Caught!

28Apr 2017 by Scott

I’m in the final stretch–having rounded Cape Sable yesterday evening and started across the Gulf of Maine. The winds aren’t particularly favorable, so I’m doing a lot of motor-sailing.

My biggest concern now is fishing gear. The deep water lobster gear seems to be in place year-round–whereas there’s very little gear in Blue Hill and Prnobscot bays, there is as much as I’ve ever seen out here.

Sure enough, Resolute was CAUGHT around 3:15am today. Big clunking sound, engine stalls out, boat slows dramatically. Dragging behind e boat was a big offshore buoy with someone’s name, the letters “4H” and lots of reflective spangles pasted to the buoy. Certainly looks like dome kid’s 4H project to me.

Fortunately for him/her, I was able to lasso the buoy and tie it off to an aft cleat (keep in mind that there’s enough tension on this line to stop a 14,000 lb. boat). That done, I saw the main line heading down to the sea floor trailing behind the boat and a “toggle” line going under Resolute. Probably fouled on the keel or, from the sound of it, maybe the prop.

So I cut the toggle line, then released the main buoy. We started moving again (of course). Fortunately for me, a few minutes later the toggle line, together with a fully “prop-chewed” buoy also drifted astern. Now for the ultimate test: start the engine and put her in gear. No problem–all’s well!

The only lasting damage is the loss of the toggle buoy, which will make it a bit more difficult for the 4H’er to retrieve the gear.

Now…if only I can avoid the gear that starts to blanket the US side of the Gulf!

If I manage to avoid any serious fishing gear fiascos and my fuel holds out, I hope to tie up in Camden by 7pm tonight.

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