Welcome Longbow, there are always boats going out from either X'church or Poole, as long as you don't mind the rough, as it can be quite hairy out there in Jan and Feb.
I think there are 2 other members trail their boat from Oxford/area. One from Witney and the other from Carterton (?)
I would have thought a nylon band would be easy to cut and screw into place. Nylon is relatively strong. I guess it's good for a one off protection, i.e, you knock it hard enough once and you change it.
Welcome Dick, actually I think Alderney is within club water, St Catherine Point IOW to Portland Bill. You can actually join the club and fish our comps, with the excellent quality of fishing down your end, I bet you will do really well.
Why would anyone hide a longbow in the loft under the insulation? Maybe he was trying to hide it from the missus? Or just do a google on 'Murder', 'Arrow', 'Longbow', 'England'..........
I fish out of brighton very often, nice marina and what's excellent is that parking is free . I fish with Seabreeze 3 most of the time, other times use John but can't remember what his boat is call.
I like conger fishing from there the best, average size is around 50.
I always wanted to try salmon fishing in Sacndanvia, just working down my list of 'Fishing to be done'. Marlin in Madeire, sturgen in North America, bronze whaler in Namibia, tarpon etc in Florida,.......