Line cutter for prop shaft

[Julie303]

In order to make the passage from West Florida to the Keys, we have to sail at night, among the thousands of crab pots in Florida Bay. We certainly don't want to snag a crab pot line in the prop, but it has happened. Has anyone had experience with the cutters that fit around the prop shaft?

Jolie
Pearson 303

[lbdavis]

As annoying as those crab pots are (trust me, I get it, I cruise in ME!), I don't believe that those cutters are a responsible solution.

Fishermen do not put pots in your way to piss you off. They would prefer it if they only had to drop them in tucked away coves where they would never be fouled by recreational boaters, but alas, that's not where their fish are.

I know how annoying it is to our recreation to have to dodge these things, but prop cutters are more than just an annoyance to the fishermen's LIVELYHOOD.

Personally, I just complain about the pots, dodge them as best I can, then go enjoy some tasty lobster or crab.

Chalk it up to being a part of cruising, rather than some right we should have to sail through the night without bother.

Just my 2 cents...

[mrwuffles]

if you really want to not worry about them just cage your prop but that may cause too much drag

[lbdavis]

Julie,

Your P303 (and mine) have skeg hung rudders. You can rig something between the rear of the keel and the front of the skeg to avoid fouling your prop or skeg/rudder.

Less drag than a cage, less $$ than a cage, and easy to install.

Just a thought...