OCTOBER 2011www.boatmart.co.uk

ONLY £3.50Practical boating at its best

THE LATEST BOATS UNVEILEDEDGEWATER 170CC ■ MINOR OS 25 ■ X-CRAFT X8.5 C-FURY PATROL AWC ■ RIBQUEST RANGE REBORN

HUNDREDS OF NEW AND USED BOATS FOR SALE

WINTERWONDERSUSED ARVOR FOR EVERYDAY MONEY

THE LATEST BOATS UNVEILEDEDGEWATER 170CC C-FURY PATROL AWC

HUNDREDS OF NEW AND USED BOATS FOR SALE

PRACTICAL ADVICE

s best

PRACTICAL ADVICEMAKE DO AND MEND MAKE DO AND MEND Cost-effective fixes for a better boat

Top tips for autumn anglers

Marine ply DIY for a perfect refit

20 top boating gadgets put through their paces

Top tips for autumn anglers Top tips for autumn anglers

Marine ply DIY for a perfect refitEASY UPGRADES

Cost-effective fixes for a better boatCost-effective fixes for a better boat

Top tips for autumn anglers COD ALMIGHTY...

EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE

PUBLISHING

20 top boating gadgets put 20 top boating gadgets put through their paces

20 top boating gadgets put through their paces

20 top boating gadgets put

NEW GEAR TESTED

ANGLING ADVICEEverything you need to know about hooks

PLASTIC FANTASTIC£18K cuddy from Marine Revolution

MAINTAIN YOUR MOTOR WITH OUR EXPERT TIPS

PLUS IS IT TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR OLD TRAILER?

PLASTIC

OUTBOARD ESSENTIALS

BM OCT COVER.indd 1 14/09/2011 17:14

ContentsOctober 2011

Newsline

10 Best UK Stories All the latest news from the UK boat scene

14 Boating Accessories Top boating gear for you and your crew

20 Strange but True The UK’s most peculiar boating stories

WheelhOUSe WONderS24

Used Arvor for everyday money

Subscribe & save

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

OCTOBER 2011www.boatmart.co.uk

ONLY £3.50Practical boating at its best

THE LATEST BOATS UNVEILEDEDGEWATER 170CC ■ MINOR OS 25 ■ X-CRAFT X8.5 C-FURY PATROL AWC ■ RIBQUEST RANGE REBORN

HUNDREDS OF NEW AND USED BOATS FOR SALE

WINTERWONDERSUSED ARVOR FOR EVERYDAY MONEY

THE LATEST BOATS UNVEILEDEDGEWATER 170CC C-FURY PATROL AWC

HUNDREDS OF NEW AND USED BOATS FOR SALE

PRACTICAL ADVICE

s best

PRACTICAL ADVICEMAKE DO AND MEND MAKE DO AND MEND Cost-effective fixes for a better boat

Top tips for autumn anglers

Marine ply DIY for a perfect refit

20 top boating gadgets put through their paces

Top tips for autumn anglers Top tips for autumn anglers

Marine ply DIY for a perfect refitEASY UPGRADES

Cost-effective fixes for a better boatCost-effective fixes for a better boat

Top tips for autumn anglers COD ALMIGHTY...

EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE

PUBLISHING

20 top boating gadgets put 20 top boating gadgets put through their paces

20 top boating gadgets put through their paces

20 top boating gadgets put

NEW GEAR TESTED

ANGLING ADVICEEverything you need to know about hooks

PLASTIC FANTASTIC£18K cuddy from Marine Revolution

MAINTAIN YOUR MOTOR WITH OUR EXPERT TIPS

PLUS IS IT TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR OLD TRAILER?

PLASTIC

OUTBOARD ESSENTIALS

BM OCT COVER.indd 1 14/09/2011 17:14

Buying Advice

24 Wheelhouse wonder Great used Arvor for everyday money

30 deals of the month Best boat packages from £1,000 to £10,000

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

40 Gadgets galore What to look for in marine binoculars

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

Oct_contents.indd 6 15/09/2011 10:07

October 2011

On the water

48 Events Diary Autumn highlights and a look ahead

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

Practical

60 Five engine essentials 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

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

42

32

DIYPROJECT

Oct_contents.indd 7 15/09/2011 10:08

10 ● www.boatmart.co.uk ● Boat Mart

Newsline

New F115 from YamahaA new version of the versatile and ultra-dependable 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 air-intake 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 - P12The intelligent security device that stays in touch

