Lobster Pots
&
Safe Maneuvering

Comments on Navigation in Lobster Country by SV Onward

•   Vigilance for lobster pot floats and toggles is needed throughout Maine waters
⁃                     There are few areas where this hazard is not present. One is Eggemoggin Reach Between Brooklin / Wooden Boat School at the E end and Head of the Cape at the W end as you turn up the Penobscot River toward Castine

•   Maine lobstermen practice no consistent method of coordinating the color / shape of toggles and floats: It is often a complete guess to work out:
⁃                     Is it s single float?
⁃                     Is it part of a float & toggle?

•   In narrow, crowded channels it is almost impossible to pick them out; the St George River is one place.

•   Beware that in strong currents the float, and sometimes toggle, can be pulled under water or very hard to see.

•   Toggle-Floats lie mostly with the current with the wind complicating things.

•   Usage of toggle + float varies by small local areas — so you can go from a float-only area to a toggle + float area — sometimes within a few hundred yards;

•   Sunlight can totally obscure floats / toggles when the sun is forward of the beam — only to light them up brightly when it is astern.

•   If, like Onward, you have a winged keel, it is possible to hook the toggle-float line on the keel and end up dragging several behind (Onward's record is about 5) a spin about with engine in neutral; sometimes in both directions can free the mess AND it will be obvious!

Read the excellent article (below) by John Garner for Bluewater Sailing Club on Avoiding Lobster Pots in Maine.

Read the primer article (below) on Maine Lobster Gear: traps, lines, and floats.

Good practices for navigating lobster float infected waters:

1.   The helmsman must ALWAYS scan ahead for lobster trap floats!   There is virtually NO PLACE IN MAINE waters (actually N & E of Montauk) where the waters are free of traps. So putting on the autopilot and not keeping close watch is a prescription for problems.

2.   Every crewmember needs to be a float spotter – it is a mindset, a habit that needs to become second nature: constantly look ahead – the eye is best at picking up objects that move in your vision.

3.   Every spotted float in the potential path of the vessel must be announced to the helmsman – Never ASSUME they see it – announce and get a confirmation. Develop a schtick: Spotter: “Yellow-white at 2 o’clock.” Helmsman: “Got it, thank you.”

4.   Note wind and current direction relative to your course. In some areas the current direction can change back and forth within short distances due to the underwater topography.

5.   Always take a float on the down-current / down-wind side – so the line to the trap is streaming away from your course.

6.   In fog, SV Onward navigates with the Admiral, Peggy, forward with a remote control for the autopilot so she can dodge close-in pots as we move through the fog and I cannot see at the helm. My job is to “drive the chart plotter” through dense fog to keep us safe by watching the larger picture on the radar.

Equipping your Vessel:
1.   Install a line cutter on your propshaft.
2.   Carry a lobster line hook knife.

Be Safe!   Enjoy!

Here is a great article about dealing with lobster trap floats and lines.

Source: Bluewater Sailing Club https://bluewatersc.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=2507&club_id=168315&item_id=4547#:~:text=Key%20point%20to%20remember:%20ALWAYS,and%20which%20way%20is%20down.

How To Avoid Lobster Pots When Sailing Maine
By John Garner
Posted: 2/05/2023, 9:20 AM
Avoid Entangling a Lobster Pot when Sailing Maine Waters.
Lets begin by understanding what a lobster pot is so that avoiding a fouled propeller is easier, and sailing is less stressful.
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A "Lobster Pot" is a term often used to describe the metal vessel holding water which is used to boil lobsters. But there’s another meaning for lobster pot.

In Maine, a Lobster Pot is a wire trap used to capture lobsters. To mark the trap and to provide a retrieval system, floats are attached to a line on the pot. To simplify the spoken language, the floats/buoys are also referred to as Lobster Pots.

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Each buoy is attached by a long length of line, the pot warp, to one or more traps (or “pots” as they are known farther south) weighted to the bottom. Modern buoys are made of painted foam, sometimes with a stick of wood or plastic through the middle as a handle.

A toggle is a second float that supports the warp ahead of the buoy, usually smaller than the buoy, unpainted, and lying 20 to 30 feet up current or upwind of the buoy.

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The toggle is used in areas of greater tidal range or in areas of strong current. The farther east you sail, the more toggles you will see.
Avoid passing between the toggle and its companion buoy because the warp between them hangs in a shallow arc.
More current or wind will stretch the toggle farther from the buoy and bring the connecting wrap closer to the surface.

In areas with a strong current or high tide some pots may be submerged. Always wear polarized sunglasses, even on cloudy days. You will see submerged pots well before you will without polarized lenses.

In the photo above there appears to be a narrow path between two rows of pots. However, this could be described as a trap for boaters. The white float toward the middle is a "pickup buoy”. Just to the left of the white float, the corresponding toggle (circled) lies with a line just barely below the water.

Shooting for this apparent gap would surely snag a line. The simplest thing is to pass close to the downwind/current side - the same side the buoy stick is pointing. That will keep you away from the line and the toggle.

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On the downwind/current side you can safely pass a buoy very close - even touch the hull. While under sail, most pots will slip off, but don't press your luck. A wrap around your prop is a whole different problem.

If you are motoring among pots, be ready to slip into neutral and give the stern a kick away. Watch for the buoy to pop up astern before going back into gear. A knife, face mask, snorkel, and wetsuit should be standard onboard equipment. Single-handed sailors should plan on how they will safely accomplish this feat alone.

If you’re unlikely to jump overboard to free an entanglement, consider calling for help. If you’re close to a local harbor, call local boat yards and ask if they know of a diver that can come out and help you.

Key point to remember: ALWAYS pass to the down current, down wind, or down tide side of the pot.

Never intentionally pass above a lobster pot unless you absolutely know you have the room to do so. Pots have an uncanny way of letting you know which way is up current, wind or tide and which way is down. Follow the stick or the wake flowing around the buoy!

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Acknowledgement: This blog is a compilation of Mark Gabrielson and Bernie Coyne writings previously shared with the Blue Water Sailing Club in preparation for the annual Maine Cruise.
How To Avoid Lobster Pots When Sailing Maine
By John Garner
Posted: 2/05/2023, 9:20 AM
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What dose an AI have to say:

Understanding Lobster Trap Gear:
Lobster traps are marked with buoys that float on the surface, connected to the trap on the seafloor by a line. These lines can be a hazard to sailboats, particularly around the keel, rudder, and propeller.

Passing Strategy:
The key is to pass either well up-current (or up-wind) of the buoy, or, more safely, down-current (down-wind) of the buoy. Never attempt to pass between the two buoys that mark a single trap.

Wind and Current:
Wind and current can significantly affect the position of the buoy line, causing it to sag below the surface. Be mindful of this when maneuvering, especially in areas with strong currents.

Night Navigation:
If navigating at night, use a bright light and proceed cautiously. It's also wise to slow down, especially in harbors where there may be more lobster gear.

Potential Hazards:
Floating lines, not directly attached to traps, can also be a hazard if they wrap around your propeller.

Tools and Preparation:
Carry a line cutter, and consider having a wetsuit, mask, and fins on board in case of entanglement. Some boats may have shaft line or weed cutters, which can help in certain situations.

Hull Design:
Full keel boats are generally less susceptible to entanglement than boats with spade rudders or bilge plates.

Emergency Procedures:
If you become entangled, try tacking, gybing, or backing down to free yourself. If that doesn't work, be prepared to use the sails or anchor, or seek assistance from a diver.

Corinthians Annual Cruise 2025: Maine