Adam F

Oh, yes - we were discussing Alderney yesterday. Cant wait! After all it's only a few week now! Plotter - Bob knows it like the back of his hand, it's a first time with Lowrance for me. I'm getting there. I really, really miss the full alpha/numeric keypad my last Garmin had, and I miss the detailed tidal info format the Garmin gave, but I'm starting to like the 'Windows' style format of the Lowrance. For the basic facilities it is dead easy.

Also - dont forget that the hull designs are different. Isnt Alfresco more of a planning hull compared to Imagine's Semi-displacement?? Good vid's though.

A few people have asked about our boat, so having now run a few hours on her I thought I'd share a few thoughts and observations.... In no particular order.... She runs about the speed we expected with the 190hp D3 - 3000 revs gives us 22 knots unless tide is pushing / helping. 2600 gives us about 17/18 knots - which seems to be a really nice crusing speed even in a moderate chop or swell. We are over proped by 2" and running flat out at 3600 rpm gives 32 knots. She runs flat as a die when well balanced, but crew moving around does effect lateral stability - careful positioning of weight buckets and crew solves this - it is easy to forget that she is only 23' when onboard and thus expect more from her! When well balanced she runs true regardless of sea state (so far) today in a 40 min run back from the island I had to alter course about 5 times, point and go - the deep vee really does perform well. Like many boats a sea on the nose is a little bumpier, but she seems to stradle waves/chop well - today we had these conditions and the bumps occured every 7 or 8 wavelets. With the sea on the stern she is a dream and doesnt broach or lean at all. Nice. Underway a beam on sea is also fine and doesnt effect the boat. The worst conditions seem to be at anchor with a beam on sea where the deep vee seems to roll a bit. Always a trade off..... but one we can live with. We look forward to testing her in a proper big sea. At anchor she also sits quite bow down, which feels a little weird, but isnt an issue. Underway this is corrected and she had a nice slight bow up run which feels stable and safe. The bow is a little precarious (sp) when going forward even with high bow rail and cabin rails. The tight head room in the wheelhouse isnt such an issue as we thought it might have been. The hydraulic helm seat is something to fall in love with...... Although we need to sort the passangers out with something other than standing (alrrady underway!) Stern drives are a basta$rd to manouvre into a tight berth We'll get there!! The Volvo is awesome! The Lowrance radar is fecking amazing. We wernt expecting much from it, but after running down to the island today and the radar picking up EVERY buoy, vacht, fishing boat and rock we are both amazed. We picked up Gastronaught ( an open Orkney 520) from 1.5 miles away - before we saw her - well done Lowrance! All in all, she is better than we hoped / expected. There isnt anything we would change or add, and we look forward to many happy hours in her in 2009. Adam

Nothing like a new boat to raise the eagerness levels!! For some crazy reason Bob and I decided that it would be a good idea to get out of a warm bed whilst it was still dark and venture into the darkness that was -4C in Shaftesbury this morning... Anyway - the marina was frozen with cat ice, the screen was frosted over, the hose on the pontoon was frozen solid and the gas decided that it was too cold to heat a kettle, ho hum! After a brief fuel top up at Salterns, off we went to the Island.... 40 mins of steaming saw us settled on the Car Park fishing in the coldest conditions I've ever fished in - artic tundra like.... no joke! All in all a shite day - about 6 dogs and 2 pout, nowt else, but who the hell cares! Bob and I had fun on the new boat, the kettle and frying pan started working - we spent most of the day inside a warm(ish) wheelhouse which is a real novelty for us and it sure beats xmas sale shopping! Happy New Year to all!

Very good. I want one..... can I have one.... have I got one??

I also agree. I'm surprised after the reports we have been having of 3 or 4 fish a trip, mind you, today was even slower - didnt hear a single cod over the radio and all we had was a few doggies. Yes - it was chuffin cold!

What's the format for this comp guys? Ive not fished it before, but with such a good forecast I am considering.... Do we need to book in? Where, when how much etc??

We had our PDI with Volvo this morning - the helpful guys from Salterns spending an hour onboard to make sure we had fitted it correctly, and then a short run up the harbour to check temps and revs - a little short of WOT at 3600 rpm - 4000 is max, so it seems we are 2" over on the prop - still we hit 32 knots, which was pleasing! Both getting used to the larger boat and the new novelty of a mooring and marinas, so off to Salterns to fuel up - another first. And so off for the first fishing trip. Just a close inshore trip as Bob needed to get back, so we settled in on the Dolphin bank about 4 miles from the chains. In 3 short hours we managed to christen the boat with a plump whiting, and ended up with half a dozen plump whiting, a few dogs, 1 pout and the star of the day to me..... a COD!! What a way to break in a new boat! Not a big fish at 4/5lb but a good start! A nice fast run home, washdown and off home - god I love marina berthing! Merry Christmas to all!

Gordon, Be wary of spending a fortune - this can be done very reasonably. Try Ferrari Alloys on the Woolsbridge Ind Est. http://www.ferraristainless.com/ I bought a peice here a few years back for something like

Maybe....just maybe!!

I would like to introduce the latest boat to the PBSBAC fleet - 'Joint Venture' With the help of a few kind members, we slipped her into Poole Harbour at 9am this morning. The launch went faultlessly, and she is everything Bob and I had hoped for and more (except we now want a bigger one !!) We had a short run up the harbour to the chain ferry and back, and managed a respectable 30 knots without really straining the Volvo - 20 knots was a lovely cruising speed. Thanks to Tom for sorting the launch at Parkstone Bay Marina and showing us the ropes (litterally) and the channels in and out. Alun, Gordon and Will turned up armed with cameras and champagne to christen her - thanks guys. A few other thanks - Charlie and Dan who helped with a big box of kit from Alfresco and more importantly helped getting the engine in. Trev (Wedger) for towing us to Poole 2 weeks ago. Finally - a huge thanks to Peter Russell (jnr) who without his help we would still be sat on a trailer in my drive and would have made numerous mistakes! His help and advice were priceless I've pulled together a short clip of the build here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IoHdp6tj_48&...re=channel_page [doHTML]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=" name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/doHTML]

Joint VentureI would like to introduce the latest boat to the PBSBAC fleet - 'Joint Venture' With the help of a few kind members, we slipped her into Poole Harbour at 9am this morning. The launch went faultlessly, and she is everything Bob and I had hoped for and more (except we now want a bigger one !!) We had a short run up the harbour to the chain ferry and back, and managed a respectable 30 knots without really straining the Volvo - 20 knots was a lovely cruising speed. Thanks to Tom for sorting the launch at Parkstone Bay Marina and showing us the ropes (litterally) and the channels in and out. Alun, Gordon and Will turned up armed with cameras and champagne to christen her - thanks guys. A few other thanks - Charlie and Dan who helped with a big box of kit from Alfresco and more importantly helped getting the engine in. Trev (Wedger) for towing us to Poole 2 weeks ago. Finally - a huge thanks to Peter Russell (jnr) who without his help we would still be sat on a trailer in my drive and would have made numerous mistakes! His help and advice were priceless I've pulled together a short clip of the build here:

Will post up in a bit, waiting for the video to upload!

hi, only a single prop as we have the 190hp D3 and were happy (i hope) with the performance. CR told us that the DPX drive is only really worth it on the 160 or 130hp engines. adam

Yep!

Hello! I'm one of the co-owners of the Aquafish Tom refers to - Bob and I are launching here for the 1st time on Sunday morning. We actually have 3 AF's in the club - Aquafresh, Sheila Marie (same age as Aquafesh) and our new one (name tbc on Sunday!) Ive fished from a few now.... we chose one as we couldnt find anything to fit our requirements - which were a fast fisher with a decent size deck, capable of fishing shallow water and capable of reaching the channel islands (60 miles from Poole) My thoughts on a few of your points: They do run straight - the deep Vee hull helps this - as a downside they will roll a little at anchor, but they heavy revearse chines do help to remidy this. Aquafresh is one of the rarer long wheelhouse versions - only a handful made as far as I know. You loose a little deck space though... In a nutshell - upsides are a fast, stable fisher thats cuts the waves / swell well due to the deep vee. Loads of deck space, very solidly built. Decent turn of speed - we have a 190hp Volvo D3 on SX prop and hope to get 38 knots flat out. Downsides - wheelhouse is a little tight compared to others. The head height also suffers. Ride isnt as predictable and stable as a shaft - but thats always the trade off with a leg. Finish from the factory is pretty average - hence why many (and all 3 club boats have been finished privately) A few built shots here: http://www.pbsbac.co.uk/photoalbum/thumbnails.php?album=123 Keep your eye out for a better review next week once we have her on the water!

Dont you get one FOC?? Mr Penn?

Well after 7 months, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.... With the very generous offer of a warm(ish!) dry workshop to finish the last few details the new boat is nearly ready. Without the workshop we would have really struggled to finish - as soon as the clocks went back and the temp dropped the work rate really dropped off. having the boat in the dry and warm has helped tremendously and both Bob and I are really thankful for the offer. Anyway, we have both been working long hours around day jobs to get her finished, and to be honest we have both been surprised by how long the last few jobs take, the list just keeps growing!! Anyway, after a kind offer of a tow from Shaftesbury to Poole from Wedger, Bob and I cracked on. Long story short, all the windows are now finally in properly. The internal upholstry is done. All the S/S is finished and polished, and the antifouling is done - completed today. All that is left to do is the graphics / lettering, the dive platform and a good clean down and a wax and she will be ready to get wet for the first time - xmas week! We will keep you posted!

Well done Al, beat me to it! Just 5 anglers weighed in, so the xmas shopping must have been a bigger lure! 1st - Alun J - 3lb 0oz 2nd - Paul Stapleton - 2lb 8oz 3rd - Tom Smith - 2lb 1oz 4th - Pete Hall - 1lb 15oz 5th - Rob Francis - 1lb 14oz Well done, and thanks to those to entered!

This Sunday is the PBSBAC Xmas Fayre which is basically a flounder comp held in Poole hardour (or further afield if you so wish!) best specimen flounder walks away with a Christmas Hamper. All entrants need to book in either here or with me by phone before the comp. Fishing times are 8am to 3pm with a weigh in at Baiter afterwards, the scales will close at 4pm sharp, no fish will be counted after this time. The forecast is looking a little iffy but as the comp is in the harbour, unless it is dangerous the comp will likely go ahead. Post here is you wish to fish:

Hmmmmmmm. I'd be prepared to defend this. As others have said - limits fine, but play fair and do it both sides. As Martin has said, 2 cod in the summer? Not worth running mid-channel for that.... Scallops? Shellfish - wont effect you chaps, but would for us diver types! 24?? Would be fine if that was a limit for 5 mins! The bass limit is reasonable IMO.

Leaders Always!! TBH - Their isnt a valid reason I can see not to use them. I even use a very light 6lb mono leader on my mullet rod. For me the big advantages are the little bit of stretch they give when a fish is close to the boat, extra abrasion resistance where it really matters and something a bit more tactile at the business end on which to construct your end tackle. I never use expensive low diameter leader - a bulk spool of 30lb mono lasts a couple of seasons and is cheap eneough to change every few trips. Adam

No one voting then? Plenty of vocal opinions at meetings but no-one willing to vote here? I did miss the option for '0' off the poll.... Seriously - I dont make the comp schedule up for my own benefit - it is for you as the club members. If I dont get your feedback, the schedule will remain the same in 2009 as 2008. Adam

Bear with me on this one guys. I will have another poll to follow this one. Having seen Charlie attempt to get the format right for 4 years and having had a go myself last year, I'm at a loss as to what is wanted. We obviously cannot please everybody, but what I'm looking for is to schedule comps that you want. Suggestions have been that we have too many comps which dilutes the numbers fishing - others say not enough..... so before I look at the type of comps, I need to know the ideal number. Just to remind you, this year we had 11 comps. 5 BFM species / specimen comps, the 48 hour, flatfish comp, Nov open, Bream Comp, Xmas flattie comp and the Lure only comp. Thanks for your feedback.

BRILLIANT! Well done lads - a top day that you wont forget in a hurry. Will - a fish of a lifetime mate!