great white

Good to read that the crew were all well if a little shaken Just goes to show what a simple gear failure can do even on what looks to be a very nicely looked after boat. Mitchell 31's are very solid boats so I am sure the boat and engine are recoverable. But it may have been a different outcome a week earlier than good friday with not many other boats about, or further offshore late in the day. Well worth mental consideration on what you would do to keep your boat afloat in such circumstances. [Plastic bags and Rags lashed around the shaft and stern tube should have slowed the leak enough to allow pumps to cope, and should have been able to done in the 5 mins the rescue boat took] but that is without considering a wife and child onboard and panic. 1. Call Mayday 2. Make sure crew are safe , in lifejackets and [if carried liferaft], flares and grab bag ready 3. Try everything you can to keep the boat afloat, while she floats stay onboard if sea state and position allows In the RN excessive training is given to crews in fire fighting , Damage control and machinery breakdowns. a 999 call is sod all use half way across the oceans. Unlike the emergancy services, in the RN saving the ship is the main and sometimes only priority. Charlie

Nice one Adam What an excellent day to have for your first long range trip on OOTB, some wrecks in the plotter Fish in the new coolbox and a flat sea that helps keep down fuel burnt. Was the wreck SW of the bill inside Club Waters? or did you have to slip a little further west to get the fish? Charlie Very green with envy

Blimey that went on a bit IMHO I do not think there was much need for the last throw in comment "taking the action that should have been taken earlier" Mike I believe the Admin team do a great job overseeing the content of an excellent and very busy forum, If the odd one slips through and then gets amended there is no need to drag it on. I am sure the new committee would welcome help, more than criticism. Charlie

Tight lines Guys I hope you get to keep the new fish recorder very busy Charlie

Very neat Adam and economic on the amps I will also probably fit a duel system using a bait pump to recirc and the main pump to change the water Charlie

It looks the muts nuts Adam I am sure it will not take long to test it It would look good on my engine box but at that prce will have to wait untill more essentials have been purchased Charlie

Done We need to continue to do what we can to get the politicians to listen Charlie

Hi Guys HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you both I hope you both enjoy the day and we soon get some nice weather so you can both get out on your new boats. have a good one Charlie

100% specimen Tom, well done.........fish of the month maybe?? Not quite big enough mate Charlie

Looks good on Here Sam and even better up close. For perceverance and effort alone, it deserves a good result. Now get the paperwork finished, hand it in to school and your butt onto the real one to give the old man a hand. Dad

As someone says the chain has to be calibrated to the winch and that also dictates the dia of the warp You need to check the spec of the model fitted and use the correct rope I am presuming that the size as fitted is correct, so just get a longer length of the same. Charlie

Hi Alan and welcome to the mad house I am sure there are many people that will help you get amongst some personal bests during the year. If you start gently and build up knowledge I am sure you will rapidly gain skills and catch some fish. Now thats Sams model is finished and our new boat not ready I am sure Sam would be up for a trip, [Thanks Mike] Tight lines Charlie

Nice one Dave Glad you had a good day Charlie

Nice one Guys Great to see that the New Boat has started as well as Tara and Blue Warrior Looks like your Plan B was an excellent choice Can not wiat to get out again Charlie

Sad to see them go Mike But sitting on the larger more comfortable boat must have been compensation enough. Now get the catch reports flowing Charlie

Nice to see see is nearing completion Fred The rocket launchers look dangerous, stand by the fish Charlie

After a lot of consideration and hours of discussions we have decided on what the new boat will be called. She will be called "AlFresco" a name i came up with after a lot of lunches in the back garden throughout the building process, and I believe it to be apt for a family boat intended to be enjoyed for other uses as well as angling Charlie

Welcome Joe I hope you enjoy the banter Charlie

Hi Jason Well done mate you hung on in there for the right boat I hope you get many hours of fum over the comong season remember to take your time and let the skills develope or take experianced crew a few times before getting to carried away. If you need a few tips I woud be happy to help. Charlie

Nice report Tom very interesting I bet the Charter fleet are loving the pair trawlers. When we get the boat done perhaps we can shadow you on one of your trips Charlie

Nice one Gordon Great trip and reports If there was any way that I could work more hours on the boat this sort of thing would give me the incentive Unfortunatly both boys are very busy on school work and there are only so many hours free in a week. but we will be there soon I hope It would be interesting to know which wrecks you were trying for the early pollack, can you Pm me. Charlie

Sounds like a very busy day just the thing to start a year with, perhaps we will give the area a visit later in the year well done Kam Charlie

What do retired people do all day? Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting. Well for example, the other day I went into town and went into a shop. I was only in there for about 5 minutes, when I came out there was a cop writing out a parking ticket. I went up to him and said, "Come on man, how about giving a senior citizen a f***** break?" He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. I called him a turd. He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires. So I called him a s---head. He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first. Then he started writing a third ticket. This went on for about 20 minutes. The more I abused him, the more tickets he wrote. Personally, I didn't care. I came into town by bus. I try to have a little fun each day now that I'm retired....... It's important at my age...... For some reason Jack and mike came to mind when I read this Charlie

Yes paul yu are right they are on my system the weather has been good and I have been outside so I missed them incidently the dates on the reports are not coming through correctly on PJ's and they all appear to come through twice, but I see that you are sending them to both addresses to be sure so no problem there Keep them coming chaps Charlie

Hi Guys a nice read and some great pictures as I have not received any catch reports yet this month, please do not forget, FOM trophy and a rod this year remember. Charlie