Adam F

Christ!...the membership fee must be high to afford all that?

BW will be there with Jimbo as crew. Will probably fish Christchurch end, although will be wind dependant. ...might go out to St Catherines for the chance of an eagle ray!!! BTW: Does anyone know anything about the ground around there? What is it like, how far off do they fish? What do they fish for? Adam

Rich, That would be dead helpful! The ones i'm after are the Rapal J13B Jointed Bass Plugs in Blue. J13 is the code B is the colour ref. P.161 of Sea Angler this month is you need a piccie. 4 No. would be great. Thanks.

Kam, Save the extra few pennies and stretch to a small, but new 4 stroke - a 4/5hp will set you back about 400 quid if you look around. As you have a nice shinney new boat this will look a lot better, and despite seagulls having a good name, id go for a new (ish) 4 stroke anytime. Also, how big is your new boat? If over 18' then I would question the use of a small aux. Given a 4/5 knot spring tide and the main engine goes 10 miles from port a 4/5hp engine aint gunna do much - better the keep the main one well serviced and reliable - if it does go pear shaped a tow or the coastguard. PS: I have a nearly new (1 hours use) 2 stroke 4hp Mariner and it fits the bill for me nicely - I reckon you owuld pick one of these up for a few hundred.

Kam, Ill speak to you nearer the time, but where you thinking of launching? Do you want me to bring BW, or just crew and help you? Are we going fishing or just playing? Adam

Yep to Pumpkin - to get a new trailer board - they didnt have one, so went to Hayling Trailers, bit further down the road. What a rip off - 49 quid for a new board!

Charlie - James is lying in 3rd place, so he is 99.99% sure of a place in the finals - even if the 7 below him win their next match, he still qualifies!!! Not bad for the 1st year PBSBAC have entered! Bob F, Billy and Me also figure in the top 50 standings - although I waited a little late before trying...looks like Ill have to wait till next year now!

Weather is looking not too bad for the Ray comp! 2-4 N/NW....so we all should get out!! Who is planning to fish? Martin, Is their an entry fee? Can you post the details here? Cheers Adam

Anyone know a good source for cheap Rapala lures? I use them hardly ever, but need to get a few, and begrudge paying

Bought BFM and Sea Angler today. Was looking forward to the new look SA - as I have found it dull, and a waste of money the past 6 months - this month was to be the last chance. I found it worse than ever! A cheap tacky rig wallet (how many of these have I had in the past year??!!) A bigger mag - yes, but just hundreds more bl&^dy adverts! Apart from the Mike Ladle interview - total tosh....wont be buying it again. BFM - good as usual! - What about the 100lb + eagle ray! - WOW, what a catch, just a shame the guy had to kill it for the sake of fame?...

Personally I see the VHF as one of the main pieces of safety kit on your vessel. Really it is the ONLY contact you have back to land. Some days it is rather comforting to hear other users, the coastguard and the met office weather over the radio - it reminds me that help is only a button away. Bob F has an old, dodgy unit and has terible problems transmitting (sorry bob!) IMHO I would try and make the cost saving elsewhere and buy a new, UK, legal, fully functioning unit. The Navman DSC can now be found for under

Kam, I should be able to make next Tues if you want a hand?

Blinkin' 'orrible!!!! Just got back from Bognor Regis this morning, and popped into Hayling Island on the way home. Wind was savage, and sea v. rough! Id think carefully before launching tomorrow. If it helps, Im free Friday either to help or tag along - was going to take BW out. Forecast is for winds at least until Weds / Thurs.

Thanks Alan - Just coming to the end of one now - so Ill get driling!

They dont list Poole or Christchurch then????

Cant find any info on the UK???...all USA?

Cheers mike - Ill drop em round with the trailer board and the silicone. Ill PM you later in the week.

Last year I splashed out and bought a REALLY expensive set of chefs knives for the kitchen. When I bought them they were like razor blades - but after 6 months they are blunt as anything. I have tried a steel (both steel and ceramic) an oil stone, and my bench grinder (softlly) but still cannot get a proper sharp edge... Any ideas?

Duncan, If you have contacts in Burnham - maybe I could organise a verses match? PBSBAC go to Bristol and fish again them, and then the return leg in Poole / Weymouth? Have you got any contact details you could let me have?

Thanks for the advice Duncan. I think ill just keep my eyes open and see what is available for a while. Food for thought though!...

BW's old engine, was on carbs and suffred the same problem. This is just a standard trait with 4 stroke carbed engines - and is nothing to worry about.

Nice one Duncan! The Bramber's are quality and you wont be dissapointed. Just need the boat now! - Have you decided yet?

Is it worth me looking at one for me 60?

Its great fun innit!!! Most of us went through a very similar process, asking as many opinions as possible to satisfy the niggling doubts in your mind! Go with what YOU think is best. The explorer is a great boat, the predator looks good also, but is a good price. Make a list of what you really want from a boat and see how they all compare. .....(playing devils advocate!)....how about a Raider 16'

WOW!!!! Whipped the new prop off this morning, and bolted the old 13" jobbie on. Anyway, sat in the office workign with it lashing with wind and rain outside, and curiosity got the better of me (impatient more like) so in a rash decision, BW was soon hooked up and Im off to Wick to test her out. What a difference!! So much snappier on the throttle, she now surges at even the slightest touch of the throttle, snappy hole shot - AND.......I stopped at 27 knots, as I scared myself! The harbour in xchurch was deserted due to the F6 SW and rain, even so it was pretty damn choppy. I opened her up to about 5250 RPM, and at normal tilt (down) she hit 27 knots. I reckon 30 will be a possibility with 6000 rpm and the engine tilted! This was also the 1st time Ive been to sea completely alone. I wore a jacket of course and took the aux engine - but its a strange feeling being out at sea all alone! There was a huge swell running and it wasnt too nice - hengistbury head gave a little bit of shelter, so I only stayed out for 1/2 an hour playing in the waves!!! Anyway im deleriously happy with the new engine and the way she performs!!