This morning, we left Camden to work our way down to Portland. I am taking Sandy to a James Taylor concert in New Hampshire as an early birthday present and it’s easier to drive there from Portland than from Camden. As we left Camden Harbor, we were greeted by a thick Maine fog, typical in early summer. Although avoiding lobster traps becomes second nature to experienced Maine sailors, it can be intimidating for sailors not accustomed to these waters. So I decided to write a mini-guide.
Safe Sailing Among Lobster Traps
Note: In this article, reference to lobstermen and sternmen also applies to lobsterwomen and sternwomen.
Lobster Boats
Lobster boats rarely broadcast their AIS position, answer VHF radio hails, or use their fog horns. Presumably, they don’t want competitors to know where they’re laying their traps. Maintain good line-of-sight or radar watch when visibility is restricted.
They move in unpredictable, erratic ways as they go from one trap to the other.
Some lobster boats have a crew member called a sternman, handling traps while the captain drives the boat and navigates from trap to trap. On boats with no sternman, the captain is alone and is often more focused on driving the boat and tending traps than on other vessels.
Forget everything you learned about right-of-way rules and good seamanship, etc. While you should always practice these, don’t expect the same from lobster boats.
Lobster Traps
Lobster traps are everywhere, including in busy harbors, anchorages, and narrow marked channels.
Buoys come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to identify those that belong to each owner and, equally importantly, those that don’t (poaching is not tolerated). Lobster boats must carry a buoy on their cabin roof, matching those in the water to identify which traps are theirs. Most common is the upside-down bullet shape, some with a small mast, some without. Others are lozenge shaped. Then there is a variety of other floating objects.
They are often hard to see:
- They can get waterlogged and become partially submerged
- They may trap kelp and be drawn under by its weight
- They can be drawn under the surface by strong currents
- They can be obscured by glittering sun reflection on the water
They sneak up on you. If you look away for just 10-15 seconds, the time to read a text message, you may find yourself dangerously close. If you’re on watch and need a break, make sure to call for a backup.
Fregata is a 25-ton vessel. She is slow to react to the rudders and turns slowly when she does. Therefore, evasive maneuvering needs to be done well in advance of obstacles.
Usually a 10° turn at least 3 boat lengths before the trap is ideal. The turn should be down current if there is sufficient sea room on that side. Once the buoy is abeam, a 10° turn in the opposite direction puts you back on course.
The configuration of lobstering gear comes in different variations depending on local regulations, whether onshore or offshore, and owner preference. The most common in Maine nearshore waters are:
In the case of single buoys, passing within a boat length is usually safe. Although the trapline is slack at low tide, they are made of material that sinks.
The most dangerous situation is the double buoy, especially at low tide. Both buoys float on the surface with a piece of line (rope) laying horizontally between them, just below the surface. The distance between the buoys is approxinately the same as the tidal range in the area, shortened by the sag (catenary) of the horizontal line. If you pass between them, you will snag the horizontal line on the keel or, worse, on the propeller. Fregata has a line cutter on its propeller shaft, but it can’t be relied upon, not to mention the fact that cutting lobster trap lines isn’t very kind to the trap owner. By the way, if a trap is lost, and 30,000 are each year, be assured they are required to have biodegradable doors so the lobsters in lost traps can eventually escape.
In the double buoy configuration, the buoys are often the same color, with the lower buoy being somewhat smaller and without a mast. Sometimes the lower buoy is a simple white lozenge. In any case, don’t rely on buoy color, shape or markings. Just avoid any buoys that are within 10 feet (3 meters) of each other.
Leave plenty of quarter for this type of configuration. There can be significant tidal currents in the Gulf of Maine waters so be mindful of drift. In other words, you may be pointing in a direction (bearing) that appears to avoid a lobster trap, but the current may be pushing you sideways, creating a course (COG) toward the obstacle you’re trying to avoid. When possible, it’s best to pass a lobster trap downstream. This way, the drift will take you farther rather than closer.
If for some reason, you can’t avoid going between the buoys and you’re motoring, immediately put the motor into neutral to avoid wrapping the line around the propeller shaft. Snagging trap lines on the propeller shaft or propeller itself can cause serious damage. Sometimes, a wrapped line can be freed by briefly turning the propeller in reverse. In most cases, it requires a dive in frigid Gulf of Maine water with a knife.
I had this experience last year and, believe me, even with a wetsuit, it’s cold. And it’s hard to hold your breath in those conditions. We now have an Air Buddy on board. It’s a small air compressor that stays on the surface with a long hose terminating in a regulator mouthpiece. It’s like scuba diving but, instead of a tank, you breath through the hose connected to the surface compressor.
Anyway, the sun finally broke through the fog and we enjoyed a gentle sail the rest of the way into Boothbay Harbor for the night.
