Having been up in Maine a few weeks this summer there are a couple of points of Jeff's with which I would disagree. First I have never caught a lobster pot moving forward - but I have got rid of the line by reacting quickly and throwing the engine in reverse. Secondly my cutters - the straight bladed type - if someone besides me is diving I warn them- have worked. Although by no means as well as I hoped. They cut the line into pieces and in most cases allow you to keep moving without damaging the tranny components. Last catch was over 50 feet of assorted colored line! Given the masses of lobster pots in my favorite cruising area I would recommend anyone going that way at least equipping themselves with a good wet suit -- I also carry a Brownie breathing apparatus good to about 4-5 feet which is plenty, sharp linoleum knives. Plus of course a dictionary of swear words. If you are near Mount Desert try the water at the head of Somes Sound - 68F this year!! That is WARM for Maine. On the other side of the coin - read "The Secret Life of Lobsters" recently published and a good look at the travails of the lobstering life. Ron Barr Lady Brookhaven Hatteras LRC 42 Fall River MA KB1LFX

> Having been up in Maine a few weeks this summer there are a > couple of points of Jeff's with which I would disagree. First > I have never caught a lobster pot moving forward - but I have > got rid of the line by reacting quickly and throwing the > engine in reverse. Secondly my cutters > - the straight bladed type... I'd bet it's the quick reaction that is saving you. I should have mentioned that if you hear a thud coming from the stern area, take the boat out of gear as quickly as you can. Leaving it in gear is what wraps the line around the cutters making them useless. Multiple people have told me that if they know they've caught something and they run in reverse for just a second, it will often free the line. Again, I don't think this will happen if it is tightly wound onto the shaft and tangled in the prop. You absolutely need a wet suit for any diving in Maine. I use a 7mm suit and a 5mm hood with gloves and boots whenever I'm in the water here. In June, I did a dive in the harbor helping a friend find a missing mooring stone in 58 degree water. By mid-August it had warmed up to a high of 65. With my gear, I've never been cold. By the way, our local corner store just won the Maine Lobster Promotion Council's award for the Best Lobster Roll in Maine - http://www.mainelobsterpromo.com/ - click "We have a winner" at the bottom. It's almost hard to grab a seat at the counter there with all the people "from away" coming in to get one since the announcement! Cheers! ================ Jeffrey Siegel M/V aCappella DeFever 53PH W1ACA/WDB4350 Castine, Maine