plaicemat

I've been looking forward to this match. Shame the blasted met is'nt as enthusiastic! At the moment it looks to be a bit bumpy; hopefully things will change for the better. Terry B.

I bought a little 1 gal plastic 'dustbin' with a lid, the sort used as waste paper bins. I 3/4 fill this, add 2oz Salt-x and soak everything in it. For a hand spray bottle, I add 1/2oz salt-ex and top up with water and spray the rod fittings, rings, etc., and any parts of the boat which may be susceptible, e.g. stainless fittings, trim tabs, engine and hydraulic kit, etc. If you don't wash it off, it leaves a film which gives a degree of protection next time out. After a successful day, after washing down the inside of the boat, I also spray the deck with Phew-x which keeps down the niff of a boat interior under a cover and hot sun. Hope this helps. Terry B.

Update on my last entry. Stingray will be there with my secret weapon, Alun J. on board. Hoorah! Terry B.

Stingray will be there provided I can get crew. After yesterdays efforts, I think I will also enter the bream comp! Terry B.

Looks like being busy, I'm out as well. Terry B.

O/k, simple job. The thermostat is on the left hand (facing front) top of the cylinder block under a black cover with 3 bolts holding it. Pop it out and put it in a pan of water, bring to the boil and see if it opens. If not, it is kna**ered. If it does open, remove from hot water and see how long it takes to close. To replace it, you will also need the thermostat housing gasket as well. Both items can be obtained from Redline Outboards, Abingdon. Give them a call and ask for Mike. Terry B.

Even so, I don't think the slipways themselves and the parking has changed all that much. Terry B.

Harry, I have a manual for that engine, it being the same as mine. I'm not a million miles away from you and you're welcome to borrow it if you so desire. Terry B.

Just been looking at Google Earth and most of the slipways we use are given in great detail, e.g., Baiter, Christchurch, Mudiford, Cobbs. The launching and parking areas are clearly shown and the route to them. Additionally, the navigation channels are plainly visible. This could be quite a useful tool for describing these features to newcomers. Terry B.

I assume those are it's breeding colours! Terry B.

Or try here on ebay Navionics charts Terry B.

Gordon, like you, I predominantly use barbless hooks and don't have a problem with lost fish. I picked up the habit after fishing in Canada where it is a requirement. For worm baits, I use VMC vanadium red worm hooks from UK-Hooks. They have baitholder barbs on the shank of the hook; as a bonus, they also seem to lip hook like circles, without the difficulty of baiting. As far as I know, they are not obtainable as barbless but it is no chore to do it oneself. Barbless also make it a lot easier to recover ones hook from those pesky doggies. Terry B.

Hi, Paul. I've a feeling I may be looking for crew this summer as my friend Pete has been grasped by the caravan bug. You're welcome anytime. Give me a shout when you're free. Terry B.

Thanx, Paul, that's fixed it. Terry

I don't know about others, but I find Metcheck to be pretty random at times. Generally, I like this one uk fishing weather or this one fishing weather. They tend to be better. Mind, they can lull you into a false sense of security. Terry

Paul, just one small glitch seems to remain, I am no longer kept signed in to PBSBAC. Every time I close down the computer, I have to re-sign in. Never had this problem before and, yes, I do tick the box to stay logged in. Terry

Rich, I think you may find that it keeps telling you that it is in various files on your Temporary Internet Files. It will keep showing all of them until you 'o/k all of them. An alternative is to go to Control Panel, Internet Option, then delete your Cookies and Temp. Int. Files. This should speed up the process ( and unless you do this regularly, free up a load of memory). Terry B.

Hi, Grant. Launching from Wick (Christchurch) is easy and there is a car park on site which will cost you

My I.T. chap says it's quite an old trojan (2005) and if your virus scan is up to date, it should deal with it o/k. Just make sure you disconnect from the internet when you scan, then scan again to be sure before reconnecting. Terry B.

Bu**ers got me too. Help please. Terry B.

Well done, you were rewarded for your persistence. My son and I were not having a good time out there and our trip in was just about on the edge of safe for my boat. We did consider trying something farther in but my heart wasn't in it, being dulled by the disappointment of a full week's anticipation. We ran away home to an early bath. Waiting for the bream and bass to appear now before I venture out again. The salmon and trout will get my full attention for a while. To those to whom I am indebted, cheques are in the post! Thanks Martin for acquiring my bait. Unfortunately all but 2 were released to the wild. Terry B.

Just got back home after a very pleasant little 2 day sojourn at Chez Alan .J which included us having Thursday and Friday after the Spotties on the Shambles. Both were days of 2 halves. Thursday saw us heading out in chilly sunshine but with a kindly sea which raised the spirits and the confidence for the day ahead. We had Paul D. on Neo for company. However, by about 11.00, the wind had started to rise and the sea get lumpier. Drifting, until that time, had been perfect, 3/4 to 1 knot and using 2 - 3oz weights. But, by the afternoon, with wind assisting tide, things got a bit more difficult, even with a drag out and by 3pm, things had got decidedly uncomfortable in the force 5 -6 wind so it was decided to draw stumps. Finishing off with half a dozen drifts on the Hood, the nett result from which was 3 sets of feathers to the Hood, nil to us, we made our way back to Castletown slip. For those of you who don't know it, this is a good steepish slip, concrete onto very firm shingle, available any time of the tide and FREE. There is also free parking usually available. Leave the slip, turn right and there is the entrance in front of you, literally 3 minutes to the open sea. The day finished with Alun 4 to 1 up on me. Rats! Thursday evening saw me at my first PBSBAC meeting, the AGM no less. It was good to meet and greet the members, some of whom were already known to me, and some I met for the first time. After some frantic voting, we were left, reassuringly, with very little changed, committee wise. Hurrah, vive le staus quo. All this excitement and beer! Day two saw us, once again, launching from Castletown with a morning full of promise. This time we had Simon (britboard) for company being crewed by Paul. When we got out to the bank, there was quite a swell running which made things uncomfortable as the wind held us beam on to the waves but drifting at a perfect speed. Speaking personally, the day was blessed as I managed to make contact with the odd fish while Alun, most unusually, could not make capitalise on the bites he got. Again, the wind rose steadily to 5 - 6 until, by about 2.30, we had endured enough and ran for cover. A short drift outside the harbour entance produced the square root of bu**erall, so we returned to the slip and an early bath. Final tally? 3 - 0 to me, making the 2 days all square at 4 plaice each, which were all good fish that will add a bit of variety to our jaded palettes. Thanks to Alun and Deb for their hospitality, this is definitely a superior class of guesthouse. Also to Alun for showing me how to fish the Shambles. I would now be confident to tackle it on my own. Good luck to those trying the bank this weekend. You should note that our friends from Burnham on Sea are fishing a 2 day match there this weekend, I think launching at Castletown. we saw their vanguard out there today.

I think a bit more effort would have been appropriate, Rich. I was hoping to see that you'd caught a boatful. We will all be doing our best to keep up the good name of the club. Terry B.

Does the number start with 235. If not, it is probably not a valid MMSI number and someone has just entered a randon number to see what happens. Alternatively, they have entered the number thinking it is correct, confirmed it, and discovered an error and couldn't be ar*ed to return it. Unfortunately, once confirmed on the radio, it cannot be changed without returning to the supplier/manufacturer. If it is a MMSI number, then your recourse, I believe, will be to OFCOM. Terry B.

O/k. Trim Tabs are fitted. All I need now is somewhere to go and play to see the results. Tuesday's looking promising. Anyone coming out to play? Terry B.