Boat Mart October Preview

LATEST BOATS UNVEILED ADVICE THE PRACTICALMEN EDGEWATER 170CC ■ MINOR OS 25 ■ X-CRAFT X8.5 D D MAKE DO ANfor a better boat Cost-effective fixes

C-FURY PATROL AWC ■ RIBQUEST RANGE REBORN

COD ALMIGHTY...rs Top tips for autumn angle

EASY UPGRADES ct refit Marine ply DIY for a perfe

HUNDREDS OF NEW AND USED BOATS FOR SALE

ONLY £3.50

Practical boating at its best

OCTOBER 2011 www.boatmart.co .uk

WINTER WONDERS USED ARVOR FOR EVERYDAY MONEY

ANGLING ADVICE Everything you need to know about hooks

MAINTAIN YOUR MOTOR WITH OUR EXPERT TIPS

OUTBOARD ESSENTIALS PLASTIC FANTASTIC £18K cuddy from Marine Revolution

PLUS IS IT TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR OLD TRAILER?

NEW GE

AR TESTED 20 top boating ga through their pa dgets put ces PUBLISHING EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE

Contents

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October 2011

WheelhOUSe WONderS

Used Arvor for everyday money

Newsline e b i r c s Sub ave &s LATEST BOATS UNVEILED ADVICE THE PRACTICALMEND EDGEWATER 170CC ■ MINOR OS 25 ■ X-CRAFT X8.5 MAKE DO AND for a better boat Cost-effective fixes

C-FURY PATROL AWC ■ RIBQUEST RANGE REBORN

COD ALMIGHTY...

Top tips for autumn anglers

EASY UPGRADES

Marine ply DIY for a perfect

Buying Advice

10 Best UK Stories

24 Wheelhouse wonder

All the latest news from the UK boat scene

Great used Arvor for everyday money

14 Boating Accessories

30 deals of the month

Top boating gear for you and your crew

Best boat packages from £1,000 to £10,000

refit

HUNDREDS OF NEW AND USED BOATS FOR SALE

ONLY £3.50 Practical boating at its best

OCTOBER 2011 www.boatmart.co .uk

WINTER WONDERS USED ARVOR FOR EVERYDAY MONEY

32 New boat spotlight Five of the month’s best new boats

ANGLING ADVICE Everything you need to know about hooks

MAINTAIN YOUR MOTOR WITH OUR EXPERT TIPS

OUTBOARD ESSENTIALS

NEW GEAR TES TED 20 top boating gadge ts through their paces

20 Strange but True

40 Gadgets galore

The UK’s most peculiar boating stories

What to look for in marine binoculars

put

PUBLISHING EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE

PLASTIC FANTASTIC £18K cuddy from Marine Revolution

PLUS IS IT TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR OLD TRAILER? BM OCT COVER.indd 1

14/09/2011 17:14

get 3 issue for just £1 see page 82 for more

42 Smartwave 490 First UK test of the polyethylene 18-footer

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42 On the water

Practical

48 Events Diary

60 Five engine essentials

Autumn highlights and a look ahead

Maintain your motor with our expert tips

62 Practical Kit From night lights to antifouling solutions

64 Practical Project Fit a new foredeck to your cruiser

50 Readers’ Letters From engine maintenance to slipway sagas

52 Jumble Watch Portsmouth’s most spectacular jumble

54 The Good Life A litany of instructive cock-ups for the liveaboard boater

56 Show Focus All the highlights from the final North Wales Boat Show

68 Build your own rudder Better river running for the outboard brigade

70 Make do and mend Cost-effective fixes for a better boat

73 Mini Project Service your own raw water strainer

74 RYA Expert The RYA guide to winterising your boat

78 Cod almighty Autumn entertainment for Anglers

DIY

PRO

JEC

T

Newsline

New F115 from Yamaha

Record breaking row success British Arctic explorer and adventurer, Jock Wishart, has claimed a momentous world first as he and his six-man crew completed their ambitious ‘Old Pulteney Row to the Pole’, reaching the magnetic north pole on 26 August.

The expedition, which was four years in the planning, saw the team negotiate waters strewn with icebergs and floating ice. They also enjoyed close encounters with some of the Arctic’s most impressive species, including beluga whales, walrus and polar bears. The team slept in shifts between rowing stints, surviving on 7,000 calorie-per day dry rations.

