Adam F

Even that is tricky Mike, even for a young flexible whipper snapper like myself!! We went out for a morning around Brownsea and found a sectipon of shallow beach where we could jump out with chest waders on. As I have noted before, take a pan and paper and log the results against the settings - planing time, planing speed and top speed - but overall you will just get a 'feel' for what is best after about an hour. Most 165 owners have found that maximum angle on the tabs coupled with medium actuator pressure works best, but as you say engine and boat combinations can effect this. Adam

All good points chaps and you can alter the comp format all you like - fact is that you will never please everyone. If we adopted Tom's suggestion, the anglers who like the 'competition' side of the current format, going out all together and a bit of mettle in the day would be dissapointed. The format has worked for several years now, it is just this year that it seems to have slowed up. I know not everyone can fish Sunday's, but overall it must be the easist day for average joe to fish - work all week, sat with the family /choes etc and Sunday for fishing. As Charlie said, the club is now the biggest its ever been and the attendance is at the lowest - and to be honest if we look at the attendees they are pretty much the same (bar one or two) as the previous years, so is the problem getting new members to fish the comps? Adam

************Hot of the press****************** James has broken his ankle today, doctors have given him a minimum of 8 weeks sat on his arse with his feet up - no fishing! Right in the middle of the bass season as wel!!! Something tells me that he'll find a way though!!

12" x 9" from memory (12" being the width) with 60lb actuators - hence the product code: ST1290-60

I would imagine the bigger ones as the Shetland must be similar to the 165... The tabs need to go as far out towards the transom as possible, whilst still staying on the flat plane of the hull, somehting like this:

Mono is fine - and as you use a pretty long leader it makes sense to go all the way with mono to save the fuss - BUT, you can feel far more with the braid which is helpful when fishing this method. As for a braid to swivel / hook knot etc - normal knots work OK, just loop the braid twice through the eye and try to use knots that dont strangle - Grinner / Palomar are good.

Rich, Keep an eye out here: http://www.boatsandoutboards.com/category/Other/Trailers Something like this I woulkd have thought: http://www.boatsandoutboards.com/view/F105436/ Although dont count out a new one, they arent that bad, maybe worth having a chat with Indespenion in Poole. For a Quicksilver 540, I wouldnt have thought you would need a massive beast, a single axel would be fine. --------------------------------------------- As for the conversation on braked vs unbraked - if your boat is over 750kg legal limit and you have an unbraked (or braked but not working) trailer you need to seriously consider this - as others above have said, 1.) It is illegal and I have known plenty of people who have been pulled over and done on this and 2.) It is downright dangerous with most vehicles, trying to emergancy stop with over a ton of boat behind you is NOT funny.... ...you will be surprised, even the smaller of boats when loaded with kit and the trailer can approach 750kgs - anything Warrior 165 sized is definatly over the limit. Adam

...he already has!!

Well done chaps - its becoming a habit!! You must have the 'knack' as my last 2 trips over to the mark have produced just 1 fish - despite fishing all methods and both tides..... A cracking days fishing - I stayed in thinking the wind was too much, should have known better! Adam

Thanks for posting your comments on the site Steve, and well said on your website. Adam

Mike, I think he spends a lot of time in Scotland. Their Arvor (Andy's) is called Pal-o-Mine. Adam

Onslow, Yes yours is exactly the same as mine. The 60lb actuators are correct, so dont change them - you will be very surprised what difference 20mm movement makes. Adam

...it should be 1 piece! Ill come along for a few hours - I have rods to lend if anyone needs one. Personally I will be opting for a 12' spilced tip float rod with 2lb line and a Youngs Purist 'Pin.... Let me know when and where.

Onslow, 60lb actuators are correct for the 165. I only have a 60hp on mine, and to be fair, I havent noticed a rise in top speed, but it certianly hasnt got any slower, and the boat is now much more useable. Assuming you have fitted them correctly, as per the instructions - you may need to play around with the settings. I found that maximum angle (down) and minimum pressure setting (Actuator closest to the boat) works best for me - gets me planning quicker and at lower speeds and makes the boat more stable. I spent a morning in the harbour with a spanner, a pen and paper and a pair of waders trying all settings and recording planing time and speed and max speed. Let me know if you need further help. Regards

It is just a shame the fish has been publised so much - a great fish and worked hard for by the sounds of it by the skipper. It was the perogative of the anglers and the condition of the fish that lead it to be killed / die, however the coverage in the press has not done it too many favours. Adam

Salters - not Salterns I think youll find....

Local? Let your fingers do the walking, yellow pages. I called a place in Southbourne. or, like I did - try ebay. I emailed a seller who did me a special buy it now for cut to size pieces, I then just trimmed them up. I used 5mm Lexan - this is better then glass, lighter, stronger and scratch resistant - I did all of BW's windows for about

Islander, I have a 3yr old 165 and to be fair the rivets have held out pretty well - I have replaced 3 of them now. If you need a few replacements, just drop line to Warrior they will stick a bag FOC in the post - provided they are washed down after each trip they should be fine.... Adam

After reading the catch reports from the weekend, James and I were keen to get out and quench our bass hunger for a few days. Launching at 5pm in gorgeous conditions we were full of confidence. I had been into Ringwood Tackle in the morning and Rich chuckled when I asked for BIG floats....'like these' he says - 'ive been expecting you!.....' 5 x 3oz catfish floats -

Jimbo - do you remember the storm we fished through in Tara 3 years ago, in the Solent? The rods in the holders and the ariels were buzzing with live charge! Very scary as the thunder clapped right over head! Your advice is correct I think, lower all rods and ariels and turn off electrics that are not needed and if possible shelter under a headland or cliff. I do remember being told that yachts at sea regulary get struck without any damage, do they have lighting conductors and a safe place to earth?

They were like this on Thurs and Fri eve as well - we had them under the boat a few times and they wernt chasing fry - they may however have been chased from underneath by predators - the bass we took on livebaits proved our point. Their were also far too many fish to be chasing fry, they looked more like they were being balled up....

Cheers Charlie, Popped down to Xchurch - Ribs Marine, Mariner dealer - bought 3 -

Will I find these at chandlers, or do I need a proper prop place? It is just such a hastle to drive all the way down to Poole for a poxy little washer! Is there any DIY short term solutions?

Behind the bolt that holds the prop on the spline is a winged washer that bends in against the flats of the nut and locks it in position. The current one has perished and my spares are all used up - where can I get some replacements and what are they called - closer to home (ringwood) the better. Ta Adam

Ill have a few! Just the tickets they is! x4 for me please.