Lobster pots

[Randy Burns]

My '76 25 rudder design is a lobster pot magnet, a problem here in eastern Maine. They catch in the notch that the shaft sets into. Any suggestions?

 

[Roland]

Lobsters vs. crabs

Randy, On the west coast of Fl. we have the same problem but with crab pots.I'd like to switch with you. Much rather be steaming up a mess of Maine lobster.RolandS/V Fraulein II

 

[matt]

wire

I have some friends on the chesapeake here that ran a wire from the back corner of the fin keel to the front corner of the rudder on their Pearson. This wont work for all boats, but I'm thinking about it for my h34 -- the idea is that the wire does a pretty good job of keeping pots from the prop and from the rudder post while allowing free movement of the rudder. might be worth a look. m

 

[bill walton]

lobster traps

Haven't yet had the event you described but sever times I have hooked a trap around the keel above the wing and ended up dragging the float on one side and the trap itself on the other. This happened when the line between the trap and float was longer than required and the wind or current had stretched it out horizontally. Fortunately, I've always been under sail and have been able to hook the line with a boat hook and cut off the float and get away. I'm sorry for the fisherman who was out the work and dollars but it was easier than lowering sail or heaving to so I could jumb in and get it unhooked.

 

[Chuck]

BE WARNED

I don't recommend destroying potsand cutting gear. There's always thefishermans knot if you must cut the line. I always found dropping sail andhitting reverse to be sufficient.That gear is expensive, and in some cases you're playing with your life.And that's a fact.

 

[Eric]

My advice

Melt a LOT of butter before you set sail.