Record breaking row successBritish 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

bm_Oct_news.indd 10 14/09/2011 11:15

14 ● www.boatmart.co.uk ● Boat Mart

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 fi nd any unnecessary features like a camera, text messaging or a palette of aggravating ringtones. What you will fi nd is a handy paper address book and pen, as well as an energy-effi cient battery that lasts up to three weeks (yes, three weeks!) between charges. You also get large, user-friendly buttons and a speed-dial 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: £59.9901509 266414www.monsterstuff.co.uk

Digital video binocularsHere’s an ingenious toy - the world’s fi rst 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. Magnifi cation 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 Cyber-shot cameras. Top-mounted controls allow easy operation with gloved fi ngers, 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

Lightweight marine cameraContour’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-defi nition video with three resolutions (1080p, 960p, and 720p at 30 frames per second) and recording still images at fi ve-megapixels. A wide-angle 170-degree lens captures the peripherals and backdrops to enhance the point of view experience, while its compact, low-profi le, 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

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

STARBUY

bm_Oct_kit.indd 14 13/09/2011 19:33

28 ● Buying Advice ● Boat Mart

Used Advice

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 identifi ed the boat, completed a survey and the keys are in your hand. If you’re not careful, you can fi nd 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?

Location, location, locationIt 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

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 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.

And fi nally . . . 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.

- What happens next?

For professional yacht brokers and agents visit www.abya.co.ukThe Yacht, Power & Small Craft Specialists

For professional marine surveyors visit www.ydsa.co.uk

● 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.

For information on buying a used boat, check out

the RYA’s ‘Buying A Second Hand Yacht’.

KEY STEPS TO BUYING PRIVATELY

Location, location, location

with David Greenwood

BUYING ADVICEEXPERT TIPS

● A broker will provide a sale and purchase agreement● Sort out all the finance● Advise what documentation is required● Negotiate between the parties● Provide a Bill of Sale and advise about registration● Provide the marketing and viewing of the boat● Help discussions with the surveyor

For more information about buying and selling a boat see www.abya.co.uk or www.rya.org.uk. ABYA is the Association of Brokers & Yacht Agents and is a good port of call for anyone buying or selling a boat.

bm_OCT_secondhand.indd 28 13/09/2011 19:59

42 ● Buying Advice ● Boat Mart

Smartwave 490

Over 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 fi breglass. 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 fi nally, people are beginning to realise that virtually indestructible boats made of easily recyclable materials are actually a pretty good idea . . .

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 fi nish 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 specifi cally designed.

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

bm_OCT_Smart.indd 42 13/09/2011 20:12

50 ● On The Water ● Boat Mart

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

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.

� Engines� Propellers� Repairs� Electrics

� Equipment Fitting � Practical Projects

PETER CAPLEN

� Equipment � Electronics

� European Boating

COLIN JONES

� Small Motor Craft� Electrical Work

� Mechanical Work

PETER GREENWELL

� Used boats � Boat Buying

IRVING STEWART

� Practical Projects

� Inland Waterways

DAVID WEBBER

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Why the radio silence?

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

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

Overturned tow boatDear Boat,I read in the paper that a boat being

towed on a trailer overturned on the M5,

causing a fi ve-mile tailback. Wonder how

that happened . . .

Noddy, Devon

I would say that the two most likely causes

are: (1) travelling too fast or a poorly

balanced load, causing the trailer to snake

and then roll over; (2) losing a wheel or

possibly suffering a puncture while travelling

at speed, again causing a loss of control and

a subsequent roll over. You really do have to

take proper care of your rig when towing a

trailer.

Centaur, Rutland

bm_OCT_mail.indd 50 13/09/2011 19:37

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

High and mightyNo 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.

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 . . .

In the summer months, the Boat Jumbles Association (www.boatjumbles.org.uk)

High and mightyNo 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.

A quirky locationThere is no quirkier location

on the calendar than Fort

Purbrook. This 1870s Victorian

hill fort (perched 400 feet

above the city of Portsmouth on

top of Portsdown Hill) is part of

a ring of defences that includes

four forts in the Solent. It was

built to protect Portsmouth

Dockyard and the Spithead

Anchorage from attack by the

French - and it has views of

no fewer than three harbours

(Chichester, Langstone and

Portsmouth), as well as of the

Solent with the Isle of Wight

beyond. Fort Purbrook is also an

activities centre run by the city

council, offering rock climbing,

archery and equestrian fun

for all age groups (www.

peterashleyactivitycentre.

co.uk). WIth over 70 exhibitors

and a large crowd of boaters,

you have the recipe for a very

enjoyable day out.

