Adam F

Cheers guys - I guess Charlie is right - could be something simple such as a worn HT lead (I hope) on the other hand it may not be ...whatever it is, it will need sorting, and I suppose it is just part of the fun (?) of owning ones own vessel. 'Standing in a cold shower tearing up

My bets on Covet!!

Thanks for the offer Dave - If BW is out of action, Ill gladly take you up on the offer. BTW - you do know it's not THIS sunday, but next?...

Alan, I think you will find that the ridges shown on the FF, are actually the bottom contours, and not the FF reading incorrectly, I previously had the 100 and the 160 units so am aware of their performance. Ill PM you the no's for Xray and the Sole marks when I have a spare 5 mins and can plug the plotter in. Adam

Alan, We have a pretty specific spot that we fish - I think James sent you a PM with the nos.?? Their are loads and loads of small but sharp ridges this is where the soles lie. Your description sounds pretty spot on though. Interesting comment about the FF not working in a swell...what unit is it? I have a Garmin 240, and no matter what the swell or waves are doing I can get a very good indication of the bottom feature provided I am moving under 10 knots. Adam

Indeed their are several type of fixing available - and they are pretty strong. They have to be for fixing shelves etc to stud walling. However I would be dubius about using them to fis the bracket - no matter how strong they are. Even a small aux. engine still weighs quite a bit, add the forces of the engine working and it bouncing around on the road, and over time, I'm not convinced they would hold. Cant you just use a super long bolt through both skins with massive washers?

Took a risk with the wind last night and headed out to Barton for a spot of Sole fishing. On arriving at the slip, a good F5 was pusing from the W - but as we got out the harbour, it was pretty flat due to the protection from the land - just a rolling swell from the SW. Bob and I drifted for an hour or so, and I managed a tasty bass for tea, bob managed a bream. We anchored the mark about 8pm. Wind against tide and the rolling swell of the front quarter mean the boat swinging in a 270 deg arch al night - not easy to fish. I managed a last gasp sole, Bob struggled along with PJ, and the man with the shiney nether regions managed to spawn a load of rays, sole, bass, smoothhounds and bream....bloody bloke! Good night though - shame about the engine on the way home......

Last month I forked out on two new sets of brake shoes - this month it looks like the engine.... It has been getting a little louder as of late, but last night when coming back in, she started to struggle to plane...when we reached the harbour, I slowed down, then the fastest she would push us was 8knots! I limped back in with the engine sounding like a bag of nails. Phoned Tony this morning, and shes going in next Thurs. Worried though, as it sounds like a compression problem....sounds expensive So BW is out of the comp for the weekend - looks like Tara will be pushed into action.

Yep Im going... But have been warned that I cant take my wallet!!

Just finished my livebait tank also....this is now about the MK4 design!! As you did, I had to change the 3/4" outlet to a larger 1" outlet, to keep up with the inlet - even now it does only just. I fitted another skin fitting to the transom of the boat for an outlet, and the inlet comes in via a witches hat. I have fitted a cable with ciggie outlet to power the unit, but may wire it perminent in the future. Took it out for trials last night. Performs very well. I have a strap to hold it to the trasom and stop it falling over, and even the rocking and rolling of the boat in a F5 swell didnt spill any water. As the acid test, it kept a bass and a sole alive all night! But like you, the last thing I need it a tap in the bottom - 60l of water is bloody heavy to tip out! Bob F suggested the taps that home brewers use?...

Very helpful Coddy!...Maybe we should have it as a 'Safety' link on the home page?

Sounds good!!!..... But, the time off work - 5 days, and the

Even if huricane hilda blows through...Jimbo and me will be out on the good ship BW!....he needs this one to qualify for the final....now what did you say about bribes James!??...

Hope you had a goodun' Billy! Welcome back!....can you make our Weymouth trip in a few weeks? It would be good to have you along!

Bob - wish Karen all the best Adam

Yep I agree....their are many things used in the motor / plumbing trade that can be an exact or good equilvelent. As Mike says, I have become very dissullusioned. My best so far is

Cant do thurs now, as been reminded that I have to be a taxi driver...! Can we make Weds?

Might go Thurs nite - weather and tide dependant...Ill keep you posted.

Interesting about the dodgy characters...... A few years ago I worked for the EA, (environment agency) for a few weeks. One night we took the patrol boat out at 3am in the morning to catch illegal netters in Xchurch harbour. You can only net certian areas, and more concerning to the EA was the illegal netting of Sea Trout - I suspect this is what you may have seen. Mullet and Bass are just a bye-catch. Glad the night trip went well. I have also found that going back in at night is much easier without any torches at all. Even on a cloudy night, their is enough light pollution to see the nav. bouys. If you fancy another bash at the sole, let me know..I havent been this year, and you are welcome to follow us down to our 'secret' sole mark!

Interesting....I hadnt seen the 176, until now. I have had a look at the comparison table, and the only 2 main areas differing are the size of the screen, and something about the display, the 182 being LCD and the 176 being 256 CSTN whatever that means. The rest is comparable. Personally, Id research like made on prices before the show (I bought mine from Belgum, mail order for about

That would go down well!!!!.... Sunday is better for me also, so unless anyone objects, Sunday it is!. Bob, can you see if Mark Adams wants to come?

Ok, so far we have: BW + 1 Crew Splash-Out + 1 Crew (Les L?) Neo + Mad Mike Maverick + Dean Sammy (Coddy) + Crew Loyal Royal + Paul J What day is preferred?

Its almost there guys. Paul - I got a 60l blue bin brand new (kindly collected by Whippet) I have fitted the intake and outlets 3/4 the way up, to allow for sloping, and both at the same level. The intake comes from a pipe routed through a spare 'witches' hat and the outlet is plumbed into a new skin fitting on the transom. I have run a new wire from the switchboard, but have teminated it in waterproof plugs, so I can easily disconnect and remove the kit. The only snag now is how to mount the bilge pump on the transom, so I can take it on and off. When finished I'll do a short article on how I made it. Then Im off out next weekend to try it out!

Sounds like you had a reasonable day Duncan!....how did you collect your live eels?

Whippet very kindly picked me up a 60l blue bin last week..I collected it this morning. It is ideal, and much better than the B&Q box I bought. 1 question though. Do I put the inlet and outlet hoses at the same level? If I do this wont the 'new'water just overflow, and the water at the bottom of the tank just stay stagnent? If I put the inlet deeper down, 1.) I wont get bubbles and air from the inlet, and 2.) will the blige struggle to push against the water pressure. How are yours done?