Afishionado

Oh very clever Mad Mike

Paul D said........Actually, why am I telling you this Mike, it was you who stated sometime back that a 2 stroke was the way to go and you were correct IMHO, so I was suprised you were asking about a Mercury 4 stroke. You're dead right Paul! The reason I am asking opin's on the 4 stroke Merc' is that it is the engine offered with the package. I do have resevations partic' over servicing and the costs involved. I was in fact hoping that there would be enthusiastic reports on the Mercury 4s to put my mind at rest. I am now thinking seriously about getting back to Oceanique and asking them to quote on an Etec instead. Mad Mike

I reckoned it had been chewed by a mouse, Y'see Mike leaving the rods there was a bit of a ........Mouse Steak Mad Mike

I understand that the 640 is rated for a 100hp for 2007, rather than the 115 hp they rated it in 2006...? In the loose term of 'average use' what was your fuel consumption in gallons per hour run? Did you feel that you had an 'unlucky' 640 Mark ? What were tha problem areas on your boat? Mad Mike PS what goes around comes around... The life jackets I had off you will now end up back on a 640 Small world

Was it raining? Mad Mike

Message from my Carol........... Tell them dirty minded bl00dy letchers that any comments about the bird in the back and her goodself would result in a blood fude that might take generations to resolve. And what's more she knows she could count on the support of the PBSBAC Wives to exact revenge!!! I would particularly like any feedback about the Mercury 100hp 4 stroke and the 4 strokes of this size in general. I know they are quieter than 2stk any way but it the fuel consumption that interests me, just how much better is it? Mad Mike

I can't believe I am doing this but it looks like we have settled on the Quicksilver 640 coupled with a new Mercury/Mariner 100hp 4 stroke and a nice (expensive ) berth at Cobbs. I can't remember if anyone in the club owns a Quicksilver whether it's a 640 or not but I would welcome any comments on them. Also the same goes for the Mercury 100hp 4st as an engine, particularly any ideas of fuel consumption at normal cruising speeds. Mark and I looked at all the 'Wheelhouse' type boats and felt that the Quicksilver was the one for us. We particularly liked the deck space which is up to twice that of similarly sized boats. Mad Mike (certifiabley so now according to the dear lady wife! )

string of events like this culminating in serious problem is known as the incident pit. According to my grandson in the Royal Tank reg' these things are known to them as a 'Cluster *uck' Mad Mike

And they have a very effcient mail order sevice. Also get their catalogue sent to you as it is a splendid ready reference to all things towing. Mad Mike

In fact you can turn the tables on HR very nicely as they have transgressed the ADA by sugesting that 'fit and healthy' might infer that the job was only suitable for younger people. Surely by that analogy they are sugesting that THEY think that it is not possible to be fit and health when over a certain age. Fire the lot of them and get an old bloke like me who can think things through Mad Mike

You could do a Club Act and nail your tongue to the tables or walls ROTFLMAO!!! Mad Mike

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR. All I wanted to say was "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"..... So, I ran it past my solicitor on the grounds that I don't want to upset anybody in these politically correct times, (one has to cover one's arse) and this is what she came up with. From me ("the wishor") to you ("the wishee"): Please accept without obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the summer solstice holiday, practised within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We wish you a financially successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but with due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures or sects, and having regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or sexual preference of the wishee. By accepting this greeting you are bound by these terms that:- * This greeting is subject to further clarification or withdrawal. * This greeting is freely transferable provided that no alteration shall be made to the original greeting and that the proprietary rights of the wishor are acknowledged. This greeting implies no promise by the wishor to actually implement any of the wishes. This greeting may not be enforceable in certain jurisdictions and/or the restrictions herein may not be binding upon certain wishees in certain jurisdictions and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wishor. This greeting is warranted to perform as reasonably may be expected within the usual application of good tidings, for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first. The wishor warrants this greeting only for the limited replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wishor. Any references in this greeting to "the Lord", "Father Christmas", "Our Saviour", "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer" or any other festive figures, whether actual or fictitious, dead or alive, shall not imply any endorsement by or from them in respect of this greeting, and all proprietary rights in any referenced third party names and images are hereby acknowledged. This greeting is made under English Law Mad Mike

