AHoy

Not being a "competition" type (rubbish angler and boat mostly out of club waters at present) I will not be entering the competition, however, some pertinent points raised by Mike. On joining the club I was surprised to learn that the fishing area extended across to France and felt this was a bit at odds with a "local" fishing club for "small" boats. On consideration it does provide a finite southern limit which avoids any "misunderstanding" over mileage offshore or latitude definitions, also to date it does not seem to have provided any significant competition benefit or safety issues. Should this change then some classification/division of catch area and boat may be necessary. For the record, I have only fished the C.I.s once and with more dismal results than usual. Perhaps a club night "session" covering fishing areas v. expected catch v. boat/skipper capability. BTW I assume the club definition of a small boat has not changed, otherwise what little I do catch from my boat will not qualify: 3.0 Definition 3.1 For the purpose of P.B.S.B.A.C. a small boat shall not exceed 35 foot in length. Alan.

I assume this means that just leisure/casual fishing off of any boat over 12m whilst cruising within 6Nm of the shore is forbidden. Not many skippers are going to know that. Not been very well publicised.

Sounds like you are suggesting a piles party Mike

Thanks for the suggestions. Have had a look around for second-hand suits but nothing my size, also been doing a lot of research so I have a better idea of what I want v. what I can use the types of suit for. I am doing some safety boat RIB training during February so have opted to go for a new suit from Ravenspring. They can meet the delivery date, have a good reputation and are close enough for support in case of problems/repairs. Made-to-measure price similar to many off-the -peg prices from normal outlets as well.

I need to obtain a dry suit that is suitable for RIB use (safety boat duty) and also for the occasional swim around/under the boat if required. Might even consider doing a bit of shallow diving later (with retraining!). Not wishing to spend a fortune for this limited use but would like to get as comfortable, durable and presentable (?) as possible. Any recommendations? Seems as if I am unlikely to get one suit for both uses. Any recommended shops or suppliers within the area I should try? Might also stand a better chance of catching some fish if I can dive and see them first Alan.

Sympathise with you, we have had a similar threat near us and were discussing the proposed site you mention over the weekend. Will see if we can add our comments. Alan.

All sorted now, it was a loose shaft anode. Excellent service from Sea Start who arranged for a diver to investigate/fix problem. Need to rethink the anode set up now, will probably fit a hull anode as I have never been keen on shaft anodes. Exhaust hose and batteries also replaced - will have to be a cheapo holiday now! Thanks for the advice/offers of help. Alan.

Charlie, Will give you a call. Thanks. Alan.

Thanks for the suggestions Mike. May be able to get a lift-and-hold at Davis's, will get a price off them. Don't think Cobbs allow drying out on the slip but worth asking anyway - interesting place to get neaped . An alternative is to sail to Cowes Sealift, but I would want to have a better idea of the problem first, hence camera quest. Alan. Edit: I thought the Yacht Clubs were members only for maintenance work but can give them a call as well.

While doing some maintenance on the boat yesterday I noticed when turning the prop shaft by hand that there was a scraping sound occurring over about a third of the shaft revolution (in either direction). Seems like I either have something fouling the prop or shaft or the shaft anode has slipped and is contacting the P-bracket. Can't get a lift at Cobbs Quay for best part of two weeks as no boat hoist operators available (one on hols, one sick)! I'm reluctant to move the boat far under power until I know what the problem is, so trying to scrounge an underwater camera and have a look first. Seems like a diver might be necessary to do a fix, but marina regs stipulate a commercial dive team, no freelancers. Any suggestions and idea of cost - or alternative boat hoist? Good boaty timing as always, planning a week away with the boat next week, and so far there is the prop issue, found the exhaust hose is cracking and needs replacing plus the service batteries have died! Alan.

Timely reminder Bob All set to go on my side, just need to get to the club meeting at a sensible time this month!

Hi Steve, I have been on a work trip abroad and not had much in the way of internet connection so a I am a bit late with a response. If it is of any use to you, my MF805 (fitted with the Nanni engine which is reported to be a bit more frugal than the Volvo option) used to use between 25 to 30 litres/hr at a 17 knot cruise speed. In some reasonably heavy conditions with speed down to 8 knots or so consumption was well below this level (haven't got figures to hand at the moment). The worst figures were on a trip to Cherbourg at the end of last year when consumption rose to about 35 lph due to a "washing machine" sea state and a dirty prop. Makes the 230l tank a bit of a concern - thought I would be needing to refuel at sea at one stage. Well done on bringing the boat around. They are excellent all round boats in my opinion. Alan.

