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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 8, 2014 17:02:38 GMT 1
Despite my doubts!
The BBC, Met Office, xc weather are all giving 6/7/8mph winds from the West tomorrow, so I went down to check Belle over, & started her up & checked that the instruments were working, & as usual she is ready to go, so as long as the weathermen have got it right, its a 9am lock out for us. The forecast is for quite heavy showers so I suggest you wear your waterproofs, I shall certainly be wearing mine! I am concerned about this wind, when I came past the tower at the top end of the marina, the wind nearly blew me off my moped, & there was quite a chop in the marina itself, (which moderated as I was messing about), but the quicker it drops the happier I will be! Lugworm will be the order of the day I think if there are any codling about with all this freshwater but we can but try! If anybody tries to get in touch with me I have misplaced my mobile, so it will have to be on the home phone 01792 527518. The plan for tomorrow will be fishing for dabs & plaice, maybe the odd whiting, & avoiding the swells that are bound to come after this blow, we will be inside the Mumbles Head so hopefully we wont get bothered by them too much, if we do, I will take us into the moorings in Mumbles! Cos I don't do uncomfortable or dangerous!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 10, 2014 14:09:30 GMT 1
Not too bad a day
We locked out at 9am as planned, & made our way across towards Mumbles & the "Dab Spot" Ken & I found last time out, unfortunately somebody forgot to tell the dabs? It was dogs, dogs, & more dogs, & rough, rough, & rougher, eventually the need for a cup of tea & a hot dog became so great that we upped anchor & headed for Mumbles moorings & calm water! This we did, & along with tea & hot dogs came (you guessed it dabs, dabs, dabs lol) along with the inevitable dogs we also had whiting, a small bass, a small smoothie, a few pouting, & most of all calm water to eat & drink (most important) Downsides to the day, were me accidentally inflating my lifejacket in the wheelhouse door (looking like the Michelin Man stuck in the wheelhouse doorway), & the breaking of the solar trickle charger used to keep the batteries topped up. So its a re-arming of the lifejacket (nice to know they do work), & a trip to Maplin for another solar trickle charger). I don't want to be in the situation where I try to start the engine only to find the batteries are flat! Some sensational thunder & lightening storms, sheet rain & hail, which tested out the cover offered by the sidescreens (they worked 100%) keeping us dry, whilst Ken Davison chose to road test his brand new Imax waterproof suit in the deluge, his only criticism is that the hood is like an umbrella, a small price to pay if it keeps you dry & warm in those conditions. I cant do anything about the lifejacket or the solar charger until Friday, as my "Fartbox" is in for a service & tuning (it splutters & farts when you try to rev up so its a job for the professionals), whilst I study my online charts for new dogfish hotspots! It wont be worth going out again until all this freshwater has drained off & the sea temperature drops. Looking at the forecast the next suitable weather forecast is for 17/18th Nov with very small tides at about 3am & 3.30am but with small tides like that, there should be enough water in the river to get out if we have an early start, lets see how the weather develops, before we make plans, but those two days look to be the earliest Belle can get out on.
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 11, 2014 18:07:50 GMT 1
More additions to Mumbles Belle
The last couple of times we have been out, I have found it difficult to get the Alderney Ring method to lift the anchor properly when in a strong run of tide, it works fine when there isn't much of a tide run, but it is reluctant when the run is strong. All I can put it down to is our lack of speed through the water when fighting the tide, with my smaller boat it was simply a matter of pushing the throttle up & the lifting buoy was forced down the anchor rope & chain until it lifted the anchor automatically, on Belle it doesn't work like that. On Sunday for example we decided to move into the shelter of Mumbles when the tide was running hard, & I struggled to get the buoy to lift the anchor, in the end I had to run up over the anchor & lift the chain & anchor manually, yet when we picked up the anchor in Mumbles when we were coming in, it worked perfectly with the buoy running freely down the rope, then "dancing" as it ran down the chain until it reached the anchor, when it bobbed almost under then popped up again. Pulling the anchor rope, chain, & the anchor itself across the surface of the water on a floating buoy is easy, pulling it up by hand is a different story! So I have bought a "Clyde Anchor" hand operated winch with both rope & chain gypsies, which will enable me to lift the anchor at any time, simply by turning the handle, this will be even easier when I have a crew who can wind the slack in as I go ahead, then use the chain gypsy to lift the last 30ft of anchor chain, this will enable me to keep the boat bow into the tide. I look forward to fitting this winch, & it will be mounted on oak bearers & secured by stainless bolts (don't worry I will provide those) :oYet another "mod con" for the pride of the fleet My proposed trip on either 17th or 18th of November is looking dodgy, since I proposed the trip the forecast of both xc weather, & BBC Weather have changed from W/SW to E/SE & I wont be going anywhere in Easterly winds, so keep watching the diary in case I have to call it off. Attachments:
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 12, 2014 15:55:10 GMT 1
Its a joke obviously?
