Pots 30 nm offshore in 50 meters of water!

[Gary Fox]

One problem is the weak design of most yachts rudder and prop arrangements. Our old westerly was a classic example: Prop just sticking out with no skeg, semi balance rudder with a semi skeg coming alf way down it so any rope goes right in the slot between rudder and semi skeg, - and it did both on moorings and from pots off padstow.

Our present boat is much superior in that respect in that there is simple bar from bottom of keel to bottom of rudder. It cant completely prevent a rope getting to prop but it makes it much less likely so we sail less nervously in poor visbility.

If you look at any lifeboat and many fishing or work boats you will see similar arrangement of skegs, bars or even tunnels

Of course the racing boys will say their boats are optimised for performance not rope tangle avoidance, but they have been sold a dream. Bright sunshine, brisk winds and open untroubled waters - brocure stuff and certainly not constant for a cruising lad or lass.

But lurching along in the haze of Start Point there were many a floating thing that could impede the unprepared, and the F5 chop didnt make them any easier to see.

So before we criticise the fishing folk how about wondering about the yacht designers?

I don't worry if I don't see a pot in time..

 

[oldmanofthehills]

I don't worry if I don't see a pot in time..
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exactly!

Big fishing boats and work boats have props that would cut through most lines in they tangled, but add guards. Us yachties use boats that could readily be trapped or endangered if tangled (got that teashirt) We are ok though on our present craft though rudder is too smallhave boats

 

[Tranona]

I don't worry if I don't see a pot in time..
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Neither did I when I had a similar keel and rudder arrangement until I picked up a chunk of net in the middle of the channel. Hooked round a prop blade , filled the aperture, stopped the engine and jammed the rudder. Manged to free the rudder sufficient sail back north to Sandown Bay where I went over the side to clear it. still have the piece of net in my garage as a "trophy"

Wrote it up in PBO in 1987 and the fee paid for the rope cutter I fitted. No problems in the 20 odd years after that even though some years signs of ropes being cut with bits still caught in the cutter.

So while the probability of catching something is much lower, the consequences can be just as devastating!

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Yes i will try if i can get very thin rope cutter behind my prop. Dont want to have to shift engine or buy new prop shaft

 

[Tranona]

You don't have to move the engine, just fit a spacer between the engine and gearbox coupling. This effectively lengthens the shaft to create the space. Details here www.ropestripper.com

 

[Beneteau381]

Yes i will try if i can get very thin rope cutter behind my prop. Dont want to have to shift engine or buy new prop shaft

Just a heads up, some prop seals need a flow of water up the prop shaft "tunnel" Some rope cutter manufacturers warn about the minimum space needing to be left to allow this when fitting their products.

 

[zoidberg]

I don't worry if I don't see a pot in time..
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Good to see a proper 'chentleman's yacht again.

 

[WoodyP]

My suspicious mind wondered if something of higher value than crabs or lobsters were below the buoys. Having come across them up to 80 miles off shore, l think that the cost of diesel will be greater than a few shell fish. Passing unlit fishing boats only added to my suspicion.

 

[zoidberg]

My suspicious mind wondered if something of higher value than crabs or lobsters were below the buoys. Having come across them up to 80 miles off shore, l think that the cost of diesel will be greater than a few shell fish. Passing unlit fishing boats only added to my suspicion.

Some years ago, transiting up off the west coast of Eire, some 4 miles off Clare Island, we spotted a very large fluorescent buoy up ahead. Thinking it had broken from a trawl, we slowed to pick it up, and I went forward with the boathook. Just moments from hooking the rope that dangled down into the clear water, I backed off and cleared us away. Dangling down there, perhaps 10 feet submerged, was a large rectangular block - like a weekend suitcase - wrapped in shimmering polythene.

I was quite certain it was drugs, and just as certain that eyes would be watching it - whether 'likely lads' or the Gardai, didn't matter. If we hauled it on board, our sailing holiday would be brought up short pdq, I was convinced.

Yes, we called it in.... but not until we were 50 miles clear of the site.

 

[Scillypete]

Are you a fisherman ? Or do you have fishermen attachments ?

It would help to understand your responses.

no I am not and never have been a commercial fisherman, I do hobby fish. I know a good few commercial fishermen but no more attachment than that. Just looking at it from any water users side, as far back as boats came into use people have been fishing from them, yachting on the other hand is a more recent hobby and while they are out there trying to earn a living we sailors are mostly doing it just for fun

 

[capnsensible]

I don't worry if I don't see a pot in time..
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I don't worry about woodworm. ?

 

[Gary Fox]

Some years ago, transiting up off the west coast of Eire, some 4 miles off Clare Island, we spotted a very large fluorescent buoy up ahead. Thinking it had broken from a trawl, we slowed to pick it up, and I went forward with the boathook. Just moments from hooking the rope that dangled down into the clear water, I backed off and cleared us away. Dangling down there, perhaps 10 feet submerged, was a large rectangular block - like a weekend suitcase - wrapped in shimmering polythene.

I was quite certain it was drugs, and just as certain that eyes would be watching it - whether 'likely lads' or the Gardai, didn't matter. If we hauled it on board, our sailing holiday would be brought up short pdq, I was convinced.

Yes, we called it in.... but not until we were 50 miles clear of the site.

' I am quite certain it was drugs..' Is that based on previous experience ?

 

[Gary Fox]

I don't worry about woodworm. ?

At least I can heave-to to avoid it..

 

[gordmac]

Does anybody know what the pots about 30 miles offshore in about 50 meters of water are trying to catch? Found them as I crossed the Wash and the Firth of Forth and just a tad surprised to see them.

I would think prawn creels would be most likely.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

no I am not and never have been a commercial fisherman, I do hobby fish. I know a good few commercial fishermen but no more attachment than that. Just looking at it from any water users side, as far back as boats came into use people have been fishing from them, yachting on the other hand is a more recent hobby and while they are out there trying to earn a living we sailors are mostly doing it just for fun

It would be nice to have a commercial fisherman's perspective. A friend of mine has just sold his commercial trawler. He has stopped due largely to
lack of fish on the East Coast. To make it pay, he would have to travel long distances and be away for lengthy periods.

 

[lustyd]

And after dark?

My Radar picks them out pretty well to be fair (B&G Halo 20+). Certainly better than my eyes in daylight.

There's one in the middle of the TSS on the way to the Scillies. Seemed an odd choice of position to say the least.

 

[capnsensible]

My Radar picks them out pretty well to be fair (B&G Halo 20+). Certainly better than my eyes in daylight.

There's one in the middle of the TSS on the way to the Scillies. Seemed an odd choice of position to say the least.

What sea state? Anything more than three and you're gonna be lucky.

At least in n. European waters you're in with a shout. It's about the only place where pots are reasonably marked. ?

 

[lustyd]

What sea state? Anything more than three and you're gonna be lucky.

At least in n. European waters you're in with a shout. It's about the only place where pots are reasonably marked. ?

Thanks for telling me how my kit on my boat works, if only personal experience were sufficient I wouldn’t need to hear from you at all!
Actually they aren’t all well marked here, but the ones that are are far more easily spotted with my radar. Your mileage may vary with your kit, if so perhaps look into a change.

 

[capnsensible]

Thanks for telling me how my kit on my boat works, if only personal experience were sufficient I wouldn’t need to hear from you at all!
Actually they aren’t all well marked here, but the ones that are are far more easily spotted with my radar. Your mileage may vary with your kit, if so perhaps look into a change.

Try going out when it's not flat calm. ?

 

[Gary Fox]

Try going out when it's not flat calm. ?

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