This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS October 2010 Early Beals Island Lobster Boat Racing


By Arthur S. Woodward “Where ya goin’ the 4th


the 5th


!” This was a characteristic question and answer in Beals as the 4th


?” “Goin’ to find of July was


approaching. These were said in a joking manner, of course. The truth was that more than likely those asking and answering the question were going to be in attendance at the big Fourth of July celebration in Beals and maybe include the carnival and some of the celebration in Jonesport by taking a boat across the Reach. Both towns had (and still have) very patriotic celebrations of the anni- versary of the Independence of the United States of America. The celebrations in Beals could include a parade, band concert, foot races and various other contests, swimming races, rowing races, picnics, going aboard the U. S. Navy ship anchored in the Reach, evening fireworks, and, as much fun as all of that was, the singular big event for many was the lobster boat racing. The 4th


highly anticipated holiday then, as now. The boat races climaxed the day. Yes, the 4th


was a very was


a day for the big race, unless it was foggy, and, unless, of course, the 4th


fell on a Sunday.


Sunday being the Lord’s Day, there would be no official racing. The race would be sched