jimbofisher

dude, I was in the same situation a few months ago, so I can save you a lot of messing around. I did a lot of research, and the same model and make kept on coming up trumps every time. The ICOM IC-M31 vhf radio is the way forward. This is the model that the coastguards and the lifeguards use on the beaches (just in a slightly different case). If you drop it overboard it is waterproof, and it has a lanyard to attach it too your boat. The best feature for me, is the extra battery, which is empty, and takes six AA batteries! Genious!! If you are out for a few days you just take a good supply of AA's with you!! It has a rolling scan etc etc.....the list goes on....... As far as use, it is illegal to use on land (although if it was for a VERY good reason you may get away with it), but once on the boat, yes you are free to communicate with others. If you do not know the channel your mates will be on, call him/her on channel 16, and arrange a channel to switch to. If you pre-arrange a channel you will not need to do this, and will not clog up this channel at all (its the emergency channel). If you are in big trouble, use MAYDAY, if you are concerned about your safety, use PAN PAN to contact the coastguard. Anyway, the best news is that ICOM currently have this radio on special offer (or at least they did when I bought it a short while ago) at £120!!!! Get to your local dealer and feel a lot safer next time you are out!! OVER AND OUT.

already got one of them for the seagulls and cormorants! :boxing: :boxing:

sold within an hour to someone from worl sea fishing forum! Still wish I hadnt had to sell it, but he is a nice guy, and has said that anytime I want to take it out I can, as he lives locally to me! I have told him about this forum, so hopefully he will be on here soon. Im sure you will all make him welcome. cheers

I've had my prowler 13 for a few weeks now, and had it out several times up and down the penryn river....I love it, and that is why the next part is such an arse! My partner and I are having a baby in June, and are in the process of moving...problem is, theres f*ck all about to rent at a decent price, so looks like I will be selling my stuff to help pay for it.....this will include my prowler 13, and seeing as I got it for such a bargain price, I will sell it to the first person who comes to see it at £250!, this includes my carlisle magic paddle!! As my p, doesnt work yet, I can be contacted on 07708 740280, or jimbob6999@yahoo.co.uk. I hope I can get back to the paddling at some point down the line, and i will keep watching the forum over the coming months, even if it is just for the reports!! Cheers guys!

hummm...interesting responses there guys!!.....so who uses drogues, and who uses anchors, or drags other objects then?? A little online poll?? I'll start...I uses a drogue on my dinghy, so I will use the same on my prowler... anchors 0 drogues 1

I'm sure every one of you are conservation minded on here....I cant even imagine how any rod and line fisherman, and commercial fisherman, for that matter, could not be. There aint gonna be much point passing our kit down to our children to use when were gone if theres nothing left for them to catch....anyways...back at the ranch... eelgrass is VITAL to the marine environment in many ways....it offers protection for many forms of marine life, such as anemones, seahorses, fan worms, pipefish and cuttlefish, as well as offering a safe breeding ground, and a foraging ground for food. I know you were only joking mate, but parting the eelgrass with any object could cause damage to eggs/fry within, and also possibly damage feeding grounds, as eelgrass beds tend to be rooted on soft mud and sand, and can easily be dislodged. Thats why some estuaries, such as the Helford, for example, have restrictions in place on anchoring in and around them. Please check your local estuary for the seabed habitats underneath you before you drag anything (if you haven't already)

Hope you guys dont mind me throwing this in...but surely you cant be doing the sea-bed much good by dragging stuff along it?? Im sure you guys are conservation minded, but if you drag an anchor, or even a plastic full of sand over an eel grass bed you will do all sorts of damage, especially around spawning time....just something to think about

thanks guys....took the prowler up to the guy at wild things and he reckons its had very light use. Its date of manufacture is feb 2005, so ud think if it was shot it would have been scrapped long ago...I will try and take it out next weekend, and will post results. thanks again!

thanks bill, I will try a self rescue with waders asap. I had a post on another forum re my purchase, and was wondering if you had heard word of it... Jimbofisher, Don't know if you've had your first outing with your bargain prowler yet,but just a word of warning:The prowler went through a bad production run with a lot of leaks coming from the weakened scupper holes.I hope you haven't got one of these but please have a good paddle for an hour or more VERY close to land,ideally up an estuary or similar.Then get out,tip the yak up and check inside the front hatch that there is no water inside-any more than a cup full needs investigating. Good choice of kayak, I've had one for three seasons now and wish I'd got one earler, cheers Jon. Have you or anyone else on here heard of this problem?? Havent been out in it yet, and will be cautious when I do!! Im sure it will be fine though!

Hi Bill, Thanks for the link, very useful indeed. I would love to come to your meet in may, it would be a nice excuse for a break, as my partner will be eight months pregnant by then, and possibly a little tetchy!!! I do have a buoyancy aid, a cag, and a pair of neoprene chest waders, so I should be decked out ok. I look forward to the meet, especially as I have never been there before! Do you know anywhere on the net where I can view and buy the full range of rod holders etc for my prowler? I keep finding sites with a few items, but never the full range....thanks you, Tim.

Dont worry guys, the dude at wild things design in Redruth is sorting me out in the morning!! He is such a cool bloke, contacted him at home at 9pm, and he was happy to chat and advise me, whilst putting my mind at ease...what a dude!! Ok, so I now have a 13ft prowler, and live in the Reruth area....I have always had boats and kayaks, but this is my first sit on top, so if anyone would take a novice out for a session I would be grateful!!! cheers now.

thanks for your advice guys!....I've ended up buying a prowler 13.........for £200!!! yep, two hundred pounds!!! Its had one seasons use and is in excellent condition. It does have a few light scratches on the hull, but there is one scratch that I'm slightly nervous of. Im sure its probably fine, but its about 8 inches long and I can get a short fingernail into it. Is there a way of filling this in myself, or, even better, getting it sorted professionally. I wonder if theres a way of warming the plastic and skimming all the scratches? Just a guess, dunno really.....anyway, if anyone knows, I would appreciate the help!! cheers!!

I'm Brand new to the forum, and just about to purchase a prowler 15....I've been looking though some of the posts and noticed one which got me thinking...it was a comparison between the prowler 15 and the elite, and it was mentioned that the prowler 15 had a smaller cockpit....now living down in cornwall and having an addiction to pasties, has caused my rear-end to grow, and regularly block out the sun, and Im slightly concerned about whether it will fit the prowlers size!! In all seriousness, I'm 5ft 11ins, and weigh about 16 stone, and was just wondering if there are any other "larger" prowler owners that can give me an idea if this is ok?? Also, if there are any cornish yakers that would be up for taking a newbie out, it would be much appreciated!! cheers for now!