Adam F

Like many others over the weekend, we got out and enjoyed the nice weather and entertainment. First the fireworks and start of the airshow on Thurs eve and then again on Sat with the Airshow, anchored off Bournemouth Pier. Ive never seen our marina so empty! Or so many boats in one place off the piers... Anyway, as expected it was carnage. I made a point of having the VHF set to Ch16 and it was amusing and frightening to hear some of the stuff going on. Boats casually chatting on Ch16 when Portland had issued Seelonce Mayday Plenty of open Mics on Ch16 A boat calling 'Mayday, Mayday help, help' and then the ensusing conversation where the guy had no clue of how to use a VHF or communicate with the Coastguard.... all because he couldnt get his engine started. The icing on the cake was when the ILB made contact with the vessel and asked them to make their boat visable.... ' we are waving at you' was the response.... well half the boats on the water were waving at each other that day.... It actually made me quite angry - when most of us go to quite a lot of time and expense to educate ourselves, practise etc to make sure we are safe and opperating correctly at sea, and then you get these once a year weekend warriors who really just give us a bad name! The coastguard were well prepared, and fair play to them, took it all in their stride. Rant over - off soapbox now!

:-( Bad news Nige. It's been a bad year for this hasnt it! Must be the nice weather and increased usage. I was also thinking last night, and nearly all the boats that we regulary see out within the club have suffered some kind of fairly serious mechanical issues over the past year or two - doesnt say much for marine engines! You dont see cars doing it that often. Keep us posted.

Well done Rob and all, another great open comp. I don't get to fish many comps now, but always look forward to this one, and I think the format is now spot on. A big pat on the back!

Joint Venture, Cobbs, 3 fishing

Alderney is THE place to buy them, £75 last time I looked. May 2014 it is then? Unless you fancy a quick blast over!

Wow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xPcdIrjQ2s&feature=youtu.be

I enjoyed a cracking day out last Thurs with Charlie on Alfresco, as something of a consolation trip for the disaster I had on the way to Cherbourg a few weeks ago. We had planned for weekend trip but as the wind was due to come up we booked days off and went out on what is probably the calmest day Ive ever spent in the Channel. It was super flat, and super hot all day. Ben and Alun J completed the crew. Whilst I was gutted not to have JV out there, it was really nice to have a rest from skippering and really enjoyed crewing for the day. The fishing was good, if not a little sporadic and sadly wasnt that evenly split across the crew. Nevertheless, some good fish were caught, including a 14lb Pollack and a 1lb 4oz Cukoo Wrasse to me, and a 52lb Conger to Ben, best cod went to Charlie about 10lb. We ended the day with about 7 cod and 7 pollack, 3 eels and a few wrasse. Thai turbot fishcakes and homemade Elderflower Champagne for lunch was a nice touch.... even if I did make it myself Anyway, as they say a picture paints a thousand words, hopefully this little video will show the trip! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xPcdIrjQ2s&feature=youtu.be

I'd just moor up in the marina and sleep all day! :-)

50lb braid? I only use 30lb for converting and wrecking. I use 20lb inshore. The only time I use 50lb is on my shark rods. I suspect you had a weakness?

I caught a 14t Mersey Class lifeboat. I couldn't find it on the list, does anyone know what the % specimen is?

Ah, yes had seen that and wondered if a flexible coupling was similar / same as the drive plate. My money is on this. Thanks for the link Duncan.

Agree that sounds feasible Duncan, I'm just struggling to find a schematic that shows the drive plate for a D3 190. The upshot of having to do all this is that whilst the leg is off and engine out I can check and overhaul the engine and engine room. The downside is missing the middle of the summer!

I think it is Likey to be the drive plate or gimble bearing. However I think it's drive off and engine out job. :-(

I'm out before I even got started :-(

Well this isn't the kind of report I was hoping to type this weekend.... And not this sooner either. :-( Perfect start to the weekend, after sleeping onboard last night, up at 4am, ready for the off at 5am with Wight Magic and Alfresco we steamed South at 20 knots headed for the French wrecks. After fog for the first 15 miles it soon lifted to a warm sunny and super smooth day... All was good! Then 36 miles South of Poole, approaching the first wreck, bang... Strange noise from the engine and loss of power. On checking net around the prop. Cleared net, engine starts fine but smoke and no power to the drive. Dan comes onboard, verdict - dead in the water. Tow needed. So it's agreed that Alfresco will tow North and RV with the big orange boat, a very kind offer then comes in from Lady Beth, a private fishing boat from Gosport who offers to take on the tow and leave Alfresco. 15 miles later the Orange boat takes over and takes me into Swanage, Frisky Fox then very kindly cuts his day short to theme back to Poole, but due to his draft he can't take me to my berth, so finally the marina come out and tow be the last few 100 yds. 4 boats to recover me. :-( Talk about gutted. A huge, huge thanks to all the boats who assisted. Not one even questioned helping and none would take a penny payment (although I suspect a few bottles may find there way to them!) So I'm now here in the garden, in the sun with a beer... Very nice you may say, but I've got a buggered boat with what looks like a big repair bill, and I should be moored in France with a cool box full of cod drinking French wine and eating mussels. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/latest.asp?section=Rescues&subsection=Latest

Personally I think you need to consider trim tabs, they will help keep the bow down.....

48 hr Comp will start 6pm 5th July and finish 6pm 7th July 1) Court Jester - Neal Sturt and crew TBA 2) alfresco charlie sam dan and ben 3) Joint Venture - Adam, Alun J and Bob F

Agree - been sat here in a 2 day sales meeting with Al and Ben on the mobile texting and fishing in calm sunny conditions, whilst I look at windy weather for the weekend....

This isnt an easy and quick task. Fuel and water isnt a good combo, and you cant just rely on a water seperator to sort it all out. Charlie's suggestion of pressure testing is a good place to start. Then a pressure wash, or preferably a steam clean, then you need to get it dry.... a de-humidifier etc? Bascially if they are sound tanks you want them as clinically clean as possible... anything else is likey to elad to issues futher down the line.

You'll want a half decent signal though to post pics at sea, ideally 3G. It rules out posting stuff from mid channel!

What was it like out there? We cancelled our plans to go today on a borderline forecast. Good fishing. Glad you and the boat a back in the saddle!

eBay! That belongs to JV lol!

6th & 7th July please.......

Drop bob a line. I think we might have a spare one from the JV build.