South West Fletcher Boat Rally, May, Torbay

Sheppy

Sheppy

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For the last two years we’ve been holding a boat rally aimed primarily at Fletcher owners in Torbay, South Devon. This post simply intends to draw people’s attention to this year’s May rally, should they either own or know of friends who own Fletcher boats.

While I appreciate there is some forum etiquette over advertising boating events, this is entirely a participant based non profit boat rally, so I don’t believe I’m breaking any rules.

The rally, or club style event, gives owners a unique opportunity to come and meet other owners, talk shop, swap stories, see a variety of different boats, explore some of the best coastal waters within the safety of a larger group, and generally have a great weekend on the water with lots of fun.

We have a website that explains about the rally in full detail, and our current schedule is on there too: www.swfbr.org.uk

Thanks to our sponsor, we have the events pontoon available from Saturday morning through to Sunday morning. This is such a great addition to the rally as it provides that all important ‘club feel’ and allows us to meet and greet with far more ease.

If you're staying for the two days, then you're welcome to leave your boat on the pontoon for Saturday night, although we all need to embark by 10:00am Sunday at the latest. I've been told that the odd pit stop on Sunday via the pontoon shouldn't be a problem.

If you'd like to come along, please complete a registration form on our website so we know what to expect. It doesn't commit you in any way but allows us to conform to the various red tape in the harbour, health and safety etc. etc..

So if you enjoy your Fletcher, enjoy the idea of meeting up with like minded boaters, enjoy the opportunity to safely travel in some of the best coastal waters, then get planning, read our site and register. Everything you need to know is on our site, along with our contact details should you have any questions.
 
We may see you all down there as we have planned to be at Torquay on Friday and Saturday, but closely watching the weather , hope I can catch up with you all which would be good. I see from the register form that its for Fletcher boats only, may be another meeting all vessel would be aloud.

Would be great to do a Dartmouth run with you, but frustratingly it's my first day on shift, may be later on in the year I could tag along with some one going that way just to give us a confidence boost. As I something I would like to achieve this year fingers crossed.
 
Hi Mark,

You are welcome to join us - we're not doing the information talks this year so much more 'cruising in company'. We have a Maxum and an Arriva joining us as both have been Fletcher owners in the past - so bit of a rag-tag bunch :cool:. Although we're aiming for the Exe on Saturday and Dart on Sunday, this may swap if the weather dictates anyway. We're planning on moving up a gear next year if we can achieve without getting too commercial - watch this space! ;)

Fingers crossed for the weather too...

Best regards,

Robin
 
DSCF0284.JPGDSCF0300.JPGThank rb

Here some pics of our first boat many moons ago it was a fletcher GTS I think, lovely boat but merc v6 engine a monster.

Will Difo be down your way way, just closely watching the weather, our original plan was to go over to pirates weekend at Brixham and dress up in the afternoon as pirates to try and help them break the world record on saturday kids excited about dressing.

Will keep an eye out for you all in the morning, we normaly get into the Torquay slip about 10-00 ish and in the water for about 10.30
 
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i doing my best to get down there. few jobs left on the boat to do on the boat stripping down the leg tomorrow . Then must put the turbo back on change the oil fuel filter . got to change the cambelt 2x new tyres on the trailer then job done lol
 
Ryan mercruiser 1.7 turbo said:
i doing my best to get down there. few jobs left on the boat to do on the boat stripping down the leg tomorrow . Then must put the turbo back on change the oil fuel filter . got to change the cambelt 2x new tyres on the trailer then job done lol
Click to expand...

Made me laugh that as I'm doing the same! John will probably be frowning when he reads this, but I swapped my 30hp outboard for a 50hp I bought of eBay a few weeks back. Runs perfectly, but thought I'd better check over anyway - good job I did as the oil was an emulsified cream colour... Thus with 3 weeks to go, lower unit is on workbench with impeller, seals and oil on order! :rolleyes: Unit was a bit tired too so paint stripped back and currently primed awaiting paint (also on order). Have a few other small jobs to do too but nothing major - apart from the fact I'm decorating the outside of the house at the same time... Nothing like a bit of pressure to focus the mind :cool: Looks like another glorious day today too, so long may it last!

Worth adding that it's the Brixham Festival the week following the rally, so those who are traveling down and making a week of it won't be disappointed. As Mark mentioned above - don't forget your pirates outfits if you are staying the week! :D
 
My boat is about 50 yards from the MDL pontoon, so I'll wave. I don't think I could keep up with you on smooth water though:)

Still, I'll try to pop over for a beer. I missed the Old Market House meet in Brixham due to work getting in the way at the last minute so hopefully I'll have better luck that weekend.
 
Just to confirm we will be there on friday and saturday the misses has just paid torquay marina to leave our boat on the potton for friday night, will be leaving the boat for the first time ever with out my trusted watch over it??????
Just had to buy an auto bilge pump the whale supersub 560 because im worried to death wellcrafty will have a leak in the night and sink. god its stressfull leaving a boat over night, prefer the stress of trailering.

So hope i can up at last meet up with some of you for the first time, will be over brixham for most of the afternoon on saturday, friday day will be chilling hopefully, checking for leaks.