I will second the value of radar for the ability to see in the murk/dark and further than with the naked eye in reasonable vis. As well as ship target plotting the other big benefit is for general navigation i.e. distance off, radar fixes etc.. I haven't had a chance to evaluate the "leisure market" CW radars, but have been doing some background reading due to professional interest. It would appear that medium to long(er) range performance may be an issue, so if possible get a real seagoing demo with a bit of a sea running (to check clutter performance) and check out some identifiable targets at longer range, say 4 to 6 miles. The claimed power savings are partly due to the use of new technology in general and would also apply to pulse radar. AHoy.

Finally managed to get the boat from Brixham to Poole after being frustrated by the weather since December. There was a combined weather/work/family window, my son offered to crew, so the trip was on for the 19th & 20th February. 19th Feb 04:00, up and about, breakfasted, flasks filled and on deck to -2C, ice on the decks and pontoon but a nice clear starlit night but no moon. Finally cast off and underway for 05:30, motoring cautiously out to the main channel - strange noise, smell of ciggy smoke and an unlit fishing boat chugs at us from the port quarter then turns off into the moorings. An unwanted distraction in a strange harbour at night. Soon out into open water, wind of bu**er all astern (despite 15 knot forecast) but on our way. Later greeted by this sight Which turned into one of those superb sunrise at sea mornings After a couple of hours sailing and a lot more of motor-sailing we passed Portland Bill (offshore to catch the last of the East going tide and favourable flow East of the Shambles) Then into Weymouth for late afternoon arrival and a stop-over Had a good run ashore in the evening and a decent nights sleep, awoke to another morning of ice on the decks and pontoon, plus an absence of the forecast wind. Maybe some additional fuel for the engine would be prudent, so some hasty chasing around for some diesel (thanks to the HM and Andy with his bowser) and away for 08:30 into another beautiful morning albeit with an oily calm over a long swell. Another few hours of mainly motor-sailing due to light and/or variable winds saw us into Poole and Navy Blues' new home berth. The weather decided to welcome us with a change from the dry mainly sunny variant experienced so far and delivered a "wintry shower" (understatement!) to round off the trip. This shot was taken while waiting for the 14:30 bridge lift, and who should come alongside in the queue but Lady Christine, with the skipper flaunting the creature comforts on board by indicating he was nice and toasty warm - even with the cabin door open! Bet you didn't see through my disguise Dave. We had to sweep the decks clear of ice and snow before we could safely put the lines and fenders out. Finally refueled and moored up at Cobbs, noting that I needed more practice at helming into the new berth - well it was almost ok. Alan. PS. Didn't bother putting a line over the side

Hi Adam, If the log book is still available I could put it to use on my slightly slower raggie. I will make an RNLI donation in exchange. Not sure if I can get to the next meeting due to work location but will ask Rich Stephens to collect for me if not (assuming he doesn't mind ) Alan.

Thanks all for the comments. As sailing wind is either too much, too little or in the wrong direction just give me the nod on what you need and I will plan a passage to suit. Fee applies for competition days though. I am considering doing the Alderney trip, four days should just about allow me a couple of hours on the Banks . Mind you, on past record I may not be the slowest boat on the return trip . With any luck the Merry Fisher will sell fairly soon, but maybe not before I get a couple of trips out for the winter cod.

Hi Dave, In my case the fishing anchor has a buoy permanently attached to the bitter end and is run so that the whole caboodle can be just dumped over the side once released from the bow cleat and a cockpit cleat (bitter end). Better if possible to feed the line overboard while making a getaway to avoid warp and prop mixing it, but not an option if (suddenly) single-handed. The main anchor does not have a buoy permanently attached because, the same as your arrangement, the bitter end has to pass through the windlass feed from the chain locker. The MF805 differs from your boat in that the anchor/chain locker is accessed from the deck and from there I can cut/untie the bitter end of the warp and release the windlass clutch. This allows the whole rode to pass through the windlass and away once I release the anchor load from the cleat in the anchor locker (the load is not held by the windlass when anchored). Note that there is nothing on the rode that will not go through the windlass. If there is time I can add the buoy (aka large fender) by pulling the unused rode through the windlass once the clutch has been released, attach the buoy, then let everything go. If not done in a controlled manner fingers should be counted after this sort of event! In your case it seems a trip below decks is necessary to free the bitter end first. You also need to replace the "blocking" chain link with a tie-on quick release or cuttable termination. Alternatively it has to be a firemans axe or bolt croppers to hand . Edit: the bow roller must be just that, a roller without top bars otherwise the buoy is not going to squeeeeze through, alternatively you have to tie the buoy on forward of the roller before letting go. Alan.

