Adam F

Monday it is then. 7pm at the Bakers Arms. http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thebakersarmspoole/ Mackeral for bait could be an issue this year - they are always tough in May, but this year everything is so much later.

Lets agree to meet for a beer on either the 3rd (Bank Holiday Monday) or the 4th - Tues at the Bakers Arms at the top of the Upton Bypass then? As lasty year we can run through weather, passage plans, buddy boats and other questions etc?

Oooo! I cant wait!! As always hinges on the weather. JV has been out, all serviced and clean, a few new toys added and she's ready to go. We are having a test run out on Thurs, and then the JV Alderney crew are on annual hols abroad until May, when we get back - off we go! Alderney Angling has just started to report a few small flatties on the banks. Do we want / need to meet up for a pint and a chat at the bakers arms again like last year, or have we all got to know the ropes well enough now to just go? Also - shall we start looking at buddy boats and leaving times etc?

Looking really nice... it's great when you see them 'then right way up' for the first time. Trouble is, still many hundreds of hours of work left on her... buts thats all part of the fun! Shout if you want any help / advice. Adam

I'll just second what others have said, but without the technical info. The radar on JV doesnt get used often as 70% of our fishing is relatively close inshore and during the day... ... however for the other 30% of the time we are offshore, mid channel or out at night - then I find the radar invaluable. Put it this way, leaving Alderney last June with 70 miles to run across the channel in thick pea soup fog, the radar turned the situation from a constant worry to a minor inconvienance - 'seeing' the tankers on the radar was hugely helpful - without it, it woudl have been a very slow, long and dangerous trip back over.

Alan, It's perfect for a rag and stick! I'll take it to the next meeting on Thurs.

Ive a red A5 ships logbook here, brand new never written in. It's free to the first to shout. You'll have to collect from the next meeting, as I cant be bothered to post it. It's the pre-printed type and very detailed. I never used it as a balnk pad seems to work better on a bounching power boat at 20 knots!

Might be a bit late Graham... but if not, some advice from someone who has been through a few dive computers... Just get a Sunnto Gecko or Vyper - not expensive, bullet proof and the BIG plus point is that 90% of the divers you'll dive with will use one - the benefit? You'll all be diving off the same deco algorthim - in my experiance the Aladin's are pretty generous, so you'll oftenm have 5 mins no stop time left wilst others are heading up. The PC function to most is a gimick IMO, all you really need is depth, no stop time, maybe temp and total dive time. Unless you are deco diving, or using mixed gases the Tec 2G is an over kill. I use one, for the tec diving I do - as it suits what I need, but the buttons are small and fiddly, the screen scratches easily and the battery life poor - not like the chunky Suunto. Just my 5p worth. Adam

A huge thanks to Graham, Ben and Paul for all taking the time to take me out today - had great fun! I learnt alot just by being afloat - these things are very stable!! I never went in, and to be honest I think it would take quite a bit to roll one. Other observations - a lovely peaceful way to be afloat, no loud diesel engine, no fumes - just the gentle swish of a paddle.... It's a hugely social way to be out - not just when fishing - paddling too, you can be mere inches away from your buddy whilst chatting away in complete saftey. I thought I'd feel claustriphobic not being able to move around etc - not at all! Could easily reach all part of the boat. Tide and wind really effect you - this helps and hinders, you just need to think and use it to your advantage. In shallow water, with spooky fish etc these boats are ideal - I wont be buying one as I have too many toys and not enough time, but I'll certianly try and get out with the guys in the club a few times this year. My final point is on the safety side of things with the AGM proposal in mind - which centers around recovering a MOB and not having two onboard. One needs to rethink the rules of boating with Kayaks. In a normal boat going in the water is the worst thing that can happen and needs to be avoided at all costs. Recovering a MOB is usually pretty tricky. In a Kayak it is par for the course and expected. You are kitted up to BE IN the water, so going in isnt a problem and getting out not an issue. I felt like I do when I dive - completey safe becuase I have the right kit. Thanks again guys - a great afternoon.