Jock Wishart said: “The last three miles proved to be the hardest, when we had to take the boat out of the water and haul it over the ice. We’re all absolutely exhausted, but elated. No one’s ever even tried to do this. In fact most people did think it was impossible. But we’ve done it!”

The drama of the four-week adventure has been captured by the BBC for a documentary on the expedition so look out for it. www.rowtothepole.com

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● www.boatmart.co.uk ● Boat Mart

A new version of the versatile and ultradependable F115 outboard is set to enjoy its European launch at the 2011 PSP Southampton International Boat Show.

In its new guise, this iconic engine, originally launched a decade ago, is now even lighter and more efficient than its predecessor, making it a refined and reliable partner for a family cruiser, a sports boat a RIB, a fishing craft or even a commercial workhorse.

The F115 keeps its well proven DOHC, 1741cc, in-line four-cylinder, 16-valve format, but by introducing a range of new parts (and re-designing the fuel and airintake systems, as well as the engine cowling), Yamaha has generated some genuine improvements.

With a new intake throttle, intake manifold, cylinder head, cowl and sensor, all added to ongoing compatibility with Yamaha’s digital network system, it looks like another very effective package. Look out for more on this engine after its debut appearance at the Southampton Boat Show in September. www.yamaha-motor.co.uk

Smart Alarm - P12

The intelligent security device that stays in touch

Digital video binoculars Here’s an ingenious toy - the world’s first digital binoculars capable of recording full HD video2 with stereo sound at the touch of a button. Built by Sony, the DEV-5 includes an on board GPS receiver that automatically geotags video clips as you travel. With compatible software, tagged clips and images can then be viewed on online maps. Magnification of 10x is a bit much for proper stability of image aboard a moving platform like a boat, but these new binos are no less desirable for that - and you do get optical SteadyShot, the optical stabilisation system found on Sony’s Handycam camcorders and Cybershot cameras. Top-mounted controls allow easy operation with gloved fingers, while dual buttons are provided to start recording instantly with either hand. Both binocular models (DEV-3 and DEV-5) come supplied with a high-capacity rechargeable battery pack that allows up to three hours of 2D recording on a single charge. These delicious new digital binos will be available from November 2011.

Price: £1,800 (DEV-3) £2,300 (DEV-5) www.sony.co.uk

Kit News

Compiled by Alex Smith

Keep it simpler ‘JOHN’S PHONE’ from Monsterstuff is designed to be the most uncomplicated mobile phone on the planet - which is great for anyone who wants a simple, inexpensive phone for holidays and outdoor activities. You won’t find any unnecessary features like a camera, text messaging or a palette of aggravating ringtones. What you will find is a handy paper address book and pen, as well as an energy-efficient battery that lasts up to three weeks (yes, three weeks!) between charges. You also get large, user-friendly buttons and a speeddial feature for use with your own saved numbers.

Even better, each unit comes with its own set of earphones, allowing you to use it hands-free when driving. It comes in three different colours and it works with any SIM card (apart from 3 Mobile in the UK), enabling you to swap over without changing your number. It’s great kit.

Price: £59.99 01509 266414 www.monsterstuff.co.uk

STAR BUY

Lightweight marine camera Contour’s latest camera is designed to be the easy way to capture action video on board your boat. Its new ‘Instant On-Record’ power switch enables you to start recording with a single push and the waterproof aluminium body enables it to be taken out on your boat without the slightest concern. In fact, it can be used at depths of up to one metre for 30 minutes at a time, recording crisp high-definition video with three resolutions (1080p, 960p, and 720p at 30 frames per second) and recording still images at five-megapixels. A wide-angle 170-degree lens captures the peripherals and backdrops to enhance the point of view experience, while its compact, low-profile, hands-free design makes this 5.1-ounce camera very easy to wear without getting in the way. It even comes equipped with a new tripod screw mount making it a versatile camera as well as an ideal means of capturing those days on the water.

Price: £199.99 www.contour.com www.ultrasporteu.com

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● www.boatmart.co.uk ● Boat Mart

Used Advice

BUYING ADVICE EXPERT TIPS with David Greenwood

- What happens next? word for it - however well you think you’re getting on.

