Jack the Lad

Thanks to y'all, Taking your advice and chasing around the web I've decided to get two Shimano Charter Specials 2000LD at just over $100 each. You all seem to rate Shimano as good and as I'm a novice with a multiplier, I think the level wind would be a good feature for me. Cheers - Jack

Thanks guys for all the info and feedback Definitely I ought to buy with lever drag but perhaps I should have some second thoughts on manufacturer. It appears that the Abu is better for casting uptide + ok downtide. But, there are other contenders. I was going for Abu as I understood that they were the easiest to service yourself? Cheers - Jack

Hi Bob, Which model of Penn reel have you got? Is it the same size approx as Abu 7000 or if not; do you know what is the Penn model that equates to same size? Cheers - Jack

A Happy New Year to everybody and wishing y'all 'tight lines' for 2005. I'm going to buy 2 Abu 7000 reels and I'd like to know is the Lever or Star drag better? I think I've heard that some people have had probs with the Lever settings and maintenance, but not sure. Both cost about same as buying in USA ; so just want to know which is best in use. Cheers - Jack

Thanks for that info and the time you spent calculating it for me. I used the link and accessed the Shetland site which now seems OK. The layout is a bit different so they must have been working on the site when I tried in the last couple of days. Cheers -- Jack

You're 100% correct - Getting info on bouancy and double floor etc is very difficult. Shetlands own site seems to be suffering problems. I've put the following posting on the Shetland Owners site but no response so far. "I'm looking at buying a Shetland Alaska 500 year 1991. Could you please tell me were these manufactured with a bouancy cavity below the floor? If so, was this cavity filled with foam ? I know the Seahog version is basically unsinkable - does this also apply to the Shetland version ?" Does anybody reading this know the answer? If so please advise me. Cheers - Jack

Cheers and Thanks - checking it out Jack

No - but calling your boat " Sea Lance" seems good ; people seem to go quiet on the VHF Jack

Thanks for your welcomes - appreciated On my last flight back from USA a friend did shout to me down the plane " Hi Jack". There was a deathly silence - he did get his knuckles rapped by the crew and they seemed to tell me off for being called Jack - they were not amused .

Hi Coddy Thanks for info. Max budget 5k, so Ireland and other a too much money. I'll check with David Steele. Appreciate your contact ----Jack

Hi Bob, Thanks for all that info. Great that as a user that you are so well satisfied I'm looking forward to getting one. If I get the one in Soton it has a canvas cuddy/fishing hood on stainless frame; I'd be pleased to receive your info on how to convert it to folding. Thanks again - Cheers - Jack

Hi Bob, I don't think I'll get guarantees. There is one boat at Soton which I'm to look at after Xmas. The engine is a Suzuki 55TD a local mechanic there, who used to work for Suzuki before going on his own will check it over for

Hi Paul, Thats a worry - Adam obviously did all the right things and tried to take precautions, just like I'm trying to do; then that happens to him. Ouch. Do you know of a good used Alaska hull with a 'blown up' engine? Then I can perhaps afford the boat and buy a new engine? Jack

Hi Adam, Thanks for info - been checking that and other sites. Not many Alaska's for sale at moment and I've seen some horrors! So I thought somebody might know of one that's not yet actually on 'the market'. Jack

If anybody knows of an' Alaska 500 ' for sale please PM me with info Jack the Lad