Afishionado

btw, I know a good divorce lawyer You bitch!!!

I've just bought another boat. It's a 17ft Stuart Stevens in need of one heck of a lot of work and eventually an engine. I see it as a long term project and will still use Afishionado this year. The boat is on a reasonable galvanised trailer and the whole lot cost me ..........

I'll stand aside 'cos I really have got loads to do in the house and on the boat. It was just that I haven't been out at all this year and the weather was so tempting. If in the end you do need extra company please get back to me, but I wouldn't want to take up space that someone else can use when I so much to do here. Mike

I wouldn't mind if I can get a day release from the warden. I shall make her a cuppa tea in the morning and cook summat nice for lunch then whine untill she says yes. Can I let you know tomorrow, that is unless you get more volanteers before then. Mike

We are going to Cuba in October, so ther is plenty of time to learn. Your offer is brilliant and I should be able to fit into any timing that suits you. MOst things I've learnt I have taught myself, but there are a few basic 'starter' questions like ...... When one is told one needs a #6 or a #7 weight rod what does this mean in the terms of the rod? Ditto reel and line Mike

If you're going to sea in a small boat I'd get a VHF radio and worry about the license later... no ones going to want to check your paperwork before responding to a Mayday call!!!! Don't worry, I'm pretty safe where I'm sitting, cos the boat is on the drive and won't be anywhere near the water till I learn to launch and retrieve first A man who is destined for greatness in the world of small boats He has already grasped one of the essentials that so many miss. learning to launch and recover is a good idea. However if everyone were to do this, just think of all the fun we would miss. Jack flash and his bimbo *arting about trying to get a 16ft speed boat with a 200hp engine onto a 13ft trailer with no winch. Or mum dad and 14 kids with a 25ft Thames cruiser behind a Fiesta slowly pulling the Fiesta backwards ever deeper into the mud at the side of the slip. I am certain that if it hasn't already been offered you will find plenty here that will come with help and advice when your ready to launch. (put me down for a start). Mike

I.ve done this too, but I found the dustbindragging through the water slowed the boat somewhat. Mike

Quote........ Also 3 x today. It ONLY happens when at idle when she has been running for about 5 minutes and not moving - on it comes. I totaly agree that a pressured cold supply via muffs that are mains fed can mislead one into thinking one impellor is fine. Being a cynical old sceptic I wonder if #1 the impellor was really changed irrespective of what you were 'told'?, #2 If so was the housing they sit in changed at the same time?. The asymetric housing is either made from a metal casting with a hardened interior or plastic with a metal insert. If either of these are badly worn it can cause a big drop in water pressure feed to the cooling system AT SLOW SPEED. When the engine is running faster the higher rev' of the impellor makes up for the loss in pressure. All in all I would bet a pongy kipper to a quid that it is an impellor fault that is causing the problem. Mike PS if you go back to the dealer it is important to say that you paid to have the fault of the warning light coming on at low speed cured. NOT just to have the impellor changed. The fact that he says he changed the impellor is immaterial. You asked for the CAUSE OF THE LIGHT COMING ON TO BE CURED. Which obviously it hasn't. Therefore it's still up to the dealer to supply what you asked him to do and that should be taken into consideration if they wish to make further charges.

quote......Im happy to give you a few pointers when i bring my Aux over if you like? Nice one indeed, thanks and just name the day.......... Mike

Quote........Most outboards have a pump arrangement, maybe worth an email to the engine manufacture to see what the maximum lifting capacity it has. What a bloody good idea. So good infact I shall claim it was mine in the first place Thank you, it's obvious now you've said it but it never occured to me! Mike

Lets haul this up the flagstaff and see how the cookie crumbles (Am I talking like an advertising man yet?) I don't know if people like Shimano etc would pay for us having their logo on our boats, or for that matter if all the members would want that. But if our 'Fleet' were all to show the logo of a particular sponsor I think we might get a little sponsorship money. What is needed is a portfolio of what we can do for a sponsor. The more visability and press coverage we can offer the more chance of sponsorship money we stand. These things are best treated in a wholistic way. One should be able to show a presence in all media, not just the web. Local and national news papers or specialist magazines, radio, TV even. The more lively and outgoing the presence of the organization is the more likely it is to attract sponsorship. Writers of editorial material for media use are usually delighted when someone makes their job easy by putting a ready made neat little 1000 word story on a plate infront of them. They probably wont use it immediatly, but they will keep it for one of their 'rainy days'. Therefore one needs to address all media frequently to ensure a ready quantity of 'hits' on someone, somewheres off day. In other words being a press officer aint easy. Mike