If you aren’t keeping the boat in the place where you bought it, do you have a mooring for her elsewhere? Be aware that the more popular spots can have waiting lists of up to four years and even if you are at the top of the list, the moorings available may not suit the size of boat you have bought.

The small details

Things can happen very quickly when you’re buying a secondhand boat. One minute you’re trawling through countless ads and visiting boatyards and the next minute, you’ve identified the boat, completed a survey and the keys are in your hand. If you’re not careful, you can find that all your concentration has been on the boat, her condition and price and you don’t know what happens next. Obviously, you’ll need insurance from the moment you take possession but where are you going to keep her and how will you get her there?

When you clambered on board the boat prior to purchase, did you check out the trailer, tyres, brakes and hub bearings? Once the deal is done, you may need to move quickly, because small failings with any of these can potentially cause an accident and destroy your entire rig.

Location, location, location It is unwise to assume that the seller will give you his mooring. He may want it for his next boat, but even if he agrees that you may take his mooring on, you need to be careful, as the authorities may well have other ideas.

Generally, moorings are rented and there is often a waiting list. It is unwise to assume that a Port Authority will allow you to jump the waiting list just because you have purchased a boat. Check it out with the Port Authority before purchase and don’t just take the seller’s

And finally . . .

None of this should put you off buying a boat of course. The main point is simply that there is more to think about than you might imagine.

The minute you feel you have found the boat for you, make contact with insurance agents, mooring operators and owners, boat transport specialists and (if you want to keep her where she is) the managers of the boatyard where she is located. Get it done early and all should be smooth.

KEY STEPS TO BUYING PRIVATELY ● View the boat and make your offer subject to survey. ● Pay the deposit and receive a receipt and signed Sale Agreement, agreeing dates for completion. ● Ask for proof of ownership before paying out for a survey. ● Request Confirmation of Recreational Craft Directive Compliance or Exemption. ● Instruct your surveyor and await the report. ● Negotiate on work to rectify material defects and agree an adjusted price if necessary. ● Arrange your boat’s insurance before handing over the balance due.

● Ask to see all equipment and gear not currently on the boat but which is included in the sale price before handing over the balance payment. ● When you give the final payment, make sure you receive a Bill of Sale, previous Bills of Sale if possible, Certificate of Registration or letters or statutory declarations from previous owners relinquishing further interest in the boat, Builder’s Certificate, original receipted VAT invoice and all other relevant documentation.

● A broker will provid e a sale and purchase agreement ● Sort out all the fin ance ● Advise what docum entation is required ● Negotiate between the parties ● Provide a Bill of Sal e and advise about reg istration ● Provide the marke ting and viewing of the boat ● Help discussions wit h the surveyor For more information about buying and sel ling a boat see www.abya.co.uk or ww w.rya.org.uk. ABYA is the Association of Brokers & Yacht Age nts and is a good por t of call for anyone buying or selling a boa t.

For information on buying a used boat, check out the RYA’s ‘Buying A Second Hand Yacht’.

The Yacht, Power & Small Craft Specialists For professional yacht brokers and agents visit

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● Buying Advice ● Boat Mart

www.abya.co.uk

For professional marine surveyors visit

www.ydsa.co.uk

Smartwave 490

Irving Stewart visits National Marine in the Wirral for a look at the biggest boat in Smartwave’s burgeoning polyethylene fleet . . .

O

ver the past couple of decades, builders of boats using ‘alternative’ materials such as aluminium and polyethylene have made big efforts to sway customers away from craft built of ecologically unfriendly fibreglass. And while such craft are now extremely popular in America, Australia and Scandinavia, us Brits have been tough to impress. The process has therefore been slow, but finally, people are beginning to realise that virtually indestructible boats made of easily recyclable materials are actually a pretty good idea . . .

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● Buying Advice ● Boat Mart

The changing of the guard In the past, many potential buyers have shied away from polyethylene because it doesn’t have the visual impact of shiny new GRP craft. In addition, many of the polyethylene and alloy craft on offer over the years (although extremely capable and tough) have not been designed to be particularly fast or sporty, let alone visually attractive. But manufacturers are not daft and new generations of alternative boats have now arrived.

