Hello from newbie

[rogerblack]

Hello, enjoyed reading some of the forum, just joined a couple of days ago.

I have a SIB per my profile. Used to use it years ago on the Thames and south coast (mainly Chesil beach) but latterly started using it around the Fife coast of the Firth of Forth. ( I split my time between Berkshire and Fife, plus the trip to France).

I've been a bit nervous going any distance away from shore - although my outboard has proved to be reliable, there's not really room for a spare outboard so I only have a pair of oars as backup. I recently gained my Short Wave Certificate so I'm about to invest in a VHF handheld (seems to be coming down to Standard Horizon HX870E ...) which hopefully will never need to use in emergency but reassuring just in case. And the GPS functions will be handy.

The meet in Oban sounds tempting although my 'camping' is done in the luxury of a motorhome rather than tent these days so not sure if that would work.

Any tips or contacts appreciated

[Martin]

Evening Roger, and welcome to F-Ribs & Sibs
We've some cracking guys on here, so hopefully you'll feel right at home and enjoy participating in the forum.
The Scottish gathering is something we're looking forward to, so if you do fancy it, I'm sure we can work something out to accommodate you & your desired accommodation . (Keep your eye on the thread for updates)
The vhf you've mentioned is the exact one I've singled out today, it looks a cracking bit of kit, pretty sure it's about to drop into my shopping basket too

Once again,

Martin

[Paul]

Hi there Roger and at last there's another 'southerner' on the F-Ribs and Sibs forum other than me
You're certainly not the only one not wishing to venture too far from shore alone regardless of engine size and reliability without an auxiliary
Hence why it's always nice if you can get out on the water with another boat / forum member to enable you both to be more 'adventurous'. If you intend going out, then post it up and see if anyone can join you if you want them too
As Martin says the Scottish Gathering is a bit of an adventure for those taking part. Most of us like you enjoy our creature comforts of caravans and motor homes but it's only for 1 night 'wild camping' after all and yes it's a bit like us 'reliving our youth' in wonderful scenery with 'like minded people'....nowt wrong with that
It's a 'team effort' so no one gets left behind and no one left to struggle with kit as it can be shared out for the struggling smaller boats.
No 'ageism' as those signed up so far range between 30's and up to their 70's, so if you fancy joining us I'm sure we can work something out between us whether it be in your own boat or catching a ride with one of us you'll be very welcome
On the VHF radio I have the HX851E and very happy with it, so the replacement HX870E should be the b@llcocks
Welcome aboard matey

Paul

[Admin]

Welcome To The Forum RogerBlack.
Although f-ribs and sibs is a newish forum, we've got a smashing bunch on here who are willing to help and advise anyone with anything... Well, at least we try !!!

Enjoy the forum Roger, and if there's anything you think is missing, ask one of the members, and I'm sure it will get fixed.

Regards,
The Admin Team

[rogerblack]

Many thanks for the warm welcome

Will keep an eye on the Oban details; somewhere in the garage there should be a couple of small tents from my daughter's Guide days some years ago, might be tempted to try one of them out to see whether my old bones can still cope with real camping . . .

Meanwhile, if anyone fancies joining me on the Forth sometime during July or August, it would be great to have the reassurance of company on the water. Might also head up to the Moray Firth for a few days to catch up with the dolphins at Chanonry Point.

I had narrowed the shortlist for a VHF handheld down to three models, being the ICOM IC-M91D, Lowrance Link-2 and Standard Horizon HX-851E with my favourite being the last - however with it being now superseded by the HX870E with even better spec, that has clinched it so I'm dropping lots of hints for that as a combined 60th/Father's Day pressie

Paul, I'm not far from you, used to live in Forest Park but we moved just along the road to Finchampstead about 20 years ago. Might be tempted to bring the kit back down south after our summer stay up in Fife, if you fancy a joint south coast trip around September time?

Thanks again for the friendly messages, I look forward to 'eyeballing' some of you sometime soon.

[Martin]

Well I hope you make it Roger, Apart from the fact it will be a great event, You and Peter Bailey are going to get on like a house on fire
I think you've just listed his favourite haunts
Your radio saga is just the same as I had, you've also singled out the three I have... and yes, i'll be going for the latter also
Out of curiosity.. Your compass kudos, is yours & are they all 2.5metre boats, or do they make different sizes?

Enjoy the forum, and if there's anything we can help with, just yell

Regards,
Martin

[philpot]

A very warm welcome Roger, not the famed Roger Black the runner I take it or do we have a famed athlete joining our ranks, well whatever, welcome.

Your choices for the radio are down to 3 but I would reduce it to 2, ICOM and Horizon. These two have been used by hundreds if not thousands of kayak anglers who must have both tough and waterproof units for the kayak and these two makes stand out from all others.
I have the Horizon HX751 for a few years now, faultless piece of kit. Stick with the two makes and you will not go far wrong.

Phil

[rogerblack]

Hi Martin

As far as I recall there was only the one model but I don't believe they are available new any more. I've had mine for over twenty years, it used to get regular use on the Thames, I even bought an annual licence so I could go through the locks. Used to launch it either at Runnymede or at the old ferry point near The Flower Pot at Aston - took it to Henley Regatta one year when my daughter was only a wee lass, with her straw hat, and a posy on the bow. We had our picnic basket and champagne, it was amazing how friendly the atmosphere was, very eclectic and no snobbery whatever type or size of boat you were in. Apart from the Thames and a few holidays at Chesil beach and Hunstanton* some years ago, it has been in the garage unused for years until I took it up to our place in Fife last year and launched it out on the Forth at Burntisland a couple of times. Hopefully I'll have had a few more jaunts this summer before joining you in Oban.

*Hunstanton taught me to beware shallow beaches, as we didn't notice how far the tide had gone out until we had to lug it for seemingly miles back to the shore ... luckily I had my brother-in-law on board to help carry it


Hi, Phil

I'm the original Roger Black as I'm older than the runner!
I managed to confuse Seb Coe when I was introduced to him a few years ago. Chris Akabusi visited my daughter's primary school and was surprised when she told him her dad was Roger Black. I did finally meet my namesake a year or so ago. His wife is involved with a children's theatre charity and he was sitting on the bench outside the Yvonne Arnaud theatre in Guildford waiting to collect her when we arrived to collect our tickets for the evening performance. I wandered over to him and flashed my photocard driver's licence - we then had a good chat, he is a really nice, friendly bloke.

Anyway, enough of the name dropping! Thanks for the input on radios, Standard Horizon HX870E is my final choice. I was going to drive down to one of the dealers on the south coast just to take a look first but in view of the recommendation from you and a couple of others I'll go ahead and order it online on Monday and save the fuel. Best price seems to be £189.00 carriage paid unless anyone has found any better . . .

Getting quite excited about the Oban trip now - Mrs B thinks I've gone mad!

[Martin]

£189 is The best price I've found too.
Marine Chandlery I think it was, with free postage as you say

[fastasfox]

YELLOW