Oh! Do I detect a touch of bitchyness? My fishing buddy went to the Northern part and was told the best fishing was in the South of the Island all year round. The North gets good in their summer months. Just my two cents worth Codfather Oh no, no bitchiness at all. We are going to the northern bit 'cos thats where the holiday 'deal' was....... (Thos Cook on Sky, 2 weeks all inclusive drinks and all, flights and tax's

It's in the 'Alladins cave' bit, Click on sales then click on miscellanious and they are at the bottom of the list................. Corsomepeopleyouhavetotake'embythebloody'andan'lead'emeverywhererasslefrasslemuttermutter. Mike

Crayside Marine have got som second hand warrior seats........ http://www.craysidemarine.co.uk/ Mike

Strewth, it looked like the insides of R2 D2. Thanks for the thought but I don't think it is what I want. Mike

It's not a Quicksilver one but it might do the do for you http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...item=2474276759 Mike

Roger Bayzand is the person to chat too. Why is that? I would love some authentic advice. We are going to Cayo Guillermo which is on the north coast sorta facing the Bahamas channel. Mike

Describe a spiral stair case whilst sitting on both hands....... That's pitch. The more turns round you go to get up, the finer (low number) is the pitch. But it's all academic really 'cos unless you want to go racing or skiing then the manufacturers recomended prop will serve. If after a few trips you feel your engine is reving a bit high (technical term Screaming it's guts out) you could get your prop re pitched to be a bit coarser (higher number) useing the scale 1" of pitch = 100 rpm. The opposite is also aplicable if you think your engine is plodding and not getting full revs then a reduction in pitch would help to raise the revs. However aly' props should only be re pitched 2" either side of what they were manufactured at. So if you take your prop in and say "Take this down in pitch 2" my good man" , but some begger has done that already before you bought it youm stuffed as they say here abouts Mike

SEE NOW LOOK AT WOT YOU DUN!!!!! Mike

Any one with experiance of Cuba? I'm off there in October. Mike

The answer is simple Yes it makes it faster/No it doesn't ........ Same answerers for economy. Right now the silly stuff is over (but both answers totaly correct) I'll try and explain. First off an O/B does not have a 1/2/3/4 gear box it just has one fixed ratio. Second the efficient running (fuel economy/speed of PROPELLER in rev's) is in a very narrow rev band. Usually this is between 4800 and 5200 rpm on a two stroke. These are fixed perameters, in other words one can't change up or down a gear like a car. Now imagine a very heavy boat with a poor hull shape that only just planes and has to have a big powerful engine to shift it. A coarse pitch (big number of inches) tries to grab big chunks of water and push them back BUT it cant 'cos the boat wont move through the water fast enough to START with so the engine cant rev' high enough to develop it's full potential and is very uneconomical at say 2500rpm struggling like mad. OK says the owner what we need is a much finer pitch (small number in inches) and goes and puts on a super fine pitched propeller. The engine now rev's it's little heart out at 5800 rpm whilst the prop slices super fine shreds of water and sends them out in a shower behind the boat. Because there is so little water being moved in relation to the engine rev's the boat is constantly at full throttle to produce far less than it's best speed. In essence the two scenarios have the same result .....The boat does not go as fast as it should and is uneconomical. The answer is that the boat, the engine and the prop ALL have to match each other. The hull shape (displacement/shallow V, deep V, Cathederal etc) The engine (HP, 2 or 4 stroke, most efficient rev range) The use (Racing one up, skiing, three blokes and fishing tackle. long distance cruising etc) Will all mean different props are needed. AND we haven't even started to talk about fluid dynamics and cavitation (don't even go there ) yet My advice is to talk to a supplier of your sort of engine, tell him what sort of use you'll be putting the boat to and get his recommendation. There is NO 'ONE' ideal prop for you or anyone really, we all use the best compromise. Unless of course there's someone out there who is very rich and daft who has a selection of props and cahnges to suit the day Mike PS if you still want to know more just come back and I'll try my best to explain

Justa thought. the guys that write the fishing features columns in newspapers are often too busy to do more that list club results. If you copied them the information not only does it stand a high chance of being published but they would be greatfull for some ready made 'instant' copy. It could greatly enhance the clubs profile if you want that to happen. Mike

That's what I think too Bob, but if you don't have any mechaical 'bent' it can seem a bit daunting. Some squirts of a good carb cleaner airosol and a bit of black magic and she'll be right. Mike

Very professional and an excelent idea. With photo's too it would look realy good. I know that I'm drawn to explore the 'good looking' sites on the web, more so than the mundane ones. Mind I'm not saying ours is mundane at all but you know what I mean. Mike PS Any thoughts on a 'page 3'.........?

I can check all the obvious things, fuel, spark etc. If its as you say I think we could get it going. My place or yours? Mine would be best 'cos I've got all my tools here. Give me a phone call I'm in most of this week, or email direct. mrv@mharvey31.freeserve.co.uk Mike