I take the approach that the boat has to have a minimum of two anchors, one is the main anchor the other is the fishing/kedge anchor. The "fishing" anchor/rode is a compromise between ease of handling (for relatively frequent moves) and holding capability in deep (30m plus) tidal water. For this I use a Bruce clone anchor, rigged to trip, plus 10m of 8mm chain and 110m of 12mm nylon warp, deployed from the cockpit and made off to a bow cleat, recovered using the Alderney Ring method. I deploy it with the boat stationary or drifting slowly astern, lower it by hand until on the sea bed then drifting astern paying out warp to three times depth and motor astern to set it. Apart from a couple of instances in three years it has always set first time and held. This anchor doubles as my cruising kedge anchor and deep water emergency anchor, with it re-rigged not to trip. The "main" anchor is just that, intended to securely anchor the boat for whatever length of time, maybe in unfavourable conditions and possibly without crew on anchor watch. It is also the emergency brake and as such is always rigged at the bow roller ready to deploy (scenario - engine failure with tide carrying the boat onto the Poole chain ferry ). This anchor is never rigged to trip but may be set with a tripping buoy if the sea bed is likely to foul it. For this I have a premium quality anchor (no cheap clones), last boat had a Delta, current one has a Brittany, along with all chain rode at 4 times depth for the expected max anchoring depth plus spliced on warp for extra scope or depth. In my case it is handled by an electric anchor windlass to save my delicate hands and dodgy back . This set-up is too expensive to risk deploying on a foul sea bed for fishing. Edit: forgot to mention that both anchors with rode can be dumped overboard by releasing the bitter end (with anchor buoy attached for recovery) in the event of needing a quick getaway e.g. collision risk or MOB. Alan.

After a lengthy time studying the boat market and working out what I really want I now have a different boat. Or to be precise, I currently have two boats as I still have my MF805 until it is sold. I am following the Mike Fox style of slowly does it "stealth boat" angling with a "rag and stick" powered boat (well, we don't seem to be short of wind these days so I might as well take advantage of it). I don't see much prospect of using my uptider on a yacht but hopefully everything else I have learned whilst a member of the club will be applicable - perhaps not Alderney Ring method anchor retrieval though! The new boat is currently berthed outside of club waters (South West) but I hope to bring it to Poole soon, given a suitable weather window. So if you pass a yacht by the name of "Navy Blues" please give the raggie aboard a wave and directions to the (near by) fish . Alan.

MF805 for sale - part exchange with smaller/day angling boat possible. Following a "slight " change of boat owning plan I would seriously consider taking a day fishing boat of the Orkney/Warrior type as a part exchange on my Merry Fisher 805. Ideally it would be a package of boat/trailer/engine and equipment as a ready-to-go day fishing boat. AHoy.

My Merry Fisher 805 "Marsel 2" is for sale. I am going into a "boat share" arrangement with my son in order to obtain a boat that can cruise with three generations aboard (as well as do fishing trips . ). The MF805 is a good family/fishing boat but short of a third sleeping area (no volunteers for kipping in the cockpit or on the roof sun-pad), so we are going to move up in size and share the costs/effort. Boat info. Jeanneau Merry Fisher 805 2004 model year, commissioned Nov. 2003 Cruising speed 16 knots (@ 25 l/hr), WOT 21 knots Engine: Nanni 4.390 TDI 200HP, approx 260 hours run Prop protector and rope cutter fitted engine/gearbox serviced March 2009 (full service history) 4 berths in 2 cabins plus heads/shower SSR registration Usual Jeanneau trim plus "extras pack" viz. hot water system, electric anchor windlass, shore power system and battery charger Eberspacher cabin heating (new March 2009) Furuno 1623 radar (new 2007) Furuno chart plotter/fish-finder Standard Horizon VHF/DSC radio (new 2007) Hull cleaned, polished, anti-fouled, new anodes in June 2009. Last survey Sept. 2007 Afloat Poole. Price: competitive for quick private sale If you know of anyone interested please post here or PM me for contact info and more boat details.

I plan to go out from Poole (Cobbs) this Friday on Marsel 2, late-morning to early evening. Won't be going too far out as the boat is due a bottom scrub so dragging some weed around and down on speed. Will listen out on CH.6 for others out and about. Short notice but if anyone wants a trip out give me a call on "zero7818418218" before 11pm or after 6:30 am. Alan.

The change to the bridge opening time is due to the summer Ro-Ro service arrival times. Quote from PHC "The Ferries will now be arriving at 12.15 and 12.45 so the 12.30 bridge lift is going to get in the way of 250 cars getting off the ferry". The initial proposal was to change to an 11:30 lift but 12:00 was agreed as a compromise (following discussions with interested parties). If they are that concerned about timing perhaps they will buy the bridge operator a new clock to get over the normal ten minutes or so delay on opening times. Alan.

Just checked a couple of forecasts myself - looking good for the complete weekend Unfortunately I definitely have to work on Friday, so considering my options on a shorter visit v. saving fuel/pennies/brownie-points for a later trip. Alan.

A change of plan for me today so I won't be able to make the meeting tonight. The possibility of me making the trip is still 50:50 (can't confirm until next week) so I will stay out of any buddy boat arrangements for the channel crossings at the moment. If the trip is on for me then I will check departure plans on here to see if anyone wants company. Alan.