JDP

Ha, this is currently number 10 in the shed (I think!!...). This "should" be a relatively short project, I have a 57 TR6 that is a much bigger project, ground up build to do next with some repairs in between....

Nice project, I keep find myself looking at older classic bikes as Im getting older but I think the mrs wouldn't be to happy if I turned up with another bike!!!!!
 

A few  screen shots, so unfortunately no sound from the humpbacks. As you can see the water was a bit dirty, which isn't the greatest time to swim with seals obviously. The stingrays are very inquisitive as you can see from the underneath of the one on top of me. These common smooth stingrays can reach 4.3m in length and over 2m across the wings.

amazing pics - thanks for sharing!

Species that don't get targeted fishing or spearing don't see you as any threat, also how you interact plays a big part. Being very relaxed underwater greatly helps with breath holding but also how fish interact, even the ones we do target when hunting them. You will see tv documentaries where predatory fish swim among their pray with both hunter and prey relaxed, this can be the same when you free dive with fish. When I free dive with a speargun it doesn't seem to matter how relaxed I try to be, the fish sense Im hunting them most of the time. I can dive with cameras in housing or on poles where the fish always seem to know Im not a threat, however a pole with barbs and they keep their distance.
There's far more to their sensory lateral line in my opinion than we know about. Ive been going under water for well over 40yrs now and still feel amazed boy what I see and hear beneath the surface.

The person I took out partner has a phobia about sharks, she can't even watch them on tv (any species). So taking him out in dirty water this time of the year when both whales, seals and great whites are common sort of had me on edge a bit with him. We do see big predatory sharks while in the water but that's normally in clearer water, my kids had a great white take interest in my daughter on her last dive further offshore and a 4m+ tiger shark the trip before, again followed my daughter to the boat. Like the fish, being relaxed in the water around things that will eat you given a chance is the key to interaction with them.

Species that don't get targeted fishing or spearing don't see you as any threat, also how you interact plays a big part. Being very relaxed underwater greatly helps with breath holding but also how fish interact, even the ones we do target when hunting them. You will see tv documentaries where predatory fish swim among their pray with both hunter and prey relaxed, this can be the same when you free dive with fish. When I free dive with a speargun it doesn't seem to matter how relaxed I try to be, the fish sense Im hunting them most of the time. I can dive with cameras in housing or on poles where the fish always seem to know Im not a threat, however a pole with barbs and they keep their distance.
There's far more to their sensory lateral line in my opinion than we know about. Ive been going under water for well over 40yrs now and still feel amazed boy what I see and hear beneath the surface.

The person I took out partner has a phobia about sharks, she can't even watch them on tv (any species). So taking him out in dirty water this time of the year when both whales, seals and great whites are common sort of had me on edge a bit with him. We do see big predatory sharks while in the water but that's normally in clearer water, my kids had a great white take interest in my daughter on her last dive further offshore and a 4m+ tiger shark the trip before, again followed my daughter to the boat. Like the fish, being relaxed in the water around things that will eat you given a chance is the key to interaction with them.

Species that don't get targeted fishing or spearing don't see you as any threat, also how you interact plays a big part. Being very relaxed underwater greatly helps with breath holding but also how fish interact, even the ones we do target when hunting them. You will see tv documentaries where predatory fish swim among their pray with both hunter and prey relaxed, this can be the same when you free dive with fish. When I free dive with a speargun it doesn't seem to matter how relaxed I try to be, the fish sense Im hunting them most of the time. I can dive with cameras in housing or on poles where the fish always seem to know Im not a threat, however a pole with barbs and they keep their distance.
There's far more to their sensory lateral line in my opinion than we know about. Ive been going under water for well over 40yrs now and still feel amazed boy what I see and hear beneath the surface.

The person I took out partner has a phobia about sharks, she can't even watch them on tv (any species). So taking him out in dirty water this time of the year when both whales, seals and great whites are common sort of had me on edge a bit with him. We do see big predatory sharks while in the water but that's normally in clearer water, my kids had a great white take interest in my daughter on her last dive further offshore and a 4m+ tiger shark the trip before, again followed my daughter to the boat. Like the fish, being relaxed in the water around things that will eat you given a chance is the key to interaction with them.

A few more been as very little is being posted, well apart from @JonC BBQ. I know how much Mr.C enjoys my pictures🤩
 

 
 

A few  screen shots, so unfortunately no sound from the humpbacks. As you can see the water was a bit dirty, which isn't the greatest time to swim with seals obviously. The stingrays are very inquisitive as you can see from the underneath of the one on top of me. These common smooth stingrays can reach 4.3m in length and over 2m across the wings.

