Adam F

Tis what all the charter boys use - its only thin sheet SS, so not too heavy at all. I personally have never had the need for one - dont get sandeels very often, and when I do they go within a few hours!

Whilst we arrive at 8.00am, last year we had brekkie, then prepared the boats etc and it was about 10.00 by the time we launched. Launching alone is tricky and not recommended unless you have done it before - huge tides and a sticky muddy foreshore - a proper 4x4 is essential. Im sure a few of the Burnham guys will still be around at that time - where are you coming from? Adam

The Blue bins are 60 litres, and are the optimum size IMO - not too large to upset weight distribution on a 16'+ boat and big enough for up to 20 macky or a 100 odd eels. Smaller than this really restricts your capacity and youll find yourself having to keep popping off to feather some more bait. Any larger is cumbersome and heavy. The 60 ltr also is a good seat height.

Looks pretty good I must agree. I did a test with my bruce a few weeks ago in the single driveway and as the video shows, it just slid. But, out at sea I have never had one not grab, provided I had enough warp and sufficint weighted and length chain. Yes, I agree Dave - how easy would it come out with an alderney ring??

Is that good or bad??

Terry, I presume you are talking about the whole rail and bait board system? The proper job comes from Warrior at the cost of about

Errm....they sponsor this site Billy, just click the link and voila! Link is on the Home page - or just click here; http://www.salt-xuk.com/ Adam

Just to be different - I like them all....in their own way. IMO their isnt enough on the telly, and the likes of John Wilson, Rex Hunt etc - whilst they all have thier own perticular querks - have done alot for the sport. Yes, I agree Rex is abit 'off the wall' John Wilson maybe a little self rigeous - but hey, look at the mixture of characters we have on this forum - imagine what a fishing show would be like if we all did one!! The best one I have ever seen is a home made jobbie that Jimbob and his mate Mark make using a digital camcorder last year when they did the all nighter off St Albans....Mark did a super job with the editing, it had the boat launch steaming shots, all dubbed with 'decent' music (not like some of the others who seem to use music from blue videos!) and above all it had Jimbob on a real red letter session...in fact it may prompt me to have a crack myself this year. Adam

Wrong link Paul - that was the 2004 photo shoot.

Done. Good test Bob - sold it to me, Ill be purchasing next week.

Bob, ....you need a Warrior matey!! (or an Endeavour!) Seriously - my two penneth worth... I would go for pedestals, as I find they give alot more usable deck space - unless you are tight for storage (which I dont think you are) I know Warrior do them as an aftermarket additon - Im sure Steve does as well, and as you know I dont think any seats beat the buckets found on the Warriors IMHO. If you do go this way, you may need a ply base to re-enforce the pedestal - mine pulled out last year. As Peter said - most things are possible, just take your time and youll be fine - if you need a hand just shout. Fianlly - I think you are doing the right thing, the current set up isnt that practical.

Sounds like a bum steer to me!

Didnt mean club waters - although thats what I typed - mean wrecks close to where I fish often, I.e off Christchurch etc.... ....youre right - Im sure I could try and fish all of them and still be doing it this time next year...

Gordon - Rich's advice is spot on. However, most trout lakes only allow a single fly, so a dropper cant be used. As you saw on Friday I have 3 boxes - one with 'lures' colourful flashy flies that appeal to the instinct of stocked fish in lakes - not the purist option, but hey, you gotta use what will catch! The other has natural wet flies - ie. nymphs - these are hugely succesful even on stocked waters - they basically imitate hatched larve from the bottom of the stream / lake. And my dry fly box - bascially the opposite of the nymph box. Flying hatched larve that are trapped in the surface film - all natural patterns. Bottom line is - dont get hooked up on names and patterns. Get a few dozen lures, reds, whites, oranges etc. Get another handful of nymphs - hares ear and pheasent tails are the names to look for - they most likey will have a gold head to enable them to sink. And dont worry about dries for the moment. If you want a hand picking a selection let me know. Adam

I agree with Martin - the Quicsilver 500 is trying to be something its not. For a 16' boat the wheelhouse puts it out of proportion giving you very little deck room and giving you a very high COG, this makes the boat succeptable to being very unsteady. IMHO - if you want a pilothouse type boat - go for the bigger ones - 18'+ and put up with the extra haste of trailering or put it on a mooring. If you want to stay 16' ish go for one of the numerous fishing cuddies around. Also echo Britboard - You will be welcome to come aboard and try mine (warrior 165) anytime. adam

I echo this - having polsihed BW's hull under the anti foul last year - Faracla is the doggies nuts, but it doesnt leave much of a shine, just cuts - I then use Autoglym resin polish (halford etc) to shine her up. I have perspex windows that have crazed - it aint the scratches on the surface but inside the perspex, I havent got round to changing them yet - and so give them a polish with the autoglym every few weeks.

Phil, Having fished the majority of the wrecks within close distance of club waters, I can tell you that they generally dont produce the hoards of fish you may think. Firstly, if you have never (or do not have much experinace) fished a wreck in your own vessel before it can be hard work, difficult, frustrating, expensive and sometimes dangerous....dont want to put you off though! The 'Inshore' wrecks (up to 20 miles out) only really have a few bream, wrasse and pollock on them in the summer, and pout and conger in the winter. Their are loads to choose from, but to be honest those of us who fishe them regulary tend to this time of year when nothing else is around - eels are then almost guarentted - a bend in the rod. The reef and bank marks fish much more productivly, so dont get hung up by wrecks - join in and youll soon pick up marks and areas where the different species come from. As others have said - the fishing at the moment is about as poor as it gets. If you launch from Christchurch, the end of Hengistbury head will yeild a few wrasse to ragworm fished on the drift. Other than this, off the back of Christchurch ledge in between the Dolphin bank and the ledge may find the odd late whiting, pout and doggies. Adam

Cheers Rich - top day out, and as you said companyw as good. Adam

Steve, Garmin have the best customer service I have ever come across... What is wrong with the current one? Get in contact with Garmin in Romsey - tell them your situation - and they should replace FOC - they have always done with me - I have had 4 new units over the years when even small things have gone bad... Adam

T ....we caught Pollock!...

Spot on Bob - good advice, couldnt have put it better myself. Adam

Charlie, I completely re-wired BW last year and have the wiring diagram if you want it for ref - I have the set up you describe in your initial post. Most of the bits you need can be either bought on-line (switch panel etc) or from auto shops - Halfords etc... Planning is the key, then it shouldnt take more than a day from start to finish. Let me know. Adam

Nice one Charlie - Im chuffed for you, bet you're made up! The wheelhouse looks massive - much longer than I expected? Look forward to seeing her out on the cod grounds later this winter. Any luck on selling GW yet? Adam

Hi Simon, welcome to the club. It certianly was a one of last weekend, as youll read elsewhere, I havent seen waves like that before at the run....very strange. Im sure youll have no problems in getting crew / making new fishing buddies on the forum - look forward to seeing you at one of our meetings soon. Adam (Mudeford Surf Resuce!!)

I actually found it rubbish 2 years ago when we went - the prices we not even as good as mail order - it is great to have a waggle and a feel of the kit though - like one big tackle shop - make a note and then get onto Google and find the best web price. I have a spare seat if you wish...