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Fishing from a boat...
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sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 07 12:52 pm    Post subject: Fishing from a boat... Reply with quote
    

Jonnyboy's latest meisterwerk can be found here.

Please post questions, suggestions and fan-mail in this thread.

Northern_Lad



Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere
PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 07 12:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Why isn't he wearing a wet-suit, and what happens if you can't reverse a tank towing a trailer?

Green Man



Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 5272
Location: Rural Scotland.
PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 07 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Looks great, well done.

dougal



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent
PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 07 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I believe that as per the previous discussion, a vhf radio can be bought and licensed without the operator necessarily being licensed. It may then be used for distress calls by an unlicensed operator.

I'd suggest that it should be emphasised that one should never consider putting to sea in a small craft without having checked the latest weather forecast - and you'd probably check the tide table before leaving home! Is the wind going to be blowing offshore or onshore? How are conditions expected to change?
If you are relying on a mobile phone for communication, *do* check that its fully charged, and carried in a waterproof pouch of some sort...
Remember that when you call 999, you can ask for the Coastguard...

My personal opinion is that a chart of the waters you might use is a pre-requisite, so that you can be aware of restricted areas, foul anchorages, water depths (remember the tide), tidal streams, landmarks and buoys etc
Taking the chart with you (and a sighting compass) allows you to navigate and have a decent idea of your position... a cheap hiker's waterproof GPS is a nice addition, not a substitute.

And that its never a mistake to have warm and waterproof clothing with you in the boat. Similarly some drinking water and high calorie food (like the hikers' Kendal Mint Cake)... But don't forget the sunscreen, the reflection from the water means you can sunburn twice as quickly!

A radar reflector (of some sort) is one important piece of safety kit. Its particularly important if there are large vessels using your stretch of water. I'm prejudiced being here in the Straights of Dover where there is a *lot* of traffic. In a small boat, you are much more visible to radar than to the eye -- IF you have a radar reflector!

Test your backup propulsion! If its a pair of oars, try rowing your boat (especially against a breeze) so that you have a realistic appreciation of the backup capability...

The anchor, and its line. You need much more line than the depth of water! A common suggestion is that the scope of an anchor should ideally be 10. So to anchor in 5m of water depth, you should pay out 50m of anchor chain/line... The anchor will only hold against a near *horizontal* pull.
Hence its kinda important that you know how much line you have, AND how deep the water is (chart + tide).
A 'sea anchor' might be useful to restrict drift and keep the boat most comfortably aligned while fishing - quite apart from its safety aspect!

Rules of the road, regulations and consideration for others. There are standard rules of precedence, but they may be over-ridden by local regulations - which may apart from anything else limit speeds in harbour or close to shore. You ought to learn something of the general sea rules and you *must* discover what local rules (and signals) apply - For example:
Quote:
Dover Harbour.

139. The following signals for regulating the traffic into and out of the Admiralty and Commercial Harbours, Dover, through the Western Entrance, are shown from the Harbour Board Flagstaff which is situated on the Admiralty Pier Extension, at a distance of 400 feet within its outer end:-

2. By Day. - Three Red Balls, in the form of a triangle, will indicate that a vessel is leaving the Harbour or that the entrance is obstructed. No other vessel is to approach so as to obstruct the entrance whilst this signal is shown.

3. Two Red Balls, vertical, will indicate that a vessel is approaching the entrance from seaward, and no vessel is to leave the Harbour.

4. Three Red Balls, vertical, will indicate that the entrance is closed, and vessels cannot enter or leave. ...

One of the aspects of consideration is to avoid bothering/damaging/endangering others with the wash from your craft...

The sea can be a wonderful, open, private place - BUT it is terribly, terribly unforgiving. Play safely!

crofter



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 07 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good post Dougal, I will just add that you need sunscreen on the bottom of your nose (!) and a spare / extra fuel supply is wise.

Noodles



Joined: 16 Nov 2007
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 07 2:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Question for the author of the article - where did you launch from? It looks familiar but I can't quite place it...

Northern_Lad



Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 07 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Can't really speak for him, but probably somewhere in Northern Ireland.

Welcome, by the way, super to have you Noodles.

mark



Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 07 3:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

main tips to remember when fishing from a boat

- if one of your colleagues throws up over the side congratulate them on producing some bait to draw in the fish. Put your hook where their puked

- drinking cans of beer won't stop you puking ovcer the side but you won't care so much!!

- having a big bacon breakfast before you set off to "settle your stomach is a serious mistake!

- almost everything to do with fishing from a boat (eating lunch, guttin gfish on way back, baiting hook) can make you feel queasy!

other than that its a load of fun!




happytechie



Joined: 24 Jan 2006
Posts: 408
Location: Surrey (at the mo.)
PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 08 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've said this before but I'll say it again.

a VHF radio will enable the coastguard to give the good people from the lifeboat your exact(ish) position when you call for help. A cell phone is really not an alternative.

a well maintained engine and a spare tank of fuel and perhaps a cheap satnav if you're feeling flush. Stay within sight of the land and look backwards a few times as you leave the harbour so you know what it looks like from the other side

hope you all have good fishing

edit, I've just read jonnyboy's article and you DO NOT require a license to operate a VHF radio in an emergency.

RichardW



Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales
PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 08 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Also the boat licence is now free.

Justme

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 08 7:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

happytechie wrote:

edit, I've just read jonnyboy's article and you DO NOT require a license to operate a VHF radio in an emergency.


Correct, but you do need a licence to have one on the boat in the first place, and to make general communications. Unless that regulation has changed without my knowledge

link

RichardW



Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 08 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Jonnyboy wrote:
happytechie wrote:

edit, I've just read jonnyboy's article and you DO NOT require a license to operate a VHF radio in an emergency.


Correct, but you do need a licence to have one on the boat in the first place, and to make general communications. Unless that regulation has changed without my knowledge

link


One thing I have learnt is never to believ any thing from some one with a vested interest (in this case providing training). There first statement on that link is wrong.

Quote:

A VHF licence is compulsory for both the equipment and for the operator

For a vessel owned by a UK citizen or registered in the UK this means that all maritime radio equipment must be:

compliant with national requirements
covered by a Ship Radio Licence
operated by (or under the direct supervision of) a holder of a maritime radio operator's certificate


You would be better looking here https://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/maritime/

Free (if applied for online) life time ship licence.


Justme

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 08 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes, but you still need to take and pass the course first.

Quote:
If you wish to use the online system to apply for your amateur radio licence, you must have:

Passed the RSGB RAE certificate from June 2003, and need to supply:
Candidate number;
Type of examination passed (e.g. Foundation, Intermediate, or Full);

RichardW



Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 08 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

So to get a free one you have to take the test but pay £20 & you dont? Is that the operators licence or the ship / boat licence?
Had a scan round & cant find that info.

Justme

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 08 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It's a bit confusing but the VHF licence is free online but you have to pay £20 to get a paper copy.

In either event you have to take and pass an approved course to be able to apply for the licence.

EDIT: I belive this applies to the operators licence, I registered and went through the links to register for an amateur licence.

However, in any event, as I recommend in the article, if you have sufficient funds to do so it is better to take the course, get a licence and legally own the equipment. And I still think that £200 is a reasonable budget for that.

I'm happy to make any additions to the article to clear this up. But it is intended as a simple introduction rather than the only thing you will ever need to read on boating.

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