e-bubbling
Don't forget that if you have e-mail, you can get e-bubbling, the Club's e-mail update to What's Bubbling. For last minute news of West Midlands Regional course vacancies, Club trip news and occasional vacancies on trips organised by other branches, this is the place to look.
If you're not receiving it already, drop an e-mail to Bob Kempton at
robert@rkempton.freeserve.co.uk
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EXPERIENCE SCUBA The next Course is on the two Mondays 19th and 26th February. We already have some advance bookings, so if you know someone who wants to come along, contact Fletch and book a place in advance. Don't forget that they start at 7.15pm, 15 minutes earlier than 'normal' Mondays. |
THE SOCIAL SCENE
The ANNUAL DINNER details are on the front page and the Noticeboard. Plans are afoot to contact everyone well in advance of the event, so if you can't make it up on Monday night, don't worry, someone will be in touch.
Meanwhile, how about a TEN PIN BOWLING EVENING? This was an idea floated at a recent Committee meeting. If you would be interested, let Tony or one of the Committee know.
Finally, Summer isn't that far away (really!). How about a SUMMER BBQ? Would you be in favour of a return to Draycote or do you know another good site? Again, let the Committee know.
RIB UPDATE
Equipment Officer, Warren Wadeson, reports on the RIB and its new engine
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After the 'special' meeting last year it was decided to renew the engines on the club's RIB with one 4 stroke. I visited the Boat Show at Southampton and agreed a great deal on a 115hp Yamaha 4 stroke. This was fitted by Bob Spalding Ltd. of Levington Marina, Felixstowe. DJ and myself arranged to pick the boat up just before Christmas. Having got down there, we went out on the Orwell Estuary and gave it some s**t. It performed excellently.
The next task was to alter the 'A' frame to fit over the engine. Whilst doing so I changed the radar reflector to a vertical position, made a flag holder for the 'A' flag, and put for 'hooks' on for holding the ropes so we could get rid of the blue bucket fastened to the bottle rack. All went well apart from the fact that the battery had to be placed on the floor next to the transom because of some 'physics laws', so I had a stainless protector made which enclosed the battery and the new fuel filter.
So we were now ready to have a training day in January up at Draycote, which went extremely well apart from the battery box being flooded when the boat bas reversed to quickly. So I have talked to Yamaha and Bob Spalding and they have agreed to put the battery back under the seat area without invalidating our 2 year warranty. This will happen on the engines first service, along with a 'hour' meter being fitted so we know when the engine requires servicing.
The 'extra good' news is that in doing all this I managed to stick within the agreed budget. All we need now is for the RIB to get used much more by the Club.
By the way, congratulations to Lutterworth SAC on their new RIB. Keep your eyes open for a new 5.8m boat with a similar engine to ours on the back (ed).
MEMBERSHIP LIST An up to date (we think!) membership list is included with the printed issue of WB. If you spot any errors or change your address, phone number, e-mail or whatever, please contact Pete Robinson |