Re. Warrior costs - not sure how they have changed over the last 12 months with the recession - but a decent 2nd hand one will be

OK - just to confirm, I'll see you all at Rockley Pier tomorrow afternoon - 1pm. I'll PM my mobile number to Little Sal and Sea Gypsy if you need me. looking forward to it!

As far as I know - the 175 has only had one hull. As has the 165. The 165 has had a facelift and a few changes to the design, but the 175 has stayed the same since they started making it. Give Warrior a ring - they are very helpful. Cobbs? No I never launched the 175 there, but you'll be fine - it's a perfect slipway for a smaller car and big boat. I launched at Weymouth which is similar but steeper.

Hello Gary, Yep I used to have one - sold it about 2 years ago to pay for the new boat. I owned it for just over a year and apart from a few engine issues, it was a superb boat. I love the 165's - but the 175 is so much more capable, and even though it's just 1' bigger, it feels alot more out at sea. Cant remember the precise weight, but all up, fully loaded with a Honda BF130 mine came in around 1300kg I think. I used to tow if from Shaftebury with a Saab 93 2.0l TD - towed no problem, even steep hills wernt too much of an issue. Slipways were fine, except when wet and slippey or very steep. All in all from a towing point of view, if I was towing it regulary ideally you'd want a 4WD, but if it isnt an option a decent deisel family sized car will cope. Hope that helps? Adam

Nah - I'm a techie diver mate - I use a backplate and wing. Thanks lads - see you down there - 1pm OK? Also how long will we bo out? If it's a couple of hours Rach will shop around Poole (preffered option) if not she will stay at home and I'll be using up brownie points!

The fish on the right looks bigger!...

Drysuit no problem. The only PFD's I have are the CO2 ones on my boat? I guess these are no good as they will go off if I go in? What's an anchor trolley? The only anchor I have is the one off JV - I'm sure 10kg is a bit much!! I gave all my little bottle anchors away! I'll bring a spinning rod and a few worms.

Thanks for the superb response guys - just checked and that will be fine. In the afternoon for just a few hours sounds like an ideal intro - Rach is going to go around Poole whilst I'm out. What sort of time and what do I need to bring? Cheers

Perfect - thanks guys. I'm flexible, can do a mid week if you can? Think I'd prefer Xchurch from a fishing point of view but dont mind Poole.

Anyone fancy taking me out for an afternoon? I'm a complete newbie, and whilst Ive paddled in the past, Ive never fished from one. Seeing as now is the quietest month of the year I'd love to have a few hours flounder fishing in the harbour (xchurch or poole) if someone has a few hours and a spare yak?? PS; Have a drysuit, which I'm sure would be most helpful! Happy to reciprocate with a free trip out on JV when the offshore fishing heats up. Adam

What goes in Alderney stays in Alderney Rob!

Adam didn't you used to be admin? or have I completely lost the plot?....don't answer that Jim Martin Used to be - in the early days (remember Phanton Fisher!) Havent got access any longer.

Ive asked the admin to do it - but you just cant get the staff these days!! I'll ask again...

Many happy returns Paul - have a good one.

Hmmm!! We used MES and Matt for the kit on JV - and look after us he did, ..... eventually! He is a great bloke and a big supporter of the club - he just over promises and tries to please everyone, we have several similar experiances and had many days driving all over Poole to catch up with him. Whilst I support MES and Matt - previous to JV I bought all my kit online - just searched for the best deal, I got some cracking deals and to be fair never needed dealer support - the manufacturer provided it when I needed it. (PS always used Garmin the past - as they are at Romsey) saying that neither Lowrance / Raymarine etc are that far away - Southampton way...

I guess he wants it for filling a rifle? Anyway, regardless of what he wants it for, the bottle will need to be in test and good condition or it wont be filled by a dive shop. Second hand bottles arent worth bothering with in general, because of the above, they dont sell for much less than a new one unless out of test, and then you run the cost and risk of getting it tested and not passing. Have a browse around the net and you'll find them cheap enough: http://godive.net/ for example. I speak from example, Ive a garage full and believe me the testing is what costs the money not the bottles! I'll keep my ear to the groud though..