My good friend Pete finally left the dock and on his first outing hit a lobster pot and had it wrap on his prop. Since I have had this happen at least 4 times myself, I know it is common. The pots tend to drag under water in strong currents and can't be seen. What do other boaters do to avoid lobster pots and why isn't there an invention for a Lobster pot anti-fouling device? Those shrouded propellers being proposed a few years ago would probably do the trick. In Fishers Island Sound there are thousands of them and they are allowed to be placed apparently anywhere. I've seen them right in the middle of busy channels, etc. I would like to see them outlawed and only scuba divers can take lobsters legally. Any other frustrated boaters out there?? Dave
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Bryce
lobsta pots
Try a set of line cutter. Gloucester makes Fisher Island Sound look uninhabited. Bryce
Try a set of line cutter. Gloucester makes Fisher Island Sound look uninhabited. Bryce
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Paul
We have the same problem with crab traps...
It's often like a running a mine field of crab traps when sailing around Southern British Columbia waters. From what I've been told, the CG will remove them if they're in the channel but rarely have the manpower or resources. Paul Emley Catalina 27, "TESS",1974 Vancouver, B.C., Canada
It's often like a running a mine field of crab traps when sailing around Southern British Columbia waters. From what I've been told, the CG will remove them if they're in the channel but rarely have the manpower or resources. Paul Emley Catalina 27, "TESS",1974 Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
Line cutters
There are line cutters that you attach to the prop to cut free any line that might get wrapped. Unfortunately, I've heard that many lobstermen set their traps "illegally" in channels, etc. Before you get one of these devices though, remember that each trap apparently costs about $100 and these folks are dependent on them for their living. They're not big corporations who can afford to lose 10 traps a month. They're just poor joes trying to scrape out a living doing what their fathers and gradfathers did. Arguements could be made that they should be more careful in placement and they get what they deserve if they set them in channels but I suppose they set where the lobster are and just hope they don't lose the traps. I'm not saying not to get a line cutter, just remember that there are people depending on those traps to put food on the table & clothes on their backs. Perhaps a combination of a line cutter AND doing your very best to avoid them?? LaDonna
There are line cutters that you attach to the prop to cut free any line that might get wrapped. Unfortunately, I've heard that many lobstermen set their traps "illegally" in channels, etc. Before you get one of these devices though, remember that each trap apparently costs about $100 and these folks are dependent on them for their living. They're not big corporations who can afford to lose 10 traps a month. They're just poor joes trying to scrape out a living doing what their fathers and gradfathers did. Arguements could be made that they should be more careful in placement and they get what they deserve if they set them in channels but I suppose they set where the lobster are and just hope they don't lose the traps. I'm not saying not to get a line cutter, just remember that there are people depending on those traps to put food on the table & clothes on their backs. Perhaps a combination of a line cutter AND doing your very best to avoid them?? LaDonna
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Don Alexander
Potty Gadget
My 376 weighs over 7 tons so, with a strong wind and/or tide it would be impossible to grapple the pot line to the surface to deal with it. I sail single handed and am terrified of getting caught off an exposed headland. Here in the UK the fisherman lay very many pots in a long string with just a float at each end. They are impossible to move. Last weekend I ran over a pot marker but saw it at the last moment. I put the engine out of gear, the pot caught the keel and brought the boat to a dead stop. I did nothing and after about 5 minutes the float appeared from underneath the hull and floated clear. In view of my anxiety, a couple of years ago I made a gadget. Hardware stores sell tree branch cutters which attach to the end of a long pole. They operate via a long cord and will cut a 1" branch. I made a detachable fitting for the cutter on the end of my extending boathook. The cutter is cheap, small and light and now lives at the bottom of a locker. As with all insurances, since I have carried the gadget I have had no instance of being caught on a pot. Regards to all,
My 376 weighs over 7 tons so, with a strong wind and/or tide it would be impossible to grapple the pot line to the surface to deal with it. I sail single handed and am terrified of getting caught off an exposed headland. Here in the UK the fisherman lay very many pots in a long string with just a float at each end. They are impossible to move. Last weekend I ran over a pot marker but saw it at the last moment. I put the engine out of gear, the pot caught the keel and brought the boat to a dead stop. I did nothing and after about 5 minutes the float appeared from underneath the hull and floated clear. In view of my anxiety, a couple of years ago I made a gadget. Hardware stores sell tree branch cutters which attach to the end of a long pole. They operate via a long cord and will cut a 1" branch. I made a detachable fitting for the cutter on the end of my extending boathook. The cutter is cheap, small and light and now lives at the bottom of a locker. As with all insurances, since I have carried the gadget I have had no instance of being caught on a pot. Regards to all,
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Tom
Probably the most lobsterman freindly device
that I've seen easily attached to a sailboat is a stainless steel rod attached to the end of the keel run back to the bottom on the rudder. It is either attached to the rudder via a pivot point of maybe even can hang free..... Obviously this works very well with full or modified full keel boats with skeg hung rudders (short, straight distance between keel and bottom of rudder).....but in theory it can work on any boat so that when a line goes under the keel it will "ride" this rod all the way back to behind the rudder.... Ok with that said, I just installed a Spur's Line Cutter ;-0.....I've only snagged one Lobster Pod in 9 years and I really try to dodge them (though I'm curious to how well they work --- somhow I'd line to test it) I lOVE lobsters.....maybe even more than most people...I just don't want to have to jump in the fridgid water if I don't have to......