The consensus amongst boaters is what I thought initially, that in a big tide run, Belle isn't fast enough over the water to drive the buoy down the anchor rope & lift the anchor when using the Alderney Ring method (it works fine at slack water or in a slow run). So in a big run of water, the answer is to motor up to the anchor (taking in the slack as we go) & lift the chain using the chain gypsy on the winch. One slight problem however, there is no winch handle with the winch, so I contacted the makers to ask if they still supplied them, yes they do, @ £138 each! So it seems that my No2 son is going to be given the job of making one using his new TIG welder & plasma cutter. Why is it that whenever its something to do with a boat its multiply the cost by 4, add on 50%, then VAT
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 12, 2014 17:52:25 GMT 1
Update on the weather 17th/18th
There appears to be a slight discrepancy between xc weather, & BBC Weather, on the wind direction & strength for Monday & Tuesday! xc weather forecast N/NW winds 6-7-8mph Monday, & 2-3-5mph N/NW on Tuesday BBC give E/SE on Monday 10-12mph, & 10-12mph on Tuesday also at E/SE Now I don't mind them forecasting a slight deviation in windspeed & direction, but to be 180 degrees out? & 100% difference in wind speed, when you have banks of computers, a sky full of satellites, & a television studio full of faggot weathermen, you would think there would be SOME similarity in the forecasts? So anglers we either have a flat calm day on Tuesday where the world is our oyster, or its going to blow E/SE & we wont leave the berth, at the moment the jury is still out!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 14, 2014 17:36:34 GMT 1
Still no consensus on the weather!
xc weather showing W/NW winds in single figures for Tuesday & Wednesday, yet BBC are still forecasting E/SE winds 10/12mph which are definitely "no go" winds for Belle, so it's a case of watch & wait, whichever day is suitable then I am ready to go. I went down the boat this morning & replaced the solar trickle charger that got broken on Sunday, & re-armed the lifejacket that I accidentally inflated, so we are ready to go as soon as the weather plays ball! I checked the fuel tank to see what we had left, after our run to the Strombus, Mumbles Pier, back to the berth we used 4 litres we must be the greenest, leanest, meanest boat in the marina, "Oysterdog" would use that from its berth, to the marina lock gates! I swapped the buoy on the Alderney Ring just in case it was skimming the surface instead of running down the rope we will see what happens next time out with the smaller buoy. We are "all shipshape & Bristol Fashion" all we want is some decent weather, so keep your eye on the forecast & on the first day its suitable we will go for it. There is still 68 litres of fuel in the tank, so we have enough for 17 more return trips to Mumbles before we fill up Watch the calendar, & the weather forecast! The winch didn't arrive today as expected lets hope it gets here tomorrow so I can have it in the armoury for next week!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 14, 2014 21:18:01 GMT 1
Absolute disaster!
The winch I bought has arrived & the chain gypsy is broken into 4 pieces, they must have hit it with a sledgehammer or taken it up 3 storeys & dropped it! I now have to find somebody who can weld cast iron to try to fix it! It was only insured for £20 because I only paid £19 for it on E-Bay it will cost a lot more than £20 to get it welded properly I know!!!!!!!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 15, 2014 18:45:19 GMT 1
It's gone for welding
Found somebody who can weld cast iron (apparently you have to use nickel rods?) & so its gone to him to be done, it looks as though my (£25 inc p&p winch) is going to be much more expensive than that! Also the weather for Monday is very "marginal", & with the weather we have had I would think "no chance" is most likely, & the rest of the week looks bad until about next Sat/Sun. So its another week of pottering about finding things to do, (which is never difficult on "Mumbles Belle", so it looks like the kettle is going to get some use this week!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 17, 2014 14:07:19 GMT 1
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 18, 2014 15:18:18 GMT 1
Well today is supposed to be the day
When my "new" winch gets welded back together? I will no doubt find out later on how it went, I hope it was successful so that I can put my idea to the test & bring the anchor up mid tide! Went to my first club committee meeting last night, nothing changes, it was similar to the last one I went to 30yrs ago When asked for "Boat Reports" both "Oysterdog" & "Mumbles Dog" both had much the same to say, about the fishing, but "Oysterdog" was well ahead in the cost race This constant wind is a bigger menace from the east than Islamic State, & from the look of the forecast there will be an end to them before the weather improves. I have been asked to take a trip around to "Cod's Corner" off the East Breakwater in the shelter, but on a 40ft tide it dries out & I would have to anchor outside the structure out of the shelter, so defeating the object. I would like to take a run over to fish off Aberavon beach where they are having some nice codling, but in this weather its out of the question, it isn't comfortable to go out of the river (not at Mumbles Dog speed anyway ) All we can do is watch & wait, I keep the boat ready to go at 5 mins notice & I can do no more, we WILL see a break in the weather soon, & when we do I expect you lot to be queuing up to go out fishing, don't let me down! or else its
