got my boat

[tommy a]

Nice one mate - you will never regret getting afloat - its simply brilliant. Other good thing is that youve got a decent sized outboard - then if the weather changes just like that ( and it does I can tell you ) then you can get back in no time.

Have a wicked time and enjoy all the fun a boat can bring - I used to have a Shetland and they are well reliable and money well spent !!

Enjoy - see you on the boat forum especially starting in the spring.

Cheers Tommy

not sure on the age of the boat it looks to be in fairly good condition. i am new to boating but am learning all the time so any advice is much appreciated cheers fellas i am going to be trailering it so i can fish various areas.

[nimue4]

Baz,
One of the guys said something that may not have meant too much to you but I can back up as very good advice. Its one of my 3 unbreakable rules of boating, if you're unsure of whether to go.....DON'T. I have in the past and always regretted it.
Rule 2. Never go out without a backup power plant.
Rule 3. Never go out without starting up and putting in gear both power supplies to make sure both are working properly.
Thats all the rules cos hopefully the rest is obvious, flares, radio, lifejackets,compass. and all in date.

Having gone out breaking all these rules has at one time or another caused me grief.
An idiosynchrasy of the shetland is that if your belting along at full power and shut off the throttles the outboard well might fill with water, maybe even overfill and come into the deck, so slow down slowly.

After that dismal warning, welcome to boat fishing, its the most fun you can have. I keep my boat at Teignmouth, south devon and am looking forward to a winter of wrecking for cod and fishing the estuary on windy days for flounder. Unbeatable.
First year leaving the boat in the water all winter so ill let you how I get on.

Tommy, If you're reading this we gotta do a day after the cod out at the Boma and end up at the Galacia. Surely the divers don't go out in winter.
Gotta do it . I guess January will be a good time.
Cheers guys,
Regards, Jules.

[tommy a]

Jules / Baz,

Im reading it and yes would definentely be up for a cod trip out to the Boma and the Galacia - do you get cod off the Galacia then ? Taking our boat off the mooring tonight which is a sad end to the season - but then hoping to visit Penarth and Weston regulalrly for cod fishing. Thanks for a great summer mate - its the first time weve been out in the boat to a wreck and over to teignmouth and it was a blast.

Must make sure we meet regulalrly through next season and get them live sandeels to do the trick. Ill keep in contact - do you fancy coming out in Weston with us sometime in the winter ?

Baz - did you get the boat surveyed before you bought it ? When I got my shetland I had a full marine survey and check which I totally recommend and you may need it for insurance.

If you or anyone need the name and number of the qualified martine surveyor for the West let me know cause I have all his details. Its worth it to get the ' piece of mind ' .

Cheers

think i have sorted out my storage problem found a marina with space 24 hour security and access on the medway so getting out to the estury would be easy hopefully get out next month.

[nimue4]

Baz,
A marina setting will be great for you. Enquire into mooring fees as although they always seem high, by the time you've paid fuel and slipway charges if you trailer, i find they are cheaper. However, my parents live at Teignmouth so I get a residents mooring which is silly money......less than £100 a year!!! Hope you love the whole boating experience as much as I do, You get lots of mates!

If trailering is for you we should organise a day for you to come down to devon and go out with Tommy and me next year. Nothing is guaranteed, as Tommy will tell you, but we always catch fish of some sort.

Another thing I've found out this autumn is that even if you own a boat you can still go shore fishing which is very sociable and you meet a lot of guys from the forum and learn loads. (and laugh). I've been fishing for 42 years now but when I talked to Old Smoothound I felt like a novice, there is always so much to learn.
You do need the electronic aids on a boat these days and a bit of luck, hope you do well, post up your catches we'll all be looking....and jealous

kindest regards, Jules