Portsmith, NH-Gloucester, MA

Portsmith, NH-Gloucester, MA

This overnight segment took advantage of the tidal flow to the famed fishing port of Glocester (‘Gloss-tah’), where ‘The Perfect Storm’ movie was filmed. It was foggy, rainy and cold (60 degrees, water 58 degrees). We toured the Maritime Museum and historic sites, including the Fisherman’s Memorial. Over 10,000 fishermen have been lost over the years, mainly in the sailing days, which started in 1650, although even today it’s the most dangerous profession worldwide.

Groton Seafoods is here, although after the Cod and then the Haddock ran out, all fast food (and frozen) fish (Pollock) is shipped from Alaska and processed here before being trucked to Capt D’s and McDonalds’ all over the country. Sorry all the pictures look so dreary. Still, sea states are calm enough for trailer boats to sneak up the rivers if the Gulf of Maine is snotty…and it isn’t today.

The Maritime Museum is interesting with lots of historical info. For the most part, the rivers and inner Gulf of Maine were comfy for trailer boats. Dorys were used on the 1650 schooners because they could be stacked on deck readily (since they have no keels) for taking out fishing gear.

The Captain held an informative Bridge tour today. There are three 800HP Cummins diesel propulsion engines which drive hydraulic pumps which spin three 360 degree keel-protected pods, each with counter-rotating props. They consume 100g/hour at cruise on a 250ft long ship! Our 26ft TC255 with twin new F150s consumes 14g/hour at cruise and 31g/hour over that in comparison! He says there are over three million registered crab pots in New England to dodge! We have figured out how to identify the head and tail of a color-coded string of six-12 pots. It’s no more challenging in daylight than maneuvering in a field of blue crab floats.

The 30,000g blackwater tank has a purification system that produces drinking water quality output (when outside 3m and not in a no d/c zone), all system parameters are monitored remotely by the internet at HQ. I’m impressed!Read more