52 ● On The Water ● Boat Mart

Boat of the monthI encountered a delightful French couple struggling with their purchase. They were on holiday in England when they came across the road signs for the Portsmouth Boat Jumble and followed them out of curiosity. They ended up buying a nearly new 2.3-metre infl atable for less than £200 and they told me it was destined to travel back to Marseille in the South of France as a tender for their son’s yacht. I pondered how ironic it was that a Victorian Hill Fort originally built to repel the French was now inviting them in!

bm_OCT_jumble.indd 52 13/09/2011 20:44

60 ● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

with David Greenwood

Tech Talk - Marine Ply

Even if your boat is not built from plywood, you will fi nd 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 defi nition. 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, fl exible, and very easy to work with. It also has a high

Practical Diary - Five Engine Essentials with David Webber

David Webber examines fi ve vital considerations for a healthy outboard engine . . .

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

1 - Fuel fi lters and separatorsFuel fi lters and water separators are there for a reason. Clean fuel fi lters allow the free fl ow 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.

2 - Saltwater is a baddieSaltwater 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 fl ushing, 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 fl ushing 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.

bm_OCT_tech_talk.indd 60 13/09/2011 20:15

Boat Mart ● Practical Expert ● 65

PRACTICALDIY 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 unfi lled 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.

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.

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

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 saw-tooth device from a piece of 30mm fl at-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 confi rmed that the side decks had not succumbed to the damp, as dry balsa was raked out from the front of both side decks.

I then partially fl attened 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.

bm_Oct_project.indd 65 13/09/2011 19:51

78 ● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

AnglingAngling The time for catching cod has arrived. Ted Tuckerman explains how to get it right this Autumn . . .

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, effi ciency and strength. Not for nothing do you routinely see these craft being used by serious fi shermen and commercial organisations. The range goes from 5.5 right up to the 11.2 metres in

NEW FISHER PROFILETwin hulls from Cheetah

Cheetah MarineOcean Blue QuayThe EsplanadeVentnorIsle of Wight PO38 1JR01983 852398www.cheetahmarine.co.uk

length, but common to all these boats are the resounding benefi ts 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 confi dence, 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.

News Flash . . .DEFRA is set to record the fi sh we catch. The survey, known as ‘Sea Angling 2012’ is a requirement of the EU to fi nd out how many people enjoy the sport, how much fi sh 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 benefi ts the sport provides. This is a chance for sea anglers to make sure their interests are taken

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

Autumn has crept up on us and while many boat owners haul out, anglers normally stay afl oat to enjoy a bit of late season fi shing. You can catch some quality fi sh 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 fi ve fi sh 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

lugworm. A well-fi lled 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 fi shing is still available around the UK coast.

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

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

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,

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

lugworm. A well-fi lled 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 fi shing is still available around the UK coast.

bm_OCT_ANG.indd 78 13/09/2011 19:14

Boat Mart ● Practical Expert ● 79

PRACTICALANGLING ADVICE

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All about hooks with David GreenwoodThe hook is the business end of your fi shing rig and your choice has a huge impact 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 companies use a sizing scheme with 32 as the smallest, 19/0 as the largest and 1 as the average sea fi shing 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 Hooks can be short, long or regular (according to the distance from the bend to the eye) and the shapes are also suited to specifi c uses . . . (1) The Shaughinessy is heavily forged to keep its shape when bottom fi shing for fi ghting fi sh.(2) The Aberdeen is a lighter wire hook often used inland or at sea for fl ounder and mullet. (3) The Circle is built to set itself in the corner of the mouth without you having to ‘strike’.

(4) Treble and Double hooks are often attached to lures for bass fi shing and while they are strong, they have little chance of hooking fi sh with smaller mouths than the target species.

The big decision Think about species and conditions and take advice from other anglers and tackle shop staff. And if the fi sh aren’t biting, be prepared to change hook size and pattern.

TED’S TIP OF THE MONTH

My weekly report on Torquay’s Palm FM Radio website explains

where and how fi sh are being caught in the southwest.

Visit www.palm.fm for details.

Feathering in DorsetI 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 fi sh. 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 fi sh being hooked on the fi rst take, so make sure you bed the hook and don’t have the reel drag too tight.

Feathering in DorsetI 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 fi sh. 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 fi sh being hooked on the fi rst take, so make sure you bed the hook and don’t have the reel drag too tight. have the reel drag too tight.

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128 ● www.boatmart.co.uk ● Boat Mart

Quiz - I spy . . .

Answers1 - 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.

David Greenwood looks out for a few things we all see on the open water. Do you know what they mean?

Editor’s commentBlack comedy 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.

The bit at the back

Questions1 - 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?

Pub of the Month by Paul AntrobusThe 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

Alex SmithEditor

www.boatmart.co.uk

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