A few  screen shots, so unfortunately no sound from the humpbacks. As you can see the water was a bit dirty, which isn't the greatest time to swim with seals obviously. The stingrays are very inquisitive as you can see from the underneath of the one on top of me. These common smooth stingrays can reach 4.3m in length and over 2m across the wings.

A few  screen shots, so unfortunately no sound from the humpbacks. As you can see the water was a bit dirty, which isn't the greatest time to swim with seals obviously. The stingrays are very inquisitive as you can see from the underneath of the one on top of me. These common smooth stingrays can reach 4.3m in length and over 2m across the wings.

Left the rods at home to take a newbie out for a snorkel, thought I'd better practice the tour for when Mr C heads over here on his shark wrangling tour!!!!!

Mid winter water temp of 14'c again today for my part of the coast. The water has turned far dirtier than a few days ago which isn't the best conditions for snorkelling offshore among seals, it didn't help when the new fella spotted a seal on the rocks with its guts hanging out from a shark bite!!!!!...I did give him plenty of opportunities to back out of getting in which he declined.
The seals were extremely excited to join us, charging around us like torpedo's. It didn't take long for the attention of several large stingrays and small port Jackson sharks to join in with the fun. After a while I decided to move us to another spot after getting a bad feeling on this one and the amount of attention we had attracted by the marine life. 

Second spot was very similar with poor water clarity and heaps of excited seals. A pod of humpbacks must of been pretty close as we could hear several different whales singing.
Not really known by many is that we get a fair amount of green turtles here, these are considered to be more of warm water species. At one point I was down on the bottom watching a turtle graze on algae among the seals while we could hear the whales in the background.

Headed home before the sun got to low and the air temp dropped even more, still got cold feet 8hrs after the dive thanks to lending my cold water wetsuit to my guest.
 

Jeez you are my hero Jon.!! 
Sounds like an amazing dive though! 

Left the rods at home to take a newbie out for a snorkel, thought I'd better practice the tour for when Mr C heads over here on his shark wrangling tour!!!!!

Mid winter water temp of 14'c again today for my part of the coast. The water has turned far dirtier than a few days ago which isn't the best conditions for snorkelling offshore among seals, it didn't help when the new fella spotted a seal on the rocks with its guts hanging out from a shark bite!!!!!...I did give him plenty of opportunities to back out of getting in which he declined.
The seals were extremely excited to join us, charging around us like torpedo's. It didn't take long for the attention of several large stingrays and small port Jackson sharks to join in with the fun. After a while I decided to move us to another spot after getting a bad feeling on this one and the amount of attention we had attracted by the marine life. 

Second spot was very similar with poor water clarity and heaps of excited seals. A pod of humpbacks must of been pretty close as we could hear several different whales singing.
Not really known by many is that we get a fair amount of green turtles here, these are considered to be more of warm water species. At one point I was down on the bottom watching a turtle graze on algae among the seals while we could hear the whales in the background.

Headed home before the sun got to low and the air temp dropped even more, still got cold feet 8hrs after the dive thanks to lending my cold water wetsuit to my guest.
 

Left the rods at home to take a newbie out for a snorkel, thought I'd better practice the tour for when Mr C heads over here on his shark wrangling tour!!!!!

Mid winter water temp of 14'c again today for my part of the coast. The water has turned far dirtier than a few days ago which isn't the best conditions for snorkelling offshore among seals, it didn't help when the new fella spotted a seal on the rocks with its guts hanging out from a shark bite!!!!!...I did give him plenty of opportunities to back out of getting in which he declined.
The seals were extremely excited to join us, charging around us like torpedo's. It didn't take long for the attention of several large stingrays and small port Jackson sharks to join in with the fun. After a while I decided to move us to another spot after getting a bad feeling on this one and the amount of attention we had attracted by the marine life. 

Second spot was very similar with poor water clarity and heaps of excited seals. A pod of humpbacks must of been pretty close as we could hear several different whales singing.
Not really known by many is that we get a fair amount of green turtles here, these are considered to be more of warm water species. At one point I was down on the bottom watching a turtle graze on algae among the seals while we could hear the whales in the background.

Headed home before the sun got to low and the air temp dropped even more, still got cold feet 8hrs after the dive thanks to lending my cold water wetsuit to my guest.
 

