• Welcome to the DeeperBlue.com Forums, the largest online community dedicated to Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing. To gain full access to the DeeperBlue.com Forums you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

    • Join over 44,280+ fellow diving enthusiasts from around the world on this forum
    • Participate in and browse from over 516,210+ posts.
    • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
    • Post your own photos or view from 7,441+ user submitted images.
    • All this and much more...

    You can gain access to all this absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

Spearing: Boat, RIB, Dory, Dinghy, Dive Kayak?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
... the diver website also mentions a smaller factor (4x-6x?) can be used if all chain is used. The 7x figure assumed a rope and chain are used ... presumably the figure used should be higher if only rope is used.:hmm[/QUOTE]

Mr X ( Tony )

Again.

Real world training is worth 100 million words on forums. I think to be honest if you are wondering about the basic stuff like anchors, leads and which bends and hitches to use then a good RYA /SWTC95 course would serve you well, gives you a better understanding of what you are doing and stop you ending up on the Local SAR flight.

You can then explain how your over hand bollox knot failed (it never did look like the picture??) and you watched your vessel dissapear over the horizon leaving you in 5c water for X hours.

Remember that a dead hypothermia victim is not dead untill they are warm and dead.

I have lots of friends who work for the coastguard and this sort of thing is so common, people who live a fair way from the sea and like the idea of getting a small boat and going out to do ( Whatever ) the tide gets up, no VHF or mobile, wind gets up, starts to get dark, they get cold, vessel goes over in the night... And nobody knows where to look because that have not told anybody where they are going and when they are expected back. CRAB FOOD BABY!

Sorry to sound so depressing but this is the reality of UK waters. Have fun and be safe but get some training first for your own sake.

My two cents.
 
That is really good sound advice from Almostafish. Very often it takes a near accident before people take such advice! Obversly we don't want that or worse to happen to you Mr X.
In such a small Island like Guernsey (3 x 9 miles) such horror stories are thick on the ground (& the sea bed) I have been rescued myself! However, Mr X , I think your threads are great, especially for us cold water divers when there are no fish around. You keep up the good work. Don't forget you are always welcome to visit us over hear, then I can show you first hand how to tie knotts & then get rescued by the lifeboat!!
 
I am ok with knots thanks (the round turn & two half hitches shown on the diver website is wrong ... a real one is apparently as good as an anchor hitch, which I can also tie).

I plan to take things slowly with the kayak -- and have no plans for anything major. Will start off in fresh water. Don't anticipate using an anchor for sometime (if at all) but I will equip the kayak with emergency gear so everything is ready and we're used to stowing, having it with us & can practice using it. Not planning any major forays. Will stay close to shore, calm, clear, warm days, good forecasts, sheltered bays, favourable tides, etc.. Not planning to push the kayaking. No immediate plans for spearing from it either...that can wait.

[Don't be too hard on those of us not lucky enough to live by the sea - people who live close to the sea also get in trouble from time to time, unfortunately.]
 
Last edited:
More Anchoring links...

More anchor links:

This one USA-based: http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/saf_anchor.htm
This one New Zealand: http://www.anchorbuddy.co.nz/anchoring.html
The original UK link: http://www.ukdivers.net/boats/anchors.htm
Another UK one: http://marinestore.co.uk/page/mrst/CTGY/anchors-chain-and-accessories/
Another US one (Florida): http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/course/p3-8_anchoring.htm
From the "Inventor of the 'Spade' anchor": http://www.bluemoment.com/anchorrodes.html

[The above was also involved in a book: [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=various02-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&path=ASIN%2F0870335391%2Fqid%3D1140552139%2Fsr%3D1-1%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2_1"]The Complete Book of Anchoring and Mooring[/ame]]
 
Last edited:
Mr. X said:
I am ok with knots thanks (the round turn & two half hitches shown on the diver website is wrong ... a real one is apparently as good as an anchor hitch, which I can also tie).

]
Click to expand...
Hey Mr X I apologize if you took my post the wrong way, my comment about tying knots was meant in jest. I really "do" appreciate your presents on D.B. As I said your threads are great & you are defenetely welcome to visit us anytime. My point was, small boats, no matter what experience "anyone" has, are potentially dangerous, I have been there!
 
Zygote said:
I have found this link :t
Click to expand...
rofl it must play havoc with the trams!
(They have some really nice BIG ones outside the Naval Museum at Portsmouth too!)

No problem Foxfish -- point taken. My kayak plans are quite modest -- just wanted to keep things in perspective.

[BTW I notice HomeBase has a small selection of rope in the 4-10mm range nylon/polyprop., some come on handy plastic winders. The longest lengths
though are only 30m for some & 50m for others.]
 
Last edited:
Reactions: Lockedin
Carrying a mobile

I was just going back through the thread in case I had missed something (I had, several -- Huan already answered several of my anchor questions way back a the beginning before I even asked!).

At least one of the links or posts mentioned using a cell phone. I recall Huan covered this (& waterproof handheld VHF) before in an earlier kayak thread (http://forums.deeperblue.net/514753-post8.html). With coverage often patchy on land I was surprised that people bother carrying mobile phones at sea. However, I was chatting with a friend who has a yacht and he said that coverage at sea around the south coast is surprisingly good; in fact he reckoned he made a good call 35 miles from the Isle of Wight (presumably from the sea rather than the mainland!). [Have seen a waterproof bag designed for cellphones - probably ideal for this sort of use.]
 