Linder, for example, introduced some very fast, pretty and lightweight aluminium boats with a

remarkably high degree of finish and a style all their own. And Pioner went a step further by introducing specialist poly boats that simply could not be obtained in GRP. In fact, even canoe builders have begun to build poly craft that shrug off the inevitable impacts that white-water enthusiasts continually endure. And this is where the big steps forward have been made - among a growing band of British users who regularly abuse their boats with the kind of everyday ‘bump-and-grind’ boating for which these craft are specifically designed.

There’s a team of Boat Mart experts ready and waiting to answer your boating queries. So what are you waiting for? If there’s a question you need answering, we have the experts right here.

Reader Mailbox

Perplexing questions, contentious rants, instructive threads or praise for great service - this is the place to do your bit for the UK boating community . . .

The winner of the Star Letter prize will receive one of these fabulous WaveRunner Cooler Bags worth £12.49. They can hold up to two six-packs of 330ml cans, making them perfect for those days afloat when a cool drink and a bite to eat are required. For more information about this and many other Yamaha watersports accessories check out www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/accessories.

Email your letters to the Editor: boatmarteditor@ gmail.com

Why the radio silence?

Dear Boat,

Why is it that when I leave my VHF on a channel, say 80 for the marina, I can hear all the marina instructions to everyone but I cannot hear what anyone (other than the marina) are saying. This is the same on all channels apart from 16. I though they were open channels, so you can hear everything?

Mark, Penarrth

PETER CAPLEN ■ ■ ■ ■

Engines Propellers Repairs Electrics

■ Equipment Fitting ■ Practical Projects

Some of the channels are duplex and some simplex. Ch 80 is duplex so you transmit on one and listen on another.

Hence all boats are transmitting on the channel that they’re not listening on. Ch16 and the other ship-to-ship channels transmit and receive on the same frequency so you can hear both sides of a conversation. Generally it is recommended that you only use 06, 08, 72 and 77 for ship-to-ship. This is all stuff you learn when you take your VHF radio course Jokaboat

Boat Mart does not necessarily share the views expressed within letters and accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies they may contain.

COLIN JONES ■ Equipment ■ Electronics

■ European Boating

The other possibility is that the Marina (like the Coastguard) is transmitting on high-power, whereas the boaters could be on low power, especially in small boats

PETER GREENWELL ■ Small ■ Mechanical Motor Craft Work ■ Electrical Work

maybe with a handheld radio.

We have both handheld and built-in and you can hear a lot more on the built in set, which is probably more to do with the size of the antenna. Five feet stuck in the air off the side of the boat is always going to be better than eight inches in your hand (so to speak) - not that there is anything wrong with a handheld set, as long as the battery is good.

Joridapilot

Breach of slipway etiquette Dear Boat,

Why do people do this? When he reversed to this position he hadn’t even taken the number plate off! Literally, turned up at the slip and reversed down it. Forget anyone else who was waiting!

DPB101 IRVING STEWART ■ Used boats ■ Boat Buying

DAVID WEBBER ■ Practical Projects

50

■ Inland Waterways

I hope you did the traditional British thing and tutted a lot while rolling eyes skywards - or perhaps you did it the American way with a lawsuit.

Either way, I agree. This sort of slipway hogging is just not on.

Bassboat

● On The Water ● Boat Mart

Overturned tow boat Dear Boat,

boat being I read in the paper that a d on the M5, rne towed on a trailer overtu Wonder how ck. causing a five-mile tailba that happened . . .

Noddy, Devon st likely causes I would say that the two mo a poorly or t are: (1) travelling too fas iler to snake tra balanced load, causing the wheel or a ng and then roll over; (2) losi ile travelling wh re ctu possibly suffering a pun control and of loss a at speed, again causing do have to lly rea a subsequent roll over. You towing a en wh rig r take proper care of you trailer.

Centaur, Rutland

Jumble Watch

Chris Chaddock reports from a rather glamorous Portsmouth Boat Jumble . . .

In the summer months, the Boat Jumbles Association (www.boatjumbles.org.uk) circuit of events slows up and enters the doldrums. But in many ways, this is the calm before the storm, when a deluge of autumn and winter events start up again in September. With just one event in August to tease the boat loving public away from their various nautical pursuits, it takes a unique show like the Portsmouth Boat Jumble to compete for their attention - and it certainly does that . . .