that I've seen easily attached to a sailboat is a stainless steel rod attached to the end of the keel run back to the bottom on the rudder. It is either attached to the rudder via a pivot point of maybe even can hang free..... Obviously this works very well with full or modified full keel boats with skeg hung rudders (short, straight distance between keel and bottom of rudder).....but in theory it can work on any boat so that when a line goes under the keel it will "ride" this rod all the way back to behind the rudder.... Ok with that said, I just installed a Spur's Line Cutter ;-0.....I've only snagged one Lobster Pod in 9 years and I really try to dodge them (though I'm curious to how well they work --- somhow I'd line to test it) I lOVE lobsters.....maybe even more than most people...I just don't want to have to jump in the fridgid water if I don't have to......
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steven f.
caution along with spurs
We sail in SW Fla and the crab pots down here are as thick as anyplace else. We've wrapped our prop several times and on one occasion melted the cutlass bearing requiring a haulout! I too enjoy crabs and lobster and I also try very hard to avoid them. I'm fully aware that there are people trying to make a living with these traps. My biggest fears are while at night, good luck seeing them, its just a matter of luck. I'm planning to install some type of prop driven line cutter on the boat next haulout. Others I'm spoken to down here say they work great, even cutting the stronger running rigging that accidently hangs over the side.
We sail in SW Fla and the crab pots down here are as thick as anyplace else. We've wrapped our prop several times and on one occasion melted the cutlass bearing requiring a haulout! I too enjoy crabs and lobster and I also try very hard to avoid them. I'm fully aware that there are people trying to make a living with these traps. My biggest fears are while at night, good luck seeing them, its just a matter of luck. I'm planning to install some type of prop driven line cutter on the boat next haulout. Others I'm spoken to down here say they work great, even cutting the stronger running rigging that accidently hangs over the side.
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Les Andersen
Spurs
Dave, I'll second Steven's note. I watched an about 55 foot power boat that the owner had only owned 9 hours wrap a 1 inch dock line around one of his his props. The shaft had a line cutter but evidentaly there is a limit on the size of line it would cut. Long story short was the owner still had to go down and cut the line off. He also seriously cut his hands on the line cutter. Line cutters might help but they are not the entire answer. Good luck, Les s/v Mutual Fun
Dave, I'll second Steven's note. I watched an about 55 foot power boat that the owner had only owned 9 hours wrap a 1 inch dock line around one of his his props. The shaft had a line cutter but evidentaly there is a limit on the size of line it would cut. Long story short was the owner still had to go down and cut the line off. He also seriously cut his hands on the line cutter. Line cutters might help but they are not the entire answer. Good luck, Les s/v Mutual Fun
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Tom
Les, I doubt that motorboater had SPURS brand line
cutter. I suspect he had a lesser line cutter....possibly a different style more like a circular razor blade. (I think the brand is called "line protectors" I wouldn't suspect that they cut as well also. I also doubt you would get easily cut with a Spurs type, it has rotating blades and they cut via a shearing action with a stationary blade.
cutter. I suspect he had a lesser line cutter....possibly a different style more like a circular razor blade. (I think the brand is called "line protectors" I wouldn't suspect that they cut as well also. I also doubt you would get easily cut with a Spurs type, it has rotating blades and they cut via a shearing action with a stationary blade.
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