I am pleased to say that the ulcer I had surgically removed from my tongue has turned out to be totaly benign. Look you can see However the large hole left in my tongue is bloody sore and will take a few weeks to heal Carol, the Dear Lady Wife, is delighted as I can not argue with her at the moment Mad Mike

http://www.towsure.com/ They have a big branch in Southampton I have some little devices fitted to my trailer wheels. Each one has a grease resevoir held in a spring loaded can so that there is always posative pressure pushing grease into the bearing. I think they are called 'bearing buddies' Mad Mike

HAPPY CRIMBO TO YOU ALL MAD MIKE

No sour grapes, but on the same basis shouldn't there also be pressure brought to reduce the cost of petrol used in private pleasure boats? Mad Mike

weak rings might need changing. Seagulls suffer from a unique problem of cylinder glazing. Due to the high oil/petrol usage and in times past the use of ordinary motor oil. The cure is to lift the cylinder head (or complete dis-assembly on the old 102 domed headed ones) and with the piston in it's lowest position giving the exposed cylinder walls a real going over with 'coarse' wet and dry wetted with paraffin untill all the brown glazing has gone. DO NOT DE-COKE the piston top all over leave a band of about 1/4" around the edge. Flush out with paraffin and an air line if pos' and re assemble with a new head gasket. Mad Mike

I've got a problem with the planned date, as I'm meant to be doing rescue RIB duty at the local club, even though I'd rather be checking out the 585. if I can change it I will. Tom, me too I am afraid. I have to go into The Harbour Hospital Poole for a very urgent operation on Tuesday next, and I only found out today after seeing the consultant. So may I offer the same sentiment as Paul and give up my place to another club member. All being well (I hope) I should still like to have a look at the boat after the new year. Mad Mike

The mix ratio is perfectly correct as given by Seagull back in the dark ages. But Kam does have a very good point in as much as the origional ratio was for the use of standard SAE 30 motor oil of the 1950's. These days with far far better specific two stroke oils available, considerably less 'MARINE TWO STROKE' oil would be appropriate. Try http://www.seagullparts.co.uk/ for information Mad Mike

He'd look bloody stupid in that top! Mad Mike

the end of an era is nigh Nigh? C'mon your horsing around You've sold Maverick and bought a Thai wife? I can feel a winter competion coming on OK lads WHAT HAS MARTIN DONE? Silly answers only please. Mad Mike Bought two Thai wives and put one on E-bay?

Hi Mike What's wrong with Fred from Biggleswade? I used to live very near there and towing a boat 100+ miiles to the sea at some early hour, ANY fish is welcomed after that trip and back home. Coddy ps Love you really Yeah yeah But the point I am making is that 3 or 4 pages of phisog's with fish is a bore to me. I would buy a magazine to READ interesting and informative articles. I don't want to pay

Possibly the impecunious editor might stop to think that the memory of poor value stays longer in the mind than what the customer expects as normal. Therefore two or three issuses of the type that we were complaining about will colour the judgement for a long time. I still say that not ony BFM, but the other magazines as well have lost their way in giving the angler what he wants. Which is IMO a lot more editorial about fishing and techniques in the UK and far less pictures of Fred Sportsman from Biggleswade holding up a dead fish that he caught last week. The last sea fishing mag' I glanced through had an artical about bagging up on LSD to win competitions!! The catches photographed were smaller than the rag worm they used, this isn't fishing.....Or is it? Mad Mike

Sam.. It's Not Known who put K in Know but it's there Now you Know So Know without a K is a no no you Know. Mad Mike

I seem to remember that last year I said the same thing as you are saying now. I thought the magazine was a rip off at it's price, too full of unchanging adverts for tackle curiously priced at the same price as the sellers competitors, a scarcity of articals that had any relationship to the fishing I do, and full of articals that had allowed the editorial team to have a jolly somewhere nice. The same is true of most fishing prog's on the TV. The star fishing on his own in a 30 ft charter boat with several chest freezers full of bait and the most up to date expensive tackle. The only exception to this is Henry Gilby who's programs always reflect real fishermens fishing. Mike