A quirky location

There is no quirkier location on the calendar than Fort an Purbrook. This 1870s Victori t fee 400 ed rch (pe hill fort h on above the city of Portsmout t of par is ) Hill top of Portsdown s ude incl t tha es enc a ring of def was It . ent Sol the in s fort r fou built to protect Portsmouth Dockyard and the Spithead Anchorage from attack by the French - and it has views of rs no fewer than three harbou and one gst Lan r, ste (Chiche Portsmouth), as well as of the Solent with the Isle of Wight beyond.

Fort Purbrook is also an city activities centre run by the g, bin clim k roc ring council, offe fun rian est equ and y archer for all age groups (www. peterashleyactivitycentre. ors co.uk). WIth over 70 exhibit , and a large crowd of boaters y ver a for ipe you have the rec . out day enjoyable

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● On The Water ● Boat Mart

High and mighty

No other boat jumble has this kind of atmosphere. With the stands spread out over the Parade Ground, surrounded by gun emplacements and discarded cannons, it feels very special. And if you get bored with looking at boat jumble (highly unlikely) you can simply climb up onto the battlements for an inspiring uninterrupted 360-degree vista over a seascape, a dockyard city and to the north, the Forest of Bere. It’s a breathtaking venue.

Boat of the m

onth I encountered a delightful French couple struggling with their purc hase.

They were on holiday in England when they came across the road signs for the Portsmou th Boat Jumbl e and followed curiosity. They them out of ended up buyi ng a nearly ne inflatable for w 2.3-metre less than £200 and they told destined to trav me it was el back to Mar seille in the So as a tender fo uth of France r their son’s ya cht. I pondered was that a Vict how ironic it orian Hill Fort originally built French was no to repel the w inviting them in!

with David Greenwood

Tech Talk - Marine Ply

Strong, lightweight, durable and good looking - quality marine ply is about as good as it gets . . .

Even if your boat is not built from plywood, you will find a thousand and one uses for it on board. There are lots of types however and not all plywood is suitable for marine use, so you need to know your stuff . . .

So what is plywood?

First of all, let’s make sure we have a common agreement on definition. Strictly speaking, plywood is a product made of thin sheets of wood, which are glued together with the grain

of each sheet running at right angles to the adjacent sheets. Generally, an odd number of sheets or veneers are used to make up the ply. As a material, it is strong, flexible, and very easy to work with. It also has a high

Practical Diary - Five Engine Essentials

with David Webber

David Webber examines five vital considerations for a healthy outboard engine . . .

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1 - Fuel filters and separators

2 - Saltwater is a baddie

Fuel filters and water separators are there for a reason. Clean fuel filters allow the free flow of clean fuel to keep up with the demand from the engine at all RPM, while water separators split the fuel from any water. Often, draining the water from the tap on a separator is all that is required.

Neglect these two items and water vapour in the fuel can cause major engine damage, and sediment in the fuel can cause a carburettor or other fuel system blockage.

Saltwater is highly corrosive and has a whale of a time circulating through your outboard. When you have had your day’s fun and the engine is left to drain and dry without flushing, the salt residue is able to block waterways, corrode water jackets and generally make itself an all-round menace on both the interior and exterior of your outboard. In short, it can reduce the life of your engine by years.

A few minutes using fresh water with a flushing muff (or a barrel for small engines) will remove the majority of the salt from the waterways. Ensure that the engine has an ample supply of fresh water and run the engine until warm. Then allow it to fully drain and give it an exterior wash to remove salt deposits.

● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

PRACTICAL DIY PROJECT

The state of the core could now be seen, as lumps were easily pulled out by hand and the rest was scraped off using a wood chisel. It came away from the inner skin just as easily as the outer skin came off.

Filling the gap between the side deck skins can be a problem.

The easiest method is to use foam, as there is no danger of leaving unfilled voids. I use a semi-closed cell low-expansion foam, which is more moisture-proof than the standard builder’s foam generally available from DIY shops. From personal experience, I know that this particular ‘Great Stuff’ foam remains immune to moisture for more than ten years. Though of course, once the repair is complete there should be no moisture to give problems.

There was still saturated core remaining under the sides of the deck that had been left in place. To rake it out, I made up a simple sawtooth device from a piece of 30mm flat-bar. This worked particularly well and it didn’t take long to clean out the entire outer deck area.