PirateMark
 
Hi Mark,
Will be great to see you at the rally. Friday is just a pub meet, so you could launch early on Saturday and recover later in the day? Just figured you could save some money? Unless of course you're spending Friday out on your boat?
Also, register on the main site if you can, just helps with the various, plus you'll get the email updates re BBQ etc.. And have you seen the schedule for Saturday? We're hoping on an evening cruise which you might want to make if you don't mind a late recovery.
I'm often on the Dart so if you're down again, just get in touch and I can take you up. Going all the way to Totnes is great but easier if you get the tides right.
 
Hi sheppy
Friday we will be on the boat but only local in the bay, may even be at elbery cove, Friday evening tea time you will spot us between the beach and harbour wall tucking into fish and chips on the boat, an evening cruise will be good but will have to see how tired my kids are.

I've just registered on the main site, where are you meeting Friday night, is it harvester.??

Would be great to take your offer up and join you in a trip to the dart, something I feel i have to accomplish this year but lack the confidence, going to teignmouth was a great confidence boost but the dart seems a lot further.
 
Oh dear Ryan, but nothing like a target date to focus the mind :-) Good luck with the repairs, I hope it all goes well. What’s actually gone wrong or is it just a more detailed service?


Hi Mark, I fired off a couple of emails last night, should give you all the info, along with my mobile. I'm coming round from Dartmouth to Brixham later Friday afternoon so may see you. I have your mobile and so may call when I'm in the bay. I know what you mean, but it’s really not very far, it certainly helps to travel in company or in waters where you know other boats will be along. I think just being prepared and having a rescue/breakdown plan puts your mind at rest. We’ll talk about Dartmouth/Totnes at the rally if you like, the other month I went to Totnes in a just fast little tender, was great fun.
 
Hi all
Just a note to say we have pulled out from Saturday visit, we have been down today and found the condition not to bad, but forecast for tomorrow is not brilliant, with rain in the morning, our visit to Brixham in the afternoon showed that the pirates weekend mooring was going to difficult as the pontoons were all ready full or allocated for vessels for saturday and Sunday so finding a spot proved difficult, we ended up being moored next to a small vessel that should not be at sea, the rotting floor was covered in fake grass and trying to not but your foot through the bottom of the boat proved a bit of a minefield.

Due to not having a full canopy on wellcrafty and the impending rain due on sat we have come home early, but the day was good and showed that me that working on your boat all winter problems can still arise and they did, while moored up we have meet a fellow user named as in here as enterprise, great hospitality from them both and a very nice boat(jealous now) thanks for the walk around.

Hope every one has a nice weekend

piratemark
 
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PirateMark said:
Hi all
Just a note to say we have pulled out from Saturday visit, we have been down today and found the condition not to bad, but forecast for tomorrow is not brilliant, with rain in the morning, our visit to Brixham in the afternoon showed that the pirates weekend mooring was going to difficult as the pontoons were all ready full or allocated for vessels for saturday and Sunday so finding a spot proved difficult, we ended up being moored next to a small vessel that should not be at sea, the rotting floor was covered in fake grass and trying to not but your foot through the bottom of the boat proved a bit of a minefield.

Due to not having a full canopy on wellcrafty and the impending rain due on sat we have come home early, but the day was good and showed that me that working on your boat all winter problems can still arise and they did, while moored up we have meet a fellow user named as in here as enterprise, great hospitality from them both and a very nice boat(jealous now) thanks for the walk around.

Hope every one has a nice weekend

piratemark
Click to expand...

Hi Mark,

The Fletcher Rally is 18th/19th/20th!

How far did you venture out yesterday? Hope you had a good day - the pictures in Solitaire's thread http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?358653-Dartmouth-to-Hamble! look fantastic... :cool:

Best regards,

Robin
 
rbcoomer said:
Hi Mark,

The Fletcher Rally is 18th/19th/20th!

How far did you venture out yesterday? Hope you had a good day - the pictures in Solitaire's thread http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?358653-Dartmouth-to-Hamble! look fantastic... :cool:

Best regards,

Robin
Click to expand...


oops
Thanks robin slight oversight there, boat things mess with your head a little, think we have decided to sell our boat get the cash in our hand and try and get a good deal on a 23-24 footer with a decent cabin, well my wifey has decided this and given me no other choice unless I want to suffer torture from here lol.

Pirate mark
 
PirateMark said:
oops
Thanks robin slight oversight there, boat things mess with your head a little, think we have decided to sell our boat get the cash in our hand and try and get a good deal on a 23-24 footer with a decent cabin, well my wifey has decided this and given me no other choice unless I want to suffer torture from here lol.

Pirate mark
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean, but I'm limited because I don't want the cost/hassle of berth/mooring. Towing with a rig upwards of 40' gets interesting and I calculated that 23' (allowing for hitch and drive closer to 28') is the maximum I'd be able to turn in the driveway. Hence the Arrowbolt at 21' leaves a bit of margin. When finished it will hopefully be more of a 'pocket cruiser' than raw speedboat. Adding heating, radar arch and a more stable cover will enable us to use most of the year.

Have you seen this one in Plymouth? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Diesel-Fl...0236781?pt=UK_Power_Boats&hash=item3a80df8a6d

I'd be very tempted if I had the room, but alas need to finish a few other projects first! :cool:
 
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