Adam F

Back in the summer the RNLI were doing free Sea Checks on boats launching or retreaving from Wick, I was in a rush at the time but booked a home visit for later in the year....I had mine on Friday. The Sea Check is FOC, and just aims to advise you on safety aboard your vessel, when you consider the costs of running the RNLI, prevention is better than cure, hence the free Sea Check. My boat has ALL of the equiptment in the clubs list both essential and recommended, therefore I though BW was pass with flying colours. She didnt do bad, but I was surprised about the amount of things he bought up that I didnt have.... 1.) Radar Reflector - essential kit 2.) MOB Recovery equipt. (Harness, strops etc) 3.) Life raft / inflatable dingy 4.) Fire Blanket 5.) Dan Bouy 6.) LM / FM Radio reciever 7.) EPIRB 8.) Emergancy Ariel 9.) Hand Bearing Compass 10.) Binoculars 11.) Shapes (at anchor etc..) The fact that I have 2 batteries for back-up, a back-up GPS, and a spare anchor never appeared on his listed and in his opinion were not as important as the above list...also the fact that I have no room as it is when we go out fishing didnt seem of interest to him. Nevertheless, it was free and was interesting to hear it from their point of view. If you can spare an hour, give the RNLI a call, after all its free.

What are your thoughts on these? Are they relavent for a small fishing craft? Does anyone have one? Differances between the 121mhZ personal units and the bigger ones? Adam

So you recommend the buffer? I have now decided to polish back to gelvoat rather than antitoul, it looks far better on a trail boat. Adam

Cheers Dave, I have applied 2 coats and got about 80% of it off - the rest is too subborn to remove with chemicals, so wet and dry is the way forward. I am basically going to use it as a winter project, as I can still use the boat whilst Im doing it, and do a small section at a time. I have now sanded and polished the starboard topside and you cant see where the old antifouling was! 1 question though? Being lazy and hating manual sanding, I want to use a power tool with a buffing pad on to restore the shine. What do you think is best - an orbital sander fitted with a polishing bonnet, or one of the cheapy car polishers that you can buy?

Look closely at the second picture, youll see a fixed toe step. I think this is the cheapest option, and IMO the best. It doesnt get in the way, is adiquate to board and dismount the boat and is the cheapest option, I wouldnt have a ladder, too cumbersome on a small boat.

And here:...

Coddy: A few photos of the bracket on BW. I find that this position is perfect. The only downside is when the aux is tilted and you are using the rear port rod holder, the reel handle can rub on the aux cowl - just a case of either tilting down the engine. Incidently, the bolts which hold the bracket on have a dual purpose, for the inside of the bolts (Under the transom) hold the battery switch on a plywood mounting worthing thinking about as it is nicley out of the way and means the bracket would have to pull a 8x6" piece of 1" marine ply through the transom before it broke away.

After the events of last weekend, BW needed some patching up on her belly. Fortunatly it was only sknin deep, and a trip over to see Peter R Snr, very kindly saw me kitted up with all the bits I need to repair her. While I was under there looking at what needed doing I had the stupid idea that it would be nice to strip away all of the old anti-foul, and re-polish or antifoul her again...... I bought some gel antifoul remover for

Yep, I think we will now officially postpone the Weymouth trip. Can we re-schedule for a few weekends time? The Bass should still be around - last year it was mid december before they dissaspeared! Personally I dont think that anywhere will be suitable for any decent fishing this weekend. Yesterday or today was your best bet. Adam

James and I went out for a few hours last night - and ended up with a right haul!! 4 different species in total, and about 300......prawns! We had a mullet, gobies, blennies and prawns. Just cooked my batch up, and just finished shelling them...Thai Green Prawn Curry for dinner tonight!! Mmmmmmm!

Duncan, If you have a serach around on the net - you will be able to find a downloadable instruction booklet for your handheld GPS - I have done twice in the past, this will make understanding how to use it easy. I cant really add anything to the above. I used to run with just a handheld, then I got fed up with the battery issue and trying to hold / support the unit and steer, and when in a rough sea a small 1x2" screen is hard to see! Then I went to a Garmin 128 GPS - Fixed, this was a lot better and enables me to do pret much everything I wanted expect navitage in the fog, dark etc.. I also put off buying a plotter as I couldnt see the use in them - until I tried one out on a mates boat, then I was hooked. Nowadays I couldnt do without it. If you want you are welcome to have a trip out with me and play with a few of the toys? Adam

Forecast for Portland Sat is 4-6 SSW - so Sunday is looking unlikey, but well keep fingers crossed. Anyone have any suggestions for an alternative trip? Adam

Sounds good - speak to you 2moro. Adam

So will you if they decide to have a fag before they leave!!!!

Can you pick me up a set next time your at work? Ill ring and confirm the expory and the price, but

I have the RNLI doing a home visit Sea Check tomorrow. The obly item I can think I still need is a proper set of flares. I know it has been posted before, but Inshore or Coastal, and where is the cheapest place to go? Adam

Oopss! Didnt read it proper! - Scrap that then, what I really meant was, when we come down to Devon..!

Cracking report eddie - many thanks. Your views seem to echo that of the majority of the Explorer owners that have posted here or we have spoken to. We occasionaly venture down towards your way once or twice a year - and have been thinking about fishing the Nab Tower area on a club trail-away for a while - maybe you would like to join us if and when we do come on down? Also interesting to note that you have taken your boat 26 offshore. A few of the smaller club boats have benn deliberating this for a while, and so far due to weather and other commitments have dont done so. Adam

same as before - meet at 7-7.30am Deepsea.co.uk reports good catches of bass still with the average size now in the 4-7lb bracket and doubles not uncommon. Hopefully will give you lot a chance to try my new recipie!!

A new boat for Newboy! - Sweet Honey.

Ready for the off!

Kam, it was no problem - I was glad to help, I know how hard it was for me when I first started and any help or advice is welcomed. You seemed to handle the boat very well towards the end of the day, a few more hours under your belt and youll have no problem! A few piccies from this morning. Kam PM me your email address and Ill send them over to you.

Just been reading a few other forums, and it seems the cod are starting to make an apperance already!! Chesil is throwing up a few fish, as is the East towards the Needles with whiting also showing....pack away your feathers and bring out the squid!

I agree, Alison Jane is a lovely example of a Seaworker. The new boat wouldnt be Steve's boat would it?.....I noticed today that it was no-longer on the moorings it used to hold? If so, what a lovely home for it.

Just an update to the next planned trail-away to Weymouth this Sunday coming, weather dependant. Long range forecast is for 2-4 SW, so not too bad, we shall have to see how it pans out. Anyone, who either cant make it, or wants to add their name to the list?