It was also pleasing to have it confirmed that the side decks had not succumbed to the damp, as dry balsa was raked out from the front of both side decks.

Once cured, there is minimal wastage due to the low expansion properties of the foam and the excess can be cut off. A hacksaw blade wrapped with tape works perfectly but you may prefer to use a proper pad-saw handle.

I then partially flattened a piece of 28mm copper tube to make a vacuum cleaner extension to get right between the sides of the deck skins. This was taped to the end of the vacuum cleaner hose and slid neatly between the deck skins to ensure all the loose balsa was removed.

The inner skin must be prepared prior to repairing the damaged areas. A sander with 60 grit paper gives a good finish ready to accept epoxy resin and cloth.

Boat Mart ● Practical Expert ●

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Angling Autumn has crept up on us and while many boat owners haul out, anglers normally stay afloat to enjoy a bit of late season fishing.

You can catch some quality fish at this time of the year and I don’t expect it to be any different in 2011.

I think cod will feature heavily in catches close to shore, based on the huge numbers caught from south Devon wrecks in the summer. Charter boats had a cracking year, averaging about five fish per angler,

mostly from eight to 16lb with the occasional 20-pounder dropping on the deck. Sidewinder lures were listed as the top bait by skippers, with rhubarb and custard heading the charts.

Other lures in the equation included redgills, jellies and shads.

With water temperatures dropping, cod are due to desert the wrecks and move closer to the shore, setting up temporary home over reefs and rough ground where peeler crab will be a useful bait. But don’t overlook

News Flash . . .

DEFRA is set to record the fish we catch.

The survey, known as ‘Sea Angling 2012’ is a requirement of the EU to find out how many people enjoy the sport, how much fish they catch, what is returned alive, and how important the sport is to the country’s economy.

This is an important development that could affect our sport, hopefully for the better, as UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, explains: “I want sea angling to have a bright future, but to achieve this, we must understand what sea anglers are catching, what is being returned alive, and the economic and social benefits the sport provides. This is a chance for sea anglers to make sure their interests are taken

NEW FISHER PROFILE Twin hulls from Cheetah Cheetah Marine Ocean Blue Quay The Esplanade Ventnor Isle of Wight PO38 1JR 01983 852398 www.cheetahmarine.co.uk Cheetah Marine, a family-run business based in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight and now in its 20th year of production, has developed a ferocious reputation over the years for boats of enormous space, practicality, efficiency and strength. Not for nothing do you routinely see these craft being used by serious fishermen and commercial organisations. The range goes from 5.5 right up to the 11.2 metres in

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● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

into account when policies to improve and conserve fish stocks around our coast are developed.”

length, but common to all these boats are the resounding benefits for which twin hulls are famed. The deck space is huge, the softness of ride puts equivalent monohulls in the shade, the stability both at sea and when beached is extremely useful and the power requirements are relaqtively minimal. If that isn’t enough, the security element of twin engines (and twin systems) enables great confidence, even in remote regions, where these craft have routinely proven their seakeeping credentials.

Catamarans do tend to cost more than monohulls but the potential dividends, particularly for the keen angler, are enormous. If you’re in the market for a great all-round leisure boat, it is well worth giving Cheetah a call.

The time for catching cod has arrived.

Ted Tuckerman explains how to get it right this Autumn . . .

lugworm. A well-filled hook, as any Kent angler will tell you, is irresistible to a cod.

In some areas, methods vary, especially on the northeast coast, where the popular method is to use baited 4/0 Hokai feathers over rough ground. Just be aware that three is ample, as a trio of weighty cod will be more than a handful. Either way, don’t call it a day just yet, because plenty of exciting fishing is still available around the UK coast.

PRACTICAL ANGLING ADVICE TED’S TIP OF THE MONTH

My weekly report on Torquay’s Palm FM Radio website explains where and how fish are being caught in the southwest.

Visit www.palm.fm for details.

Feathering in Dorset I have written many times how to rig lures on a boom and work them slowly not too far off the sea bed.

But there is another method that I have seen used to great effect in Dorset taking a lot of fish. It’s called ‘feathering’ and it involves tying the lure to about three feet of nylon of at least 25lb. Tied to a boom, you then work on the bottom like a string of feathers. The take is positive and usually results in the fish being hooked on the first take, so make sure you bed the hook and don’t have the reel drag too tight.

