|
FOC newsletter No 32
Christmas 2005
London Boat Show - 6th to 15th January 2006: To woo more visitors to the Show in Docklands there are even more special features arranged for 2006.
Amongst them is the first Fishing Expo – realizing that many boat owners take the opportunity for a spot of fishing when out on their boats, all the leading brands of tackle and clothing will be on display between 12th and 15th January.
There will also be an opportunity to try a watersport for free, source your ideal waterfront property, go aboard HMS Grafton a type 23 frigate and to watch the Indoor Windsurfing Championship being contested. Oh – and you might want to look at a few boats when you are there! Enjoy!
Win a RIB! There’s a great chance to win an AVON Rover 260 – register for the competition on the following website – you may just be lucky! www.londonboatshow.com/whats_your_passion/inflatables.htm
FOC Southampton Meet: It was great to meet some of you at the Southampton Show – sorry if I missed you but I’m sure you had a warm welcome from Laura & Spike from Quayline.
Quayline update : The offer is still open to one lucky 23 owner to either enjoy some free storage winter storage for your boat or have some work carried out at extremely competitive rates, in exchange for Quayline being able to use her as a template for their new build.
The are located in Buntingford, Hertfordshire and don’t mind traveling a reasonable distance so if you may be interested please let me know and we’ll see if we can tie something up.
Falcon 27 update: Quayline are in negotiations to try and secure the mould to the Falcon 27 planing hull. This would make a natural addition to their range which starts at 16ft and has the 23 as the largest offering at the moment.
If there is anyone who may be interested in having a brand new 27 built and contributing to its design and fit-out, do contact me – it would be great to see a new one out on the water.
VAT paid Proof: Having documentary proof that VAT has been paid on your boat is an ongoing problem for many used-boat owners. Unfortunately owners in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s did not seem to realize how important the original purchase invoice would be to future owners of their boats and when buying boats privately there is no check on what information gets handed over.
The two main Brokers associations have been in discussion with HM Revenue & Customs Policy Unit to try and sort out what constitutes the necessary proof and would be acceptable in the UK and also abroad. Customs have agreed to issue a notice in time for the London Boat Show to clarify the present regulations so we will be watching out for this with interest.
In the meantime, do ensure that you have the necessary paperwork relating to your Falcon as, even if you do not intend to travel abroad, lack of documentation may well affect your ability to sell your boat when the time comes.
Red Diesel Update: Well, the saga continues – however the good news is that British government has listened to all the evidence submitted by leisure boaters, the marine industry and the BMF and has issued a statement saying it is going to apply to the EU to renew the derogation for the use of red diesel. The next step is to persuade the EU Commission to accept this application which all involved admit is going to be a significant challenge.
Spring Practice: Although you may have tucked up your boat for the winter, it’s important to start preparations for the new sesason early. Close quarters handling is one of the scarier parts of owning a boat – all those other gleaming vessels jostling for the best position in a busy marina at the end of the day. And all those smug people sitting on their aft decks, glass in hand, just waiting for someone to make a nonsense of things!
If this is definitely not one of your fortes, don’t panic – practice is the key. In the Spring take the boat out to a stretch of clear water and experiment. Stop the boat and allow it to drift - see how it lies in relation to the wind and how quickly it drifts. Next, try manoeuvring at slow speed. Put the engine into forward gear but keep the throttle at tick-over. Higher revs make the boat move faster than it needs to and require faster reactions from the helmsman.
Get used to the way your boat turns around its fulcrum or pivot point – normally close to the middle of the boat when moving ahead – and how, when the wheel is put over to turn, the stern swings outwards as the boat pivots around its fulcrum.
When steering in confined spaces it is very important to remember that the rudder steers the stern, not the bow, and that the stern will swing outwards as the boat turns.
When you go astern the fulcrum moves aft towards the engine in a planing powerboat. Now, the bow will swing outwards in the turn, and in fact it will swing through a far larger arc than the stern of the boat does when going ahead. You must be careful to control this swing when manoeuvring in tight spaces.
Practise turning the boat to port and starboard. With a single engine and a right-handed (clockwise turning) propeller, you will find that the turn is slightly tighter when turning to port than to starboard (right) when going ahead. In reverse, the stern pulls to port.
Try turning into the wind and away form it. You will find it easier to turn the bow away from the wind than towards it in moderate or strong winds.
In reverse, check out how it is much easier to turn the stern into the wind than away. This is because the bow blows downwind faster than the bow, especially in planing powerboats and sailing boats.
If your boat has twin engines leave the helm centred and use the engines to turn. Put one engine into forward at tick-over revs and put the other into reverse. Use the reverse engine to control the turn by adjusting the revs as needed while leaving the forward engine at tick-over. This means you have only one adjustment to make rather than having to juggle with two throttles.
New Products! Banana Guard – Definitely the ideal gift for the person with everything! Yes, it a special container to keep your snack banana in tip-top condition until you are ready to eat it. Available in all sorts of bright colours including ‘glow in the dark’, they are just £3.97 from www.SafeBanana.com
Wishing all members a merry Christmas and a peaceful new year.
Contact: Falcon Owners Club –
T: 01730 231300
falconowners@aol.com
WANTED for future issues
Free Small Ads * Useful tips * Cruising Tales
|
