Ugh, Maine
- Thread starter gettinthere
- Start date
There are 'preferred' channels to all the major harbors marked in green on charts. It is 'suggested' to not put traps there. There are plenty, tho not choked full. Lobstering is BIG business in Maine. The CG takes a hands off position in a lot of places. In Fla, a connected waterfront owner anchored 20 dinghies in front of his house to keep people away. No anchor lights. Reported to CG...not our problem.
As for full keels, I know 2 full keel boats that caught traps.
Now we have thick fog and want to cross a heavily potted bay. Not gonna do it, wouldnt be prudent.
As for full keels, I know 2 full keel boats that caught traps.
Now we have thick fog and want to cross a heavily potted bay. Not gonna do it, wouldnt be prudent.
Not all full keels are the same design. Some have gaps between the keel and rudder. The best design has the rudder tight to the keel with a plate closing the gap.
Our Cheoy Lee simply has no place that can catch a line while sailing with the prop verticle.
Our Cheoy Lee simply has no place that can catch a line while sailing with the prop verticle.
In Maine there are two industries:
1. Tourism
2. Lobster fishing
Period.
And they are related.
There once was the timber industry but that is long gone. There also was Loring AF Base, potato farming, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and other smaller defense interests but they are all gone or close to it.
Neither law enforcement nor the USCG mess around with lobster fishermen. They come and go and do as they please with and where they place their traps. So long as their catch is legal, no one bothers them. And perhaps as it should be.
And I'm not criticizing them. Lobstermen (and gals) lead a hard life in a brutal climate. They work hard and earn a decent, but not extravagant, living most years. So if one wishes to cruise Maine then one must deal with the pots. We lived on the Maine coast for 6 years and cruised those years and 7 or 8 additional years. We never snagged a single buoy, line, or toggle. Not once. And we put our bow into just about every gunk hole from Portland to Grand Manan Island. And how did we do that? By paying careful attention every minute while we were underway. That's what it takes, and that's why we no longer cruise Maine. Too hard, too old.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing
We go into the marina for the cheap fuel and anchor in the harbor of refuge
Ugh! I've sailed out of Point Judy for about 30 years and spent 2 nights out there, Rock and roll!Is that a good thing or a bad thing
We go into the marina for the cheap fuel and anchor in the harbor of refuge