Afishionado

Not having the magazine what was the scuttlebut about? Mad Mike

I wonder if gel coat could be used to seal the cut ends, or would it react with the plastic................ Isopon body filler works a treat on the end grain. Mad Mike

Yes, have a look at the range of building plastics that are available from people like 'Space Age Plastics'. There are all sorts of sections, thicknesses, strips and bars. It is very easy to work with and has a hard smooth white finish. One can glue it easily with a bood quality 'Super Glue'. Mad Mike

Well done ............ Bang it wiv un ammer is the number one cure for all mechanical problems You have now been initiated into an arcane art. May your hammer grow bigger each year brother Mad Mike

I thought the sea in the background of the Brill picture looked a tad lumpy Mad Mike

Any one want a geriatric with an odd sense of humour for a crew ...............................................................................Any one? Mad Mike

It needs to be 'drifted out' and to be honest if you are not sure of what your at it is best done by a mechanic. To a mechaanic with the right tools it is a moments work. I sugest that if you have a trailer center or a small friendly garage localy you take the wheels round to them. Better still ask if you can watch them do the job as you want to learn how to do it yourself.. Justa thought if you are coming down to Bournemouth at all, bring the wheels and I'll do it for you. Mad Mike

A good host and a great companion It's just the way you gloat when you catch bigger fish than me That and the fact that I always seem to be at the winding end of the trailer when we recover?? I haven't quite figured out how it happens. Presnolallly I think you slip into another dimension just at the right time. One minute I am all alone with this bloody great handle and about half a dozen turns later you pop up from the blunt end of the ship and tell me 'YOU'VE GOT IT CROOKED AGAIN!!'. Mad Mike

Dan for the real scoop on fishing the western Solent ask Pauls wife Helen! She catches far better fish than Paul Bugger that my next trip with Paul down the drain then Mad Mike

HI Dan and welcome, you must be desparate to join a mob like us (I'm sorry but my childish humour could not let a Desparate Dan referance go by ) Keyhaven used to be a lovely little spot, but I haven't been there for years. Is it still as charming as I remember it?? Big petrol engine?? What is it and in which craft? Mad Mike

Yes, but the wife wont let me get rid of the cat!! Mad Mike

Questions = interest/interesting which is great . I used to go fishing with a (now ex) brother in law. His total conversational spectrum was 'Yeh', 'Nah', and 'Uh!. Mad Mike'

I was told a 75-4s on my boat will do 30knots (optimum conditions), so will a 75-2s do more or less than 30? Or it isn't as simple as 1+2? Very often a advert will so, 'Just been refurbed' or 'powerhead overhauled', is it good or bad? Boy do you ask some good questions ......... OK so here goes .....75HP is 75HP but the weight of the engines may well be different and a heavier engine will absorb more of its own power to overcome its own weight. There are other factors too but to be honest it's not worth discussing them as one ends up with too much information that doesn't really matter. Basicly 4st are quiet and smooth but a bit heavier than 2st. 2st are powerfull for their size and go like stink but use more fuel per hour than a 4st. For a fast hull IMO a 2st is best, but for a semi planeing or displacement hull a 4st is ideal. The 'just overhauled' bit is IMO a bit of a risky proposition. Being a cynic I think that this means the old engine was running like a bag of snot and we've cobbled it together to sell it. However if you can see ALL the bills for the work and have the benifit of a skilled mechanics opinion then if the work has been carried out well that's great. Sometimes it is better to buy an engine very cheaply because of known faults, and then have it reconditioned by a professional yourself. This way you KNOW what's been done and you have recourse on the repair shop if it subsequently failed. Mad Mike PS when it's all together and floating you owe me a trip please

what does the compression test tell us? The burning petrol and air (explosion) in the cylinder that creates the power of the engine is dependant on several critical factors. One of which is that the mix of petro; vapour and air is highly compressed just fractions of a second before it is ignited by the sparkplug......... Each engine type from a given manufacturer has a standard 'compression rating' . For the sake of argument 125 lb per square inch at top dead center. (thats when the piston is at its highest in the cylinder.) So if one knows that a Yamaha 80 should read say 125lb/sq in on each cylinder and the one you are looking at is only reading 80lb on one and 100lb one another we can be sure that this is a well worn engine in need of work (expensive too!). The problem is that the engine would run and you would not know about the problem without the compression test. The equipment needed to test compression is simply a suitable pressure guage and plug hole connection. Any self respecting O/B mechanic will have one and know the respective pressure peramiters for most engines. As for engine types I rate Yamahas as almost bullet proof. 4 strokes are economical but less powerfull for thier weight than two strokes. Mad Mike

Wassa 'Smut' ? Thr shark was almost certainly a Basking shark. They are very common along the SW coast and appear when the water temperature rises. Hence the 'basking' in the sun bit. They are plankton feeders and slowly swim along with their mouths open filtering food through a sort of mesh infront of their gills. Suprisingly for a feeder on the smallest things in the sea, they can grow to 30ft long. They are totaly harmless, if you fell in ones mouth it has no teeth to bite with. Mad Mike

Berlooody hell that IS a big fish I'm not sure I would have the guts to get that sort of sized fish in a boat with me!! Mad (but not that mad ) Mike

Well done indeed mate D'you know I have never caught a conger of any size! In fact I've only caught one at all and that was a bootlace of about 2lb. I don't know what it is but the mighty eel has always avoided my efforts.......... Mad Mike

I read in the Echo that the free public slip next to the RNLI is to be stolen by the council and given to Ready Mix Concrete. It seems strange that all the slips in Southampton are accessable and free, Lymington, Keyhaven, Christchurch all have good well designed slips yet Poole the UK's most popular boating area has one shallow public slip leading into a shallow muddy bay. Mad Mike

Apratly the fish is great..........It's the odd looking orange bloke in the background that's the problem Mad Mike

I saw this item #(F31379) which was a big drum with a locking lid. It was in Boats and Outboards chandelry section. Now wasn't someone looking for a locking lid drum? Mad Mike

AOL is a bit of a 'big brother' outfit. They lock you in to their systems and are IMO far too invasive. And boy do they make it difficult if you want to leave. Kept on drawing on my DD even though the account had been cancelled. Only small claims court action got my money back. Mad Mike BT has to tell you how near the 200 applications they have. A friend of mine in Yorkshire found out that they only needed 30 or so more for his area and went out and canvassed and got the extra numbers required within a month.

The harbour entrance (The Haven) faces almost due east. The forcast wind is from the North West so there will be a wind over tide effect during the flood which will make that area a bit lumpy for a time. Best baits for that area are sandeels and rag. After all this stormy weather weed may well be a problem. Try the arrea close to the castle, either drift or anchor but stay clear of the frequent ferry boats. Mad Mike

I am sorry I don't know if it is Ken, Kim, or Kam so forgive me for the more familiar 'Mate'. What you experianced was a NORMAL day out. In fact there are many of us who would say you did brilliantly well. The only difference is that with a bit more experiance you will come to EXPECT these events to happen and you will cope with them automaticly without thought Fishing wise be advised that I don't think there is a club record for 'caught' crab so I would claim it straight away Jokes apart I think you did great for a first launch. You had prob's but stayed calm and sorted them out........ WAY TO GO!!!!. Well done mate. Mad Mike

Wot 50 LSD's in one session?

Well done Helen Never mind Paul How did the boat go with the new prop? Mad Mike