Fishing Boats can be an expensive hobby as we found out to our cost last year with our Quicksilver 630 Stern Drive when its engine failed and blew two pistons. It was following that experience that we traded it in for our current boat an Ocqueteau 645 originally named Straight Laced. This was in the middle of last season so we knew we would have to spend some time with her out of the water this spring.
We booked the crane to lift us out at Noss Marina on Monday the …

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Sea fishing from Dartmouth in August really should be better than this! Having arrived at Noss marina to the sound a wind howling through the rigging of the variety of yachts we knew it was going to be lumpy out of the river. We were intent on going as the forecast was for it to blow up to a force 5/6 later in the afternoon and therefore a short trip was …

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Cruise Ship Minerva from Swan Hellenic Line enters the river Dart at Dartmouth.
Well the weather has been pretty poor lately so the forecast showed a small window of opportunity on Saturday morning. With a high tide of 0830 it meant an early start and so it was.
Having arrived at mikes well before 0800 we were quickly down to the boat at Noss Marina and soon making our way down river.
I have often remarked on how …

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Blue Marlin II our Quicksilver 630 SD has made he last trip under our ownership. Mike and I have decided we want a shaft drive in a newer boat and have part exchanged her against an Oceteau 645 through Marine Boat Sales at Noss Marina.
We had her taken out last week and Karen and I went over to meet Mike where we removed all our tackle and gear from her. It was sad to see …

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It was a glorious morning when we headed out for our sea fishing trip past the new Higher Dartmouth Ferry. There had been much interest within the local press for this new ferry boat to replace the 40 year old vessel. In the early morning sunshine we motored past as she lay alongside undergoing tests before commencing service.
She looks quite a lot bigger and the central gangway for the bridge gives it a very distinctive …

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Since we had the engine fail on us even though it has done very little work we decided that we should purchase a second hand outboard motor which we could use in an emergency. Rob the marine engineer who fixed the engine had a couple for sale, both of which were 4HP.
We tried the first and cheapest and on trial it managed to push the boat along enough for what we wanted in an emergency …

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Blue Marlin II ventured out of the Dart on Bank Holiday Monday for its first real fishing trip since its total engine rebuild. As we neared the mouth of the Dart we were passed by another vessel. To our surprise and the amusement of its owners it too was a Blue marlin – common name eh?
We left Noss Marina around 1030 and headed out to a local mark to see if any Bass were about. …

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Well it is has taken a lot longer than we thought but the Blue Marlin II has been fishing and a fish was caught first drop!!! Even though it was a Mackerel it was brought ashore. That’s the effect of no fish for quite a while and the freezer becoming empty!
Back to the start though, the engine even though it has done so few hours had to have 4 new pistons plus four new injectors …

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Well its official, our Mercury Mercruiser 1.7 turbo diesel engine is broken. Following our breakdown on the 23rd February 2009 and having been towed back to the marina Blue Marlin II was lifted out of the water and taken to the storage yard at Noss Marina where it was put on props. It had been power sprayed off and the fist thing to notice was the anti foul we had chosen had worked very well. …

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Steve arrived in his convertible sports car, after negotiating road work diversions and we set off in calm weather for the Noss marina and the boat. With the tide tables on our side for a change the typical fisherman’s optimism raised our spirits, but that wasn’t to last!
We arrived at the boat, did our normal checks and routines before setting off for a wreck if the sea conditions would allow. It takes about 20 minutes …