* Ansley W. Sawyer wrote, On 5/21/2007 7:48 AM:
Richard,

Tell them to buy Taft's guide to the Maine coast.

July and August are foggy months. Tell them that they need to be comfortable
with piloting in the fog and know how to deal with lobster trap lines.

There are so many nice spots to stop. Which ones you pick are only
determined by your abilities and your inclination to anchor out rather than
to tie up to a float.


The problem with the fog is that there is no way to easily predict it.
There is a high probability of fog, but the local conditions can
hold it a few miles off the coast, or bring it in close. Also, its a
fair bet that the morning will have reduced visibility on any given day.

As for lobsta pots, they should understand that the Penobscot Bay (and
further east) traps lines include a "toggle" which is a second float
that is on a line about 15 feet long. Crossing between the main float
and the toggle float is a sure way to catch a line. And there are
places where the traps are placed 15 feet apart, making it almost
impossible to avoid snagging one. In my catamaran I power on one
engine, with my hand on the shift lever. One should have a good plan
for how to deal with a fouled line when the inevitable happens.