new to boating

[tony marshall]

hi i am just luanching my first boat very soon it is a 18ft modified sunseeker with a 65hp outboard which we have stripped out to make it into a fisher i will be going out from woolston southampton.is there any marks in short range i could try,also what length anchor rope would i need in the solent for this boat,like i say 1st boat so i know nothing about boating,i have fished for years boat/beach so fishing side we are ok any tipps would be appreciated any local clubs in the area where we could learn from would be great.

[Lookfar]

Hi Tony,
I'd guess you've already given safety some thought, but its worth banging on about it anyway. Boats are potentially lethal, do everything you can to pre-empt any problems. Lifejackets for everyone, flares and a VHF radio are a minimum requirement. Sufficient fuel for your journey plus an extra third - bad weather, mechanical problems etc can eat into your margins. Back-up means of propulsion, let someone know where you are going and when you are back, learn the rules of the road (S'oton Water is very busy and you do not want to get under the feet of a tanker) and buy and study a chart. It isn't at all wise to run at speed down a stretch of water unless you know for sure you've safe depth, for example.
Can't advise on marks in the area as I fish mainly offshore out of Langstone but to anchor, you want to carry at least 3x as much warp as the deepest place you'd want to park up. That's probably about 80ft max within the Solent (?) but round the back of the Island on the cod grounds up to 150ft or more. In a big run of tide, it might take nearer 5x depth. You also want around the boats own length in 6-8mm galvanised chain. Anchor patterns depend on the type of ground you usually anchor but if you intend to use her mainly for fishing, that means reef at times so I'd look towards either claw, Bruce or traditional fishermans types.
I could bang on for pages. Easiest way forward is your own suggestion of finding a local club, or have a look at Neville Merritt's site at boat-angling.co.uk. His book is highly recommended and I think he still has a few left.

Steve

[tony marshall]

Thankyou i appreciate your reply . Saftey wise i will take your comments on board i have flares jackets and radio (hand held) fuel i have two tanks secondary engine i am looking for would a seagull 40 be ok as one is available locally.as for anchor rope i take 100mtr should do it i have a claw anchor .i will not be venturing around the back of the island just yet.i know i have a lot to learn is one of the corses available ie power boat course any good.

[Lookfar]

Originally Posted by tony marshall

Thankyou i appreciate your reply . Saftey wise i will take your comments on board i have flares jackets and radio (hand held) fuel i have two tanks secondary engine i am looking for would a seagull 40 be ok as one is available locally.as for anchor rope i take 100mtr should do it i have a claw anchor .i will not be venturing around the back of the island just yet.i know i have a lot to learn is one of the corses available ie power boat course any good.

Hi Tony,
RYA II is highly regarded for general boat handling. 100m warp is fine. Anchor recovery is a sensitive issue. Most folk use the Alderney Buoy method but it is potentially very hazardous - don't try it from a book, get someone to talk you through it, or just use brute force and haul by hand. You'll also need to trip the anchor, cable ties are usually used. Unless you are going to beach launch, getting the prop around the anchor warp and going stern-on to the tide is probably the most likely way a small boat founders. Never, ever tie off at the stern.
Seagulls are apparently bombproof but a touch cranky. A 4-8hp will get you home, albeit very slowly and only with or across the tide. Carrying anything much bigger frankly isn't practical for many folks.
Weather! I use ecmf.int for medium range stuff and then windguru for the week to come and met office inshore forecast the night before. Working rule would be force 3 is OK, 4 is uncomfortable and anything with a 5 in it is a definite no. That's my limits on my boat, other peoples stomachs and boats may cope with more (or less) rough stuff. Within the Solent the wind direction comes into play as you can get shelter from the land. Sitting within half a mile of a lee shore will let you fish much higher wind speeds but be damn sure there's no chance it will swing round on you and be aware that you may have to cross open water to get home. Tides affect things as well. Offshore the flood moves east and the ebb west, maybe one of the Solent guys can advise on what S'oton Water does but if you get down into the Solent proper then tide direction is going to affect wave action as well. Wind and tide in the same direction flattens the waves, wind against tide pushes up a sharp chop. As a working rule, if you are being chucked around wind with tide you do NOT want to be there when the tide changes. Wind across tide means waves on the quarter and that horrible corkscrewing motion

Steve

[tony marshall]

Ouch i think a course is a deffinate most of what you said has gone over my head.as i said all my fishing has been with charter boats .for now i think ill put the boat in a puddle it seems safer.thanks for the reply.

[Lookfar]

Originally Posted by tony marshall

Ouch i think a course is a deffinate most of what you said has gone over my head.as i said all my fishing has been with charter boats .for now i think ill put the boat in a puddle it seems safer.thanks for the reply.

No worries Tony, this is all stuff that you'll pick up along the way. It rapidly becomes second nature, no different to knowing where you are going and where the roadworks are on a car trip.
Mail me on s.marley@imperial.ac.uk if you want, rather than subject the rest of the forum to more of me droning on.

Steve

[tony marshall]

Found a course this weekend duck2water in southampton waiting for them to ring back.thanks

[TerryW]

Originally Posted by tony marshall

Ouch i think a course is a deffinate most of what you said has gone over my head.as i said all my fishing has been with charter boats .for now i think ill put the boat in a puddle it seems safer.thanks for the reply.

Hi Tony,

I was new to fishing the solent about a year ago. I've owned boats a while and learnt the hard way about safety. There was loadsa useful stuff in the earlier emails.

I am glad to see you and others are taking it seriously. I wouldn't get frightened off though. Understanding the problem and careful planning will keep you safe 99% of the time. There are quite a few publications and loads of web-pages to provide pointers on sound small-boat practices etc.

When I started fishing Southampton Water about a year ago I used to "tuck into" areas off the main channel but within boat-casting range of the edge of the channel. This brought some success with small bass (1lb-2lb) and doggies and is usually quite well protected from the weather. The bay just North of Fawly is ok.

I got a bit sick of the 6" bass and eels though. Plus, those damned fast-cats chop the sea up so badly that it is like sitting in a force 6 twice every 20 minutes all day long.

I got more experienced and gained confidence and then successively moved on to more distant marks once I had got used to the types of problems you encounter in the area: shallows, sand bars, sunken barges, ferries, Queen Mary 2 etc. You eventually find your own solutions and gain confidence.

These days I watch for good weather and pop out to explore the area, often based on advice from "Bells of Hythe". They do a good deal: I buy a little bait from them and they tell me where to go fishing. It comes up trumps a lot. I've had some nice bream, smooth-hounds and a few (only a few) nice bass. It was a lousy year weather-wise so I am content with this.

My boat is called "Possibilities". It is a white hulled (aren't they all) Bayliner that looks a little "old" shall we say (not tired, just old). Call me up when you are out there. . . .alternatively, swap mobile numbers in a private email.

There is another chap who is active in the area. He is called John and signs in here as "MonkeyNutz". He runs "Blew Mist" and knows his way around the water here.

Terry

PS can you let us know how you get on with duck2water. I would quite like to take a course as long as it is relevant. I've done a boat-handling course that was specific to RIBs when I was more keen on UK diving than I am today. Great if you have a RIB but not entirely relevant for fast fishing boats. . . .

[tony marshall]

thanks for the reply i am having trouble with the ignition switch at the moment so still have not put the boat in the water,had to do decking in the garden the week end (under orders)so will look at it this weekend, i still have not been able to talk to duck2water yet as no answer on phone,i think this year we will just test the boat up the river as not known yet if it will be any good after we have converted it from outboard to inboard.the boat is still on the drive in woolston and is still awaiting its first dunk.i did see a lot of bass 3/4pound is being taken at the mouth of the hamble if you have not tried there yet.

[tony marshall]

thanks i am having trouble with the ignition switch at the moment so still have not put the boat in the water,had to do decking in the garden the week end (under orders)so will look at it this weekend, i still have not been able to talk to duck2water yet as no answer on phone,i think this year we will just test the boat up the river as not known yet if it will be any good after we have converted it from outboard to inboard.the boat is still on the drive in woolston and is still awaiting its first dunk.i did see a lot of bass 3/4pound is being taken at the mouth of the hamble if you have not tried there yet.