You could leave it at Riverside Boatyard (opp Morrisons). My mate has his offshore 25 on its trailer over there. The place is secure, and you have the luxury of the on site grease monkey ( Jack), who’s work is excellent.
The cost isn't much different to mooring, but your boat is on dry land and in a secure compound.
Launching on their slip is similar tidal wise to polly steps, but easier because their slip is not in the tidal flow and also has a pontoon.

You're naughty!!!!!

I seem to remember that they have very low freeboard, possibly designed for use on enclosed waters? Not sure when they stopped making them but even the youngest must be over 20 years old by now, so all the usual issues would need checking carefully (spongy deck, rotten transom, condition of hull GRP, is the trailer sound etc)
At that size they can be solo launched - I solo launched my previous boat, a 16.5ft fast fisher, on shingle so I'd say you'd have no trouble.
They don't weight much (less than 500kgs I believe), so towing would be possible with any vehicle, but launching down a slippery slipway may require a vehicle with decent levels of grip.
Are you thinking of coming over to the dark side and investing in a boat then?

Nope. The rules in the UK regarding inflammable fuels are very specific.
As an example, even though my son is a government employee empowered to implement the HGV laws in every respect, he still has to have a valid ADR certification ( the same as any fuel / oil tanker driver) to drive any type of fuel tanker, even if it is only a couple of metres.
 
 
 

Just a quick trip out for some fresh seafood for my wife’s dinner. Glamour conditions, though the water is getting cold now at 13’c.

What a pain in the arse, there has to be an easier way around this, can't boat owners or businesses that use more fuel get some kind of permit. No wonder the boating community is so small.

I tend to buy and sell boats quite often but have always found the bigger ones I’ve owned get used the least. 
That sweet spot for ease of use  either solo or with a couple of friends is around the 4.5-5.5m for me. At this size and with a decent 4 stroke they cost very little to run.
In the smaller sized boats here in Aus they tend to be manufactured so they will fit in garages, often with folding down consoles or Bimini tops etc. You can also get a trailer attachment which allows the front section of the drawbar to be swiveled, so the front of the trailer is the same length as the front of the boat. You can also turn the outboard on full side lock and angle the trailer slightly to gain even more room to get a boat inside.
In terms of using small boats, depending on the boat build you can often still use a small boat in very similar sea conditions to bigger boats. When my daughter has to cancel her charter trips in the 50ft cat we often head out in either my 4.4m centre console or her 5m zodiac.
Keeping your boat at home has many advantages, from keeping it of the weather to better security etc. There are also many other advantages too, such as being able to head to the garage and tinker with it when ever you please. 
 
The big thing with trailer boats in the UK is boat ramp launching facilities, or should I say lack of them. Here even in a small coastal town of 8000 people we have 13 council maintained free ramps, all with boat wash down facilities and fish cleaning tables. The travelling boat trailer communities are welcomed around the country as they bring in tourism $$$$. Here we tow boats far and wide around the country, with many of us towing boats to the far north during winter to find some mid 30’c further from our cold waters here in the south. This is another huge advantage obviously, being able to tow the boat where the fish are or to target different species around the country. 
 
Gale force winds, big ocean swells etc doesn’t mean the boat has to stay home, simply means looking for inland waters and fishing the weather protected side of rivers, dams and lakes etc, just like with the kayaks.
 
In terms of electronics, I had been using Navico gear, either simrad or lowrance for many years but found the units constantly had issues so moved over the Garmin gps map models which I’ve been very happy with. Many of the commercial game boats here also use Garmin these days. 
 
You can get decent marine charts for most units which show detailed survey sea floor mapping. These charts will show wrecks, reefs, ledges etc etc in high detail which is a huge advantage to how most of us used to fish. Side can, downscan and traditional transducers all have their place when finding fish. There are hundreds of tutorials online showing how to get the most from sounders, which unfortunately most people decide to ignore and would rather complain it’s all gimmicks simply because they haven’t bothered to learn how to use it. 
If you get the opportunity, always go with as much power as legally allowed on any vessel. More power will often equate to running at lower rpm, giving better economy but can also add to better safety if outrunning weather systems when you have a heavy load onboard. 

Just a quick trip out for some fresh seafood for my wife’s dinner. Glamour conditions, though the water is getting cold now at 13’c.

We each caught our daily bag limit, my daughter had a friend she was giving hers to and I had elderly neighbours who wanted two of mine and the young lad took his for his family. So even though 9 lobsters seems like a big haul a few abalone and muscles were added to the mix.

Just a quick trip out for some fresh seafood for my wife’s dinner. Glamour conditions, though the water is getting cold now at 13’c.