Last edited:
Reactions: foxfish
Alderney ring

[ame="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7220644200&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:UK:1"]Alderney Ring anchor retrieval system[/ame] -- OTT for a kayak but interesting any how.
 
I am offshore at the moment , 30 miles and there is phone reception so our phones have been confiscated.

Generally excellent reception within 5 miles of shore everywhere I find.
 
Reactions: Mr. X
omega3 said:
I am offshore at the moment , 30 miles and there is phone reception so our phones have been confiscated.

Generally excellent reception within 5 miles of shore everywhere I find.
Click to expand...
Not in your kayak I hope. Who confiscated your phone? On-line too . (Good info. thanks ).
 
The operators have em. We are told so as not to interfere with coms. equipt. ,explosive devices/atmospheres etc.....The reality is not doing any work (in 3 days I have tied a bit of string to a tool)rofl and reporting anything amis to the papers. Most have internet these days but this one is a bit dated as it is still dial up.

Watched a seal eating a big cod just off the bow today for about half an hour....very cool!!!
 
I think kayaks are great but my last boat - and my next - will be a 13’ Boston with a 25 hp.
Check out "v" hull Boston Whalers. They are fantastic dive boats and I reckon the 13’ would be ideal for you with a 25 hp or even 15 hp - yeah you can put on a hell of a lot more but that's water skiing!
I was first impressed by these beauties when I was one of six people taken out in an 11 foot model and we started shipping water big time (a bit overloaded, I know!). I wasn’t too concerned - close to shore and warm water - but the “Captain” just pulled out the drain plug and a lot of it disappeared! Then he just fired up the engine and drained the rest out - that sold them for me better than any advert...
Once you get to 17’ getting into these boats becomes awkward but with the 13’ and lower you just roll in effortlessly. If you get one that needs hull work it’s worth the effort and you should pick it up cheap - beware of heavy hulls as they probably have water trapped in after poor repairs - still worth the effort though but the price should reflect all the work you’ll have to do. These boats are like rocking horse shit in the States and highly prized but I have seen them in the UK at very reasonable prices. Check out these links? http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/13/originalHullDesign.html and http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979...itemZ4615054976QQcategoryZ31270QQcmdZViewItem for the rig to die for - around £2500
 
Reactions: Mr. X

I agree with seaman except would suggest a different boat - sent this to wrong thread first attempt so apologies for those ferrets who’ve seen it elsewhere...

I think kayaks are great but my last boat - and my next - will be a 13’ Boston with a 25 hp.
Check out "v" hull Boston Whalers:inlove. They are fantastic dive boats and I reckon the 13’ would be ideal for you with a 25 hp or even 15 hp - yeah you can put on a hell of a lot more but that's water skiing!

I was first impressed by these beauties when I was one of six people taken out in an 11 foot model and we started shipping water big time (a bit overloaded, I know!). I wasn’t too concerned - close to shore and warm water - but the “Captain” just pulled out the drain plug and a lot of it disappeared! Then he just fired up the engine and drained the rest out - that sold them for me better than any advert...

Once you get to 17’ getting into these boats becomes awkward but with the 13’ and lower you just roll in effortlessly. If you get one that needs hull work it’s worth the effort and you should pick it up cheap - beware of heavy hulls as they probably have water trapped in after poor repairs - still worth the effort though but the price should reflect all the work you’ll have to do. These boats are like rocking horse shit in the States and highly prized but I have seen them in the UK at very reasonable prices. Check out these links? http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/13/originalHullDesign.html and http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979...itemZ4615054976QQcategoryZ31270QQcmdZViewItem for the rig to die for - around £2500
 
Following on from my erroneous post (thanks Mr X), I have a 12' portabote (www.portabote.com) and 4 hp Mercury 2 stroke.

I am extremely pleased with it - perfomance, seaworthyness and durability. It does take more time to get in the water than a kayak but its speed soon makes up for that defict. I havn't accurately logged the speed but lightly loaded and my 200lb it planes well and I'd guess it makes at least 10 knots. With two adults it won't get up on the plane, though I have just bought a tiller extension so shifting the weight forward will probably help.

I also use a couple of trolling motors (30lb and 50lb). I sometimes mount the 30 pounder on the bow trolling mount and I use the 50 pounder in inland waters where petrol engines are not allowed. Don't expect the 'bote to plane with a 50 pounder (I recall the portabote www site suggests it can!)...

I have fitted a garmin fishfinder transducer to the transom which works very well, however this summer I plan to mount a transducer laterally so the fishfinder will (hopefully) work like a side scan sonar. Premilinary testing in calm freshwater has shown good results, identifying individual pike resting alongside structures and banksides. I intend mounting the lateral transducer using a spare minkota mount so that it may be easily panned and tilted. A transducer with a 20 degree 'look in' should view 50' at 50 yards range. If anyone has tried this I'd be grateful to discuss...

The 'bote is a good bit of kit which has stood up to 5 years of abuse very well. I'd be happy to provide any feedback if anyone has any questions or comments.
 
Last edited:
Hi Tim look at page 5 on this thread. I have also got a portabote.
 
Hello Foxfish,

Thanks for the pointer. I did a 'portabote' search before posting but of course it didn't pick up 'porta bote'...

I agree that the gunwhales are a little high so I hang some foot straps over the transom to make life easier. I also secure (spearo or scuba) kit with caribiners before trying to get in... Replacing the plywood transom has always been a 'job to do'.

10hp on a 70lb hull. Man that's wild!
 
Hi Tim, well it was wild! but while giving her the gun in some rough stuff, the seat snapped in half.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…