Adam F

I have two Jack, but I aint selling them, they are my favourite rods! Poingdestres in Southamtpon do them for about

Coddy, Apologies - I guess not - things have been so hectic last few weeks that I havent had a chance to look at it. Plus the plaice fishing has taken a dive recent weeks. Next trip will be the Solent in a few weeks - Ill keep you posted. Cheers Adam

Not a bad haul!

Shame it wasnt caught on a private boat!

Well, were back! - Its taken a decent nights kip and a lazy day today to recover but it was well worth it. Ill just cover my trip and let others do there's. We left Weymouth at 8am on Tues but a stiff 5-6 SW was blowing making the ride past the Shambles aweful - max speed was 5 knots and that was uncomfortable. Once we cleared the banks and got a depth under the keel it evened out a bit but was still far from calm. A stop for macky 12 miles from the Bill then off to a wreck for Pollock and Cod. We stopped at a few other wrecks on the way over also. We arrived at Alderney at about 3pm, and drifted an eddy off the Swinge for Pollock - great fun on 6lb line a 20grm spinning rod! A few beers that night were well earnt! The 2nd day the sun shone and the winds dropped. We fished the South Banks for flatties and whilst it was very hard work the total tally was 20 flatties for our boat - Tiger Lilly. It was thirsty work made worse by the crewman being unable to opperate the kettle!! The last drift for the day brightend up an otherwise poor day for me - a stonking 8lb Brill - almost 200% specimen Day 3 looked promising after the day before, and a good start with a few bass had us in high hopes...but we struggled a little on the banks with only 7 turbot. However Martin showed the way with a cracking Turbot of 14lb 8oz - the best of the trip! That night we took turbot to the wonderful 1st and Last resturant, where it was served on a bed of Spinach, with parmasan and chedder cheese and then baked! Followed by 3 bottle of Sancere and 3 helpings of Chilli Tiger prawns - possibly the best seafood meal Ive ever had! Last day we headed back across the channel, stopping on a large wreck to take about a dozen ling to 18lb. We hit Weymouth at 7pm tired but happy. Many thanks to Chris Cains and Pat Carlin our Skippers, and to Leigh and Chris at the Armoury, lastly to our crewman Peter. Adam

Stand on the cabin roof, hold the vhf ariel in one hand and the rod in the other and point it towards the sky...it is good luck! Seriously, I would recommend lowering the chf ariel and all rods and sitting it out - I would think you would be ok?...

Mick, I dont have any specific info on what to look for with an Alaska, but in general look for: Stress cracks around the transom, areas on the hull that show signs of repair, ALWAYS insisit on seeing the engine running - in the water is preferable to on a hose but a hose is better than nothing, check the 'tell tale' water jet from the engine it should be cold except when the engine is turned off, check see how she idles, check the clarity of the oil, check the deck area of signs of spongeyness, crack or chips, same goes for where the cuddy joins the hull another weak spot. Basically you can usually tell from the first few looks at a boat. If she is shiney clean and looks well maintained then it is a good sign, if she stinks of dead fish is filthy dirty and rusty then it indcates it hasnt been looked after - of course their are always exceptions to the rule! Im happy to come and give a second opinion if you need. Adam

A Russian, an American, and a Blonde were talking one day. The Russian said, "We were the first in space!" The American said, "We were the first on the moon!" The Blonde said, "So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!" The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads. "You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!" said the Russian. To which the Blonde replied, "We're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!

Taken - Bob F. Ta Adam

Ill be putting in from Wick for a go at the bream early on Sunday morning, and I need crew. Let me know if you fancy it. Wont be late home - gotta get ready for Alderney!"!!

Be patient Mick - it took me over 6 months to find my boat but it was well worth it - their is some real junk out there, but also some cracking bargins. You have chosen a popluar boat and will not have a problem. I would guestimate that over the past year I have seen at least 5 alsakas a month for sale on the web. http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F61488/ http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F60216/ http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/ARU021/ http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F60776/ Adam

Dan, A damaged prop may not make too much differance to the ride / performace (unless it is really deformed) but it will cause stress on the leg as it will not balance properly. A new one for a Penta, I guess will cost the earth - best bet is to take it off and drop it into Propellor Revolutions in Cobbs Quay. If it is just knicked and burred it wont cost too much - but they are wizards! Even a severly bent prop will come back like new and re-power coated. For a smallish prop 15"-17" with moderate damage it will be 30 quid ish...

My Icom wasnt talking to my Garmin - I pressed a few buttons and then they made up - now they are talking again!

Wight Sapphire probably. My money would go to Electric Blue - Rob seems a very helpful guy, he has emailed me and Bob info numerous times in the past and has a good reputation. Adam

Ill be out Saturday with Rach as crew - heading out to have a crack at the bream! Will Wick slipway still be out of order?

Hi Paul!, Bob F has an Alaska 500, it is the newer model from Sea Hog - as the original was from Shetland. Good boats, stood the test of time, plenty of deck space and a fast hull, but Im sure Bob will put a decent review on here for you. Also see here: http://fishing_boats.tripod.com/ Go to boats 15-19ft then to Sea hog and then to Alaska 500. Hope this helps.

I think its a great idea Dave - if you have 'hunderds' Il l have a few if you can spare them? Adam

Terry, You have a PM. Adam

I have 2 x 25l or 5 gallon metal fuel tanks for sale. They are red in colour and in pretty good conditon, I would say 7/10. I just want to get rid of them really, so make me an offer! (sensible please! ) If they dont go here within 3 days Ill bang them on Ebay. Adam

I think I have solved it. The brakes were WELL out of adjustment. Using the trailer guide above, I jacked the wheels up, and tightend the adjuster until the wheels were solid - I then backed them off until they were just rubbing. Hitched her up and went for a cruise around the block - what a differance! No more slamming of the trailer into the car - in fact, nothing!....on braking, even hard braking, the trailer was silent, just a slight tug on the car as the brakes bit. It took several turn of the adjuster to get them tight, so every time the wheels snatched I was backing them off, I was making this worse! The pads were so far away that the only thing stoping the boat was the car and the gas coupling, the snatching was just the brakes occasionaly catching the drum. I would recommend anyone sufferig this to check the brakes, it takes minutes to do and is well worth it for the ease of trailering, the longevity of the trailer and for your safety. I know the other 165 users on this site suffer similar problems. Adam

Dave, You may find something here: http://www.marine-hardware.co.uk/acatalog/...ittings_34.html

I would tend to think that it is an internal engine problem. as others have said a 30hp on your boat should plane it easily and 10-12 knots seems way to low. We had a 30hp on Tara, and even with 4 up on a small boat like that we could get 14/15 knots. Also you say that when you first bought the boat it was doing 17 knots, and has now dropped - if you still have the same prop than that cant be the problem? When they serviced the engine did you mention the performance? Did they do a compression test and look to investigate why the engine seems under powered? Whilst trim settings, luggage loading etc will make a differance (it can do on BW) it wont take 10 knots off your top speed - I think the issue is rather more major.

Steve, I also get the same as you, when I havent used it for a week or so, but once cleared they are all well. It is on the return trip, they begin to snatch again, after I have done 50/60 miles... Mike's explination may be plausable - if so, I guess there is nothing I can do?? Surely though even caravan brakes get wet when its raining heavy, so why do they not snatch? - or you never hear of them snatching...

Ive been having problems with the trailer on BW.... She is fine when I leave the house, fine when I slip her, fine when I recover her then about 10 mins into my return journey home, when I brake the trailer 'snatches' its brakes?? Any ideas? Ive tried slackening them off, basically so they have minimal contact and the car does the braking but it doesnt seem to have worked. I did a search on the net tonight and it seems that under adjutsting them had adverse effect, such little contact on the drums causes the snatch, having full and proper contact seesm better and eliminates the snatch. I plan to jack each wheel tomorrow, lock the adjuster nut right up and then slacken off until just moving. I also found this site - worth knowing for trailer tips: http://www.rmtrailers.co.uk/Manual.pdf

As Bob said we went from Weymouth today. The forecast was not good, but when we actually got out it improved dramatically, and after 9am the sun even came out! Wrasse were not a problem, I even managed a nice 3lb 8oz er... mackerel are also in which was a nice surprise and we had a good dozen plump fish to just under 1lb. Pollock also in good numbers including one about 4/5lb caught drifting live launce over a wreck. Not as good as we had hoped though, doggies, a few more plaice, bass and bream the 'easy' species not caught, still, always a pleasure to fish from weymouth! Adam