Monday, Just the one!

Monday's forecast looked just too good for the midweek orkney fishers club (AlunJ and Rich) to miss.... but recent "no catch reports" had us doubting whether we would see any action whatsoever.

Wind forecasted as westerley 9mph, just didnt happen along with the wall to wall sunshine... just thickish fog, more so as we got towards the Needles.

We tried at the end of the ledge for a few hours with only a few whiting, a strap conger, and doggies to show, so before high tide we set off to the Needles and spent the slack and ebb until the fog surrounded us at arround 3:30pm, hastening our departure.

Just the one Cod of arround 7lbs on the boat, a few good sized whiting for the coolbox, and a pleasant but very slow days fishing.

The Fog was initially so thick, it had Rich standing outside on lookout until we had passed the Needles channel and were inshore. When it cleared shortly after that we were able to blast back into the harbour on flat calm water. Thanks to Alun and Rich for the excellent crewing and good company. Hope we can do another trip but with more fish action next time. Everything worked well on the boat except the little gas stove, which needed some warming up of the cylinder.

Just an observation, but the whiting were coughing up sprats and the Cod was stuffed full of Roe, so next few weeks, bye bye Mr Cod....

Leaves us with the big question... where to go on Sunday for the comp???.

Paul

about the same, it was a hard day.
1- cod 6llb
1- whiting
1- dogfish
the fog was all the way back to lymington so not a nice run back
cheers andy

My turn to act as 'decoy' yesterday.......as almost every drop produced a dogfish on my side of the boat.... and allowed the other two to catch a few table fish!!

It was great to have a calm day [for a change].......and the gloom didn't feel at all cold.

Thanks Paul for the trip out; as you say..........recent reports make plans for next Sun's comp a tricky call!! At least the weather is looking to be OK [from this far away!]

Alun.

Well done on getting out and not blanking, gents.

Paul, I've found that using gas appliances outdoors in cold temperatures causes them some issues.

Using my portable gas cooker on the Club Open in December a couple of years ago killed it, and similarly using a gas powered soldering iron outside in cold weather killed that.

When I say 'killed', I mean that the cooker struggled to cook the bacon for the butties at the time and the next time I went to use the cooker (in warmer weather) it simply would not light. I experienced the same thing with the soldering iron (no, not trying to cook bacon with it...)

I fixed them both by taking them apart and putting them back to gether again- although nothing out of the ordinary was found with either. The piezo start on the cooker never recovered- not sure if that was coincidence but a gas barbeque lighter replaced that part. I tested this effect on the soldering iron by using it on purpose in cold weather and found the same thing happened.

It's as if something 'waxes up' somewhere between the cylinder and the jets. I believe that this is one reason why moutaineers and other outdoor types prefer the performance of liquid fuel stoves (Coleman, Trangia etc) in cold temperatures.

You may want to try your cooker before you are desperate for a butty!

You're correct, Charlie, that's one of the reasons gas is not popular with mountain types. I've been in temperatures down to -28 and would not have been able to eat hot food for the duration. The other reason is that one is often travelling in fairly remote places in the world and a multifuel cooker gives far more opportunities to re-fuel. Mine uses Coleman white fuel, petrol, diesel and paraffin. Even a farmer in a remote situation could oblige with a top up.

I suppose an alternative on the boat would be one of the old Primus pressure stoves. Placed in an old biscuit tin, they are fairly stable and easy to use. They can be picked up occassionally at boot sales; my last one cost £8.

Terry.

(Sorry to hijack this thread)

I always used the Coleman stove when out on the ground in winter with the RAF Regt (well, when we were allowed hot food!), or a hexamine (solid fuel) cooker at a push (the hexxy is messy though, and the fumes are very bad for you- thanks MOD!).

I've been experimenting with different types of cooker on the boat since the gas cooker issue arose.

The Coleman is fine in cold weather, but they aren't really considered when talking about cookers on boats. I think the trouble with Coleman cookers (I've got one) on a small boat isn't the danger from the fuel and vapours themselves (this is the supposed reason against them but it can't be any more likely or dangerous than a gas leak), more it's to do with the 2 foot jet of flame that you get when you first fire it up!
When there's not a lot of headroom you can imagine the effect... I've tried mine on deck and it was OK, but if the canopy was up I think it might be risky and using it in the cabin is just daft!
Not sure if a Primus also does this?