All about hooks with David Greenwood

The hook is the business end of your fishing rig and your choice has a huge imp act on your catch - but they come in all shapes and sizes, so where do you begin?

The UK sizing scheme

There is no international standard , so size can be confusing. However, most UK com panies use a sizing scheme with 32 as the sma llest, 19/0 as the largest and 1 as the average sea fishing size for general sport: (SMALLEST) 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 11, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1, 1/0 , 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0, 7/0, 8/0, 9/0, 10/ 0, 11/0, 12/0, 13/0, 14/0, 15/0, 16/0, 17/0, 18/ 0, 19/0 (LARGEST)

Length and shape

READ MORE BOAT PROFILES PAGE 32

Hooks can be short, long or regular (according to the distance from the bend to the eye) and the shapes are also suited to spec ific uses . . .

(1) The Shaughinessy is heavily forged to keep its shape when bottom fishing for fighting fish.

(2) The Aberdeen is a lighter wire hook often used inland or at sea for flounder and mullet.

(3) The Circle is built to set itself in the corner of the mouth without you having to ‘stri ke’.

(4) Treble and Double hooks are often attached to lures for bass fishing and while they are strong, they have little chance of hoo king fish with smaller mouths than the targ et species.

The big decision

Think about species and condition s and take advice from other anglers and tack le shop staff.

And if the fish aren’t biting, be prep ared to change hook size and pattern.

Boat Mart ● Practical Expert ●

79

The bit at the back Editor’s comment Quiz - I spy . . .

Black comedy

David Greenwood looks out for a few things we all see on the open water.

Do you know what they mean?

Alex Smith Editor

www.boatmart.co.uk

Questions 1 - You see a red marker buoy as you enter port. But which side should you leave it?

2 - You see a yellow and white buoy with two upward pointing triangles, one above the other. What does it tell you?

3 - You see a black ball with a triangle above it, flown from a mast on land such as a coastguard station? Any idea what it means?

4 - You see a green buoy as you leave port. Which side should you leave it?

5 - You see a buoy with a long upright stick with a small flag tied to it. What does this tell you?

Answers 1 - A red marker buoy marks the port side of the channel into a harbour. Normally you would leave this to port. On occasion, however, if you know the depth of water and you have a shallow draft, you can avoid the big ship channel by sailing close by the buoy and leaving it to starboard.

2 - This is a cardinal buoy indicating the northern edge of a danger area. Stay north of it.

3 - Sailors refer to them as storm buckets. The ball suggests strong wind and the triangle indicates the wind direction.

4 - A green buoy marks the starboard side of the channel leading into a harbour, so if you are heading to sea, you would leave it to port to stay in the deep water channel.

5 - This is probably a French pot marker, so unless it’s adrift, you are in French waters and you should keep clear, unless you want to get rope tangled in your prop.

There has been plenty of boating comedy to keep us entertained this season - not least on the Humber Estuary, where a woman and her kids in a small inflatable were swept off on a ‘surprising’ tide and needed rescuing by the local RNLI. The fact that the time and size of a tidal shift can be predicted months in advance calls into question exactly what it was that generated the surprise. It’s like being surprised that one plus one equals two - or surprised that yet another hapless holidaymaker has been forced to call upon the RNLI to remedy the consequences of their willful stupidity.

Arguably, in a country that affords every one of us the freedom to grab a boat and use our coastal waters as we see fit, without recourse to training, registration or insurance, we ought to expect the odd mishap.

But that’s not how it should be. Given the freedom of our waters, we ought to justify that faith by taking individual responsibility and getting it right.

Pub of the Month by Paul Antrobus The Butt and Oyster, Pin Mill, Suffolk

Up the River Orwell, midway between Harwich and Ipswich is the 17th century Butt and Oyster. Famous for Thames barges, the tide goes out a long way, but there is a low-profile hard for dinghy landing. The pub has an old bar with original flagstones and a huge fireplace, which roars in winter. You can also expect good beers from Adnams of Southwold, free wifi and ‘bistro’ eating for breakfast, with specials like fresh dressed crab (£12.50). Entertainment includes boat launching by wheeling down the hard and waiting for the tide. Fantastic.

Reservations - 01473 780764

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