Adam F

....thought James phoned you?? I asked him to?

As you know I need to rewire BW. Quck question. I obviously need to connect the battery +ve and -ve to the instruments but not too sure the best/proper way to do it. Before the +ve and -ve went into seperate junction boxes and then the instruments were taken into here to get their power. I could also just wire the + and - to the buzz bar on the switch board, but this would make it very busy and also the connections would be bare. I hope I have explained this clear enough?...any ideas? AF

Was snowed under at work this week, but with James pushing me for a trip and the weather / tides looking good I made the effort and took the day off. The plan was either to head to the Rips or round to the west to fish a wreck for eels. Heading off at 7.45am from Baiter in Dawn Raider, we were blessed with oily calm seas...with both boats cruising at 18 knots we reached the mark in about 45 mins. As James is still electronic-less, we waited for Humphrey to set the anchor and then dropped in alongside. Well, the action was red-hot from the outset!....on Ow Much the boys seems to be getting a fish a cast and many multiple hook ups from the off - but Ill let Dan report on their day. On DW, James and I had just short of 30 eels, and lost the same amount again! Biggest went 45lb to James, but most of the fish were like peas in a pod at 25-30lb. Great fun - arms aching a bit now! We had numerous double hook ups, and at one point all 4 rods with fish on, but only the 2 of us to play them!! Im afraid I didnt get any photos, was too busy - Im sure Dan will post a few! Headed back in at a respectable time, and caught up with QT coming down the swash. A great day out, in Feb when not alot else to do. Many thanks to Humphrey and the boys on Ow Much for letting us tag along. Adam

WOW! A slight I am yet to see....and something I look very much forward to!

Not looking too good for me either...Im in Newcastle on Tues and wont be back until about 10pm - fishing at 6am the next morning will be too much...work load also suggests no. Also BW has all her 'guts' lying everywhere now - Ive stripped the elctronics out and am going to re-wire her....I wont be back in the water now for a month or so...going to finish polishing the hull all ready for the new season. Have a good day if you get out. AF

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F45676/ This one looks like it would suit perfectly...

Prepare the fish, so skin and debone if you wish, then simply place it on a plate in the fridge - but for about a week, 2/3 days is not quite enough - 4/5 days is better and this should cure your ploblem. Adam

Well done that man!! Was that the boat I saw on Boats and Outboards a few weeks ago? I thought of you when I saw it! Try here: http://www.craysidemarine.co.uk/ Go to the Sales tab at the top, then down to Trailers...there are 2 that may be suitable. Have you considered a new one? Im not sure what your budget is, but I rekon a 2nd hand one will set you back about 500-700 quid, whereas you could buy a brand new Indespension Rollercoaster for

Jamma, I know what you mean. A tip that was given to me is as follows. Before you start to motor forward to retreave the anchor - give the boat a decent whack of reverse with opposite lock - this has the effect of stretching the warp a couple of feet and bringing the buff infront of the boat on the correct side. Next step is to swiftly turn the wheel opposite lock again and begin to motor forward, this has the desired effect and the bouy comes neatly alongside the boat. It works everytime for me, and saves having loads of complicated steel rings etc. Adam

Could it be? Havent heard from Ziplex for a while....now I see a brand new Samuari with a Touhatsi engine for sale in Bristol.... Coinsidence?? http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F54679/

I have produced a factsheet for this years Alderney Trip, I have emailed it all all who are going, but if I have missed you or you fancy filling the last place and what to know the details, let me know. Adam

What type of groundbait is it? How much? In what Quants?

Just been reading some catch reports on Deepsea and notice that while we are moaning about the lack of fish, the cold, the weather and the fact the cod are gone, the whiting almost have and all is left are doggies and pout.....the weymouth boys are still catching bass from the race and turbot on the shambles!!!! Why is this? Weymouth consistantly seems to be produce fish not seen past St Albans...it is almost sub-tropical. Bass fishing in December - Bob and I were catching mackerel!.....is there an explination?

Well, it looks as though Peter has done a stirling job - just checked Deepsea and saw that Tiger Lilly 5 is almost ready to go.....ready for our Aldnerney trip in May! http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/tiger_lily/...cts_gallery.htm

I have jacked up BW using the standard car jack, but to be honest it is a last gasp solution and invloves using blocks of wood to get the height. I have also bought a cheapish trolley jack. Connect the boat to the car for extra stability and then use the jack, inserting axle stands when high enough. Adam

Well done boys! Sounds like you had more luck than we did yesterday both finding the wreck and catching the fish!! Will try to get out midweek weather permitting...

Brian, Yes I have a 1.7 TDI Astra and it copes fine. On the road is no problem, most of the slips around here are also OK, Cobbs is wondeful, but with the 165 even Baiter is pretty easy. The only slips that I struggle with would be Kimmeridge and Weymouth at low tide - then I take the 4x4. Let me know when you have sold your boat. Adam

What kind of rod holders are they Paul? The ones on DR are adjustable through 180 degrees on any plane....

Hi Brian, Nope, youre right...they are almost identical. You will find the finish of the Warrior slightly better and it is slightly more 'refined', but the same hull. My 165 was a 60hp 4 stroke Mariner, which gives me 27 knots max and cruises about 18 - 20 dependant on conditions. I trail her easily with a TDI Astra and she is a 1 man launch. She will carry 4, but 3 is better and 2 gives loads of room when fishing. If you want a test drive, let me know - Im only too happy to help out. Cheers Adam

Q: How should I set me gear up for finding a wreck? I quess that the plotter zoomed in to max and the Sonar to full zoom and max gain? Am I correct and its my numbers letting me down? Adam

James trying to make his new toy into an aeroplane!

BW and DR ready to go!

'Dawn Raider' slips off her trailer...

Well with the forecast looking OK, but not brilliant, we decided to launch from Muddiford for Dawn Raiders maiden launch. The tides suited us today and with F4 the maximum, we made the decision to try some wreck numbers kindly donated to us. Drifting for pollock and anchoring for eels was the plan. The launch went without fuss. DR slipped effortlessly off the trailer. We slipped out of the harbour with DR keeping close to BW as she isnt kitted out with electronics yet. The wrecks were about 8 miles S of xchurch, so not too far, but as James was running in a new engine, it took over an hour at 6-8 knots. On reaching the numbers we started to locate the wreckage.......2 hours later and having tried 4 wrecks we still hadnt located steel! In the end we gave up. We had the plotter in to 20 feet, and the sounder on max gain and zoom, but no wrecks. We tried criss crossing the mark, circling in decreasing circles, drifitng the mark - no cigar. Anyway, we ended up back on Xray, where it seemed devoid of fish. A handfull of dogs and a few small whiting was the only result. James went off to play in his new toy and at 4pm we called it a day. Coming back over the bar was interesting. With 2 hours of water we still had barely 1.5' of water and we both managed to chip our props. I think that may be the last trip for a few months now... Adam

Or,..... Take the butt cap off and slide a piece of glass fibre up the blank and whip it in to create a splice. This is how quiver tips are made. I may be able to help with this as I never throw anything away and may have a piece in the garage. Give me a call and Ill explain. Adam