I have tried a Trangia (meths camping cooker) which worked very well, apart from it is designed to be assembled on a stable surface (i.e, not on something floating on the sea) and so I think there's a risk of it 'coming apart' at the least convenient moment. Having said that we did use it to succesfully warm up tins of beans and sausages on Rob's boat, with it precariously resting on his chopping board which hangs out over the side of his boat!

So third time lucky... I have got hold of an Origo cooker, which in essence is a boat-friendly version of a Trangia. So, no danger from fuel spills or vapours, or of it coming apart or it being affected by cold weather.
Being a 'Marine Solution' they are priced at a premium, but I got one for about £30 on ebay.
While it works fine on the patio, I've not tried it in anger yet (due to combination of bad weather and lack of forward drive on my Paj) but will report back when I do!

I am a bit late in adding my two penny worth to the reports from Paul and Alun. Only to say many thanks Paul for the trip out on Imagine and thanks for the numerous cups of tea and coffee that were served. The only downside to that was the number of times I had to struggle out of the wet weather gear as a result of the fluid intake.
As always I come away from these trips with a few ideas and a wish list.
Firstly I need to get some more substantial rods and reels. The present kit is OK in Poole Harbour but in 60 feet of water it is sadly lacking. So before the Spring gets here I shall be looking around for more suitable gear.
Secondly, because of the thick mist that descended around us I realised how important it is to have a Sat Nav and be able to use it to find your way back to port. More practice needed in this area I feel.
Thanks again Paul and Alun for your company, a most enjoyable day.

Rich

I've got an Origo 2000 single burner cooker installed under my helm seat.

No I don't sit on it when its alight

Its a great piece of kit..2kw and very economical


I just run it on Meths and have cut out an oversize neoprene rubber gasket to prevent evaporation of the fuel when not in use.

I have been able to light the stove easily every time even after months on non use in all temperatures.

Its the safest type of stove to use on board ...it can't explode....and is ultra reliable and easy to fill .

Only downside..other than price .. is it can take quite a while to boil a full kettle

hey charlie, when did you serve with the Raf Regt?, I left in feb 2008, spent 5 years on 51sqn in Lossie

Mike (hi jacking further, sorry!)

ps well done on the cod

This post has been edited by mike02380 on January 19, 2010 09:08 pm

Yep Pete, that's the one I mean. I think the 'anti-evaporation pads' are an optional cost extra- well done for making your own!

The Origo, with a 2kw rating should boil a kettle as fast as gas would. The thing with meths cookers is, counterintuitively, they work best when recieving a bit of a breeze though the side vents. (A Trangia works really well in a gale!)
They go through the fuel a bit quicker then of course...

Mike, I was an Oggie from 1991 to 2006 at St Mawgan (After that RLC TA until August 2009).

Well done Paul on the Cod, they are being a bit ellusive at the moment.

Alun its not like you to let others take the table fish mate.

Rich as you say its worth having the kit on the boat to get you home in the fog, but its also important to know how to use it.

I had a call yesterday from a mate concerened about the fog, because his chart plotter is in for repair. he has a second GPS, but does not know how to use its inbuilt [un mapped] plotter.
When I suggested using his radar he did not know how.

We have an origo meths cooker on the committee boat at work, if they remember to put the evaperation covers on its fuel lasts, but several have been damaged by replacing while hot, and to be honest it takes so long to boil a kettle most Members do not bother.

Charlie

er, ... hello, ..... just to get a word in edgeways...

The problem with with the gas all started because of the lack of fish. If we had been busier on the rods, everything would have been gr8.

I found that just taking the ol' cylinder out and shaking it.....warming it up between the hands worked OK, and before Jim jumps in with a quote.... yes I know !!!!

I was really pleased from
1) still managing to get a bacon butty done
2)not having to hang over the back of the propeller
3) not losing a load of gear or braid (sorry Rich...)
4) battery and starting seemingly a thing of the past...

With the fog, even having a basic trekkies handheld GPS, you can follow your track back in, but also a fixed compass doesnt lie either. None of these very costly.

Well Done Andy - I may have been in the cabin when you came past with a wave?


Paul

Funny how the chat always comes back to bacon butties and cups of tea when the fishings crap

PJ

We try to fit them in even when the fishing is good

But sometimes its easier than others

Bring on a day when the fishing is so good we take all the food home

Charlie

Quote Sinbad:

" I found that just taking the ol' cylinder out and shaking it.....warming it up between the hands worked OK, and before Jim jumps in with a quote.... yes I know !!!! "

Would I ? ? ? ? ?


Jim