Adam F

Good luck Tom. A long trip by the sounds of it Look forward to seeing some piccies! Gjb - It's not the same boat mate. The one of FAFB is an Ultimate, by Catapult Cats. Tom's boat was built by Rob Baker at Powerglide.

Thanks for posting the results Paul. The comp was the 3rd of 4 in the BFM league - I have just sent the results. We had a total of 18 anglers book in and fish the comp, but just 7 anglers featuring in the results, the rest didnt log any fish. I also heard of and saw numerous other anglers out fishing in the good weather over the weekend - probably enough to have doubled the entry. A reasonable turnout, but it still seems some are happy to to comp fish. Anyway - one more BFM comp to go! Thanks for all who entered and fished and well done to those who got on the score board - 4 fish over 100% not bad at all! Adam

Paul, Have you got glass windows on your 165? If not - forget wipers. You'll scratch them to pieces with wipers within a few trips. Clean regularly with Rain-X, that way the screen should self clear. Adam

Well, she's been back 3 weeks now and progress has started.... slowly! It was hard to buy much kit for the boat before it arrived as we needed time to measure, agree, spec etc - that's now done and it's like xmas with all the boxes arriving daily! She's now sheeted and scaffolded in, meaning we can work in the dry even in inclement weather. Bob has been working on the electrics - The battery cables have been run, master switches in, battery boxes in, ECU control unit in. I've been tackling the other tasks. The box for the helm seat has been fabricated, a panel glassed in on the starboard helm for the throttle control and various other glassing / GRP tasks all done. Work on the S/S fabrication starts next week. Funny thing is, I'm doing more fishing now than when I had a boat!! Gallery updated here: http://www.pbsbac.co.uk/photoalbum/thumbnails.php?album=123

Thanks to all that entered - a great turnout and a well supported comp. I agree it was a surprise that no larger fish showed - but maybe we are a little later in the year for them. Comp results sent off to BFM, so keep an eye out for your name! Only two comps to go, can we can any of our members in the final! Adam

I used to do my previous Warriors by hand. Find a decent quality carnauba wax polish. Apply by hand with a stockinette cloth - damp if possible, it makes the polish work harder and go further. When it is applied and dry, buff it off with the mechanical polisher. Like many things a little and often is better and less work than once a year....

Oh Yes! I think it's great. One of the highlights of a friday eve in between the endless crap they seem to think passes for entertainment...

Nice one Al! Q - What are the best size fish to return? Personally I have a boat rule that ALL doubles go back. I return undersize and small fish (obviously) and prefer fish in the 4-7lb bracket to take - and I only take what I can eat without freezing. Other's thoughts?

A slightly controversial thought from me - but year on year for the past 4/5 years the bass fishing seems to be getting better... possibly a result of my/our knowledge getting better and bigger, faster, more capable boats and tackle - but the bass fishing to me seems to be good. Bass in supermarkets are 99% farmed = sustainable Bass in resuturants with high price tags are often 'line caught' = sustainable .....where do the beam trawlled ones go??

Martin, Anything newer than 12 months I'll happily take off you. Adam

You want fairleads then: http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/chandlery_prod...ed_fairlead.htm Grip tape is no problem, how much and what colour?? Of just give me a call....

Rich, Do you mean fairleads? If not I have a pair of 6" T cleats here going cheap? As for self adhesive tape - we sell it at work in 4 colours for applying to steps and the like - good stuff it is. Let me know if either are of any help? Adam

Bang me down as crew. Sorry for the clash in dates - getting a bit tight this time of year...

Dom - why the hell is your left hand doing THAT!!!

Nice one chaps!! Cam looks alot greyer than the last time I saw him!!! (10 yrs + ago) It'll be 2009 before our boat is out there after them, but boy, I cant wait! To get a double so early in the season - surely a good sign??

Well the Met Office have just updated and have issued a strong wind warning for tomorrow: Inshore waters forecast 24 hour forecast: 1800 Sat 17 May 1800 Sun 18 May Wind East or northeast 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. Sea state Slight or moderate. Weather Thundery showers, becoming fair later. Visibility Moderate or good, occasionally poor. It is still iffy, but in the interest of making a call for all boats big and small. The competition is POSTPONED. I suggest the 1st June as the next date? Apologies for the late call - it hasnt been an easy one this weekend! Good luck if you do get out and stay safe! Adam

It's a little close to call at the moment, so Ive discussed with Paul J and I'll make a decision when the Met office update between 5 and 6pm. Adam

Hopefully not too near the edge... ' MUM - you can be soooo embrassing when I bring my mates round! '

Well, a long and nervous day, but in the end it all went smoothly! An early start for Bob and I as we headed off on what was hopefully the last long trek to Colchester. We arrived at 1pm just as Gerry's lads finished polishing #54. A slick opperation with the crane and she was soon sat sunggly in place and well strapped down. A super smooth tow back (many, many thanks to John and Mike Young (Mike Y) for helping out with a long term loan of their ace Roller Coaster Trailer) went without hitch and after a long 4.5hrs we rolled into my little lane anxious that she would fit into the drive. A bit of niffty manouvering and she was in sat on her temporary home for the next few months! A celebratory beer and we are ready to start! Both of us are over the moon and cant wait to get cracking!

Again, thanks for the support guys. The weather isnt looking good though. Wind direction is less of an issue - ENE, but with an increasing 5-7 it would be too risky esp. for the smaller boats in the club. I'll make a call tomorrow eve and post on here. Cheers

The shark dentist had seen some bad cases in his time, but this took the biscuit!

As I said, just a short one this week... I loved corkys one... 'Charlie loved that Tope like it were his own, the Tope loved Charlie too but alas both knew they would soon be separated and may not see each other again for years... Quietly Charlie shed a tear whilst saying goodbye ' but my fav. this time goes to Djredrupp 'after a mix of diesel fumes and alcohol on the way over to Alderny, it became too much for Charlie, when he began to confuse the tope with his own kids.' Quality!! Dan - over to you - make it a good un!

Thanks for the support all. The forecast is border line IMO at the moment. Its showing F5 NNE dropping in the afternoon. I'll keep a close eye on it and make a call on Saturday afternoon. Adam

Duncan, You are right - Kimmeridge is very convieniant for accessing areas to the West of Poole. However..... It offers very little protection from winds in the South. If you search the forum back a good few years (2005?) you'll ready a pretty scarey incident Bob F and I had in our boats trying to get ashore with a big southerly sea running - could have ended alot worse. Anyhow! It's not all doom and gloom. A northly wind or Southerly (W or E) under a F4 'should' be OK. The slip itself is OK. Pretty steep (about the same as West Bay) but the lower portion is a little broken. The only problem is trying to launch or retreave at LW - the slip finishes and is just rocks.... Getting out of the bay at LW is also tricky - it's pretty shallow and it you do catch your prop the bottom is rocks, not sand.. Launching a 175 would be fine, but you'll need a 'proper' 4WD. Parking is fine. Not trying to put you off, just making you aware. Bottom line for me is Kimm. is great on a good forecast. If it's iffy - the saftey margin afforded by Poole or Weymouth is a better bet. ATB Adam

So just 8 booked in so far then? Corky + 1 Alun & Paul Paul D & Paul R Charlie A & Andy S Anymore?