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 21, 2014 21:01:25 GMT 1
Day 7
And still the welding hasn't been done, because the guy who was going to do it, needed the gypsy removed from the winch for pre heating before he could weld it, that would have needed Sooty's Magic Wand, because it had been shrunk onto the shaft, & keyed with a big old external key! So Number 2 son has said that he will weld it in-situ & I will do a "belt & braces" repair by drilling & tapping the gypsy & bolting a metal disc to the outside of it. It wont look as pretty as it did before, but wire brushed & sanded down & given a coat of smooth silver hammerite it will look ok, & it will do the job it was bought to do! I am crewing on "Oysterdog" on Sunday, we are going across to Aberafan/Morfa to see if we can catch a few codling over that way, maybe get away from the Swansea Bay Tuna that are infesting us, I will let you know how we get on. News for the anglers, I have bought some "Olde Oak Chile Dogs" for Sunday, now Richie & I love them, as I am sure does Ken Davison, but for the uninitiated a warning, that they could cause a few choruses of "Ring of Fire" if you are delicate I will keep you posted on the progress, (or otherwise) of the winch, I will be sick to death of it before its fitted if I have any more trouble with it!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 24, 2014 11:50:15 GMT 1
Dog Day blues!
As foretold I went out on "Oysterdog" yesterday, but for some reason we never fished either of the spots we booked for (Aberafon/Morfa) we fished the Kenfig Dogpatches, Sker Dogpoint, SWIGG Dogbouy, Whiting Dogbank, it was cold & swelly, & then we came home. Highpoint of the day was the sausage sandwiches (although Richie forget to bring the butter!) & the chile-dogs (which made him fart all day!) Some people took their comfort seriously in the great doghunt, didn't they Ken.
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 25, 2014 20:04:56 GMT 1
Next Doghunt!
I have planned a trip on Belle for Sunday 30th Nov, I plan on a nice gentle run across to Mumbles & fish just off the pier where last time out we had 7 species &, it is a good spot for dabs, so its bits of frozen black lug, on size 1 or 2 hooks, with lots of "bling" (blue/yellow or black/yellow). The forecast is for very light & variable winds, so it should be ideal for light tackle, small weights, & lots of tea/coffee & chile-dogs. Lets see if somebody (or everybody) can bring home something to eat! HW is about 1220 so its a "gentleman's" lock out at 9am (If you are REALLY keen we could go at 8am ) & back in on the 3.30pm lock, very civilised trip I reckon, (& cheap)
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 26, 2014 18:22:34 GMT 1
Cowardice in the face of the enemy!
Ken Davison has refused the chili-dogs for Sunday! So I shall bring some pink serviettes for his ordinary hot dogs Richie has reminded me that the tide time & height is perfect for the plaice spot we know, not far from our intended first mark, so depending on the sea conditions, we might go straight there, it does produce plaice but it also produces dabs, & codling if they are about, & of course the odd growler or 100 Ken has suggested that we have a try opposite County Hall, we drifted across there in the summer & the ground was perfect for codling, small stones & muddy sand, which must hold small crabs, shrimp etc which are what they are after. Seeing as they are catching a few codling off the steps at County Hall it might well be worth dropping the hook there for an hour & see what transpires, its on our way home anyway, & Belle is all about ringing the changes (Belle, Ring ) The winch is fitted so bringing the anchor up should no longer be a problem (famous last words), I will scout the ground at low water this week & identify a likely spot off County Hall, & lets hope we get a codling or two from there. Let me know if you want to go for an 8am or 9am lock? (Given that the bait shop doesn't open until 8 am), so if you want to go at 8 you have to get your bait on Saturday!
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Post by pilgrim17 on Nov 27, 2014 10:59:14 GMT 1
Watch this space!
Since posting the intended Belle trip on Sunday 30th, the forecast wind has increased slightly, at the moment it is still ok (but it will be cold) & we will have wind over tide until HW at 1220 after that it should flatten somewhat. Keep an eye on the forecast before you buy/dig your bait, if it increases from the NE/E/SE then don't bother because there is no shelter from an easterly (unless we drop anchor in the river) Ring me if you are in doubt.
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