip not acessable at dead low and faces striaght out into open ocean. 10 mins longer in the car and you have the Town Quay slip at Weymouth where not even a gale would stop a safe harbour passage, and the best public slip on the south coast. Having been there in bad conditions, Weymouth gets my vote everytime. Adam

It made a nice change getting BW today - its been a good 6 weeks since the last trip.... Anyway, plan was to stay inshore and out of the tide and have a crack at a few species. Gordon decided to up the anti today with the culinary delights aboard BW - gone were the bacon and egg butties - and in was 'Jerky' from Australia from Crocodile, Emu and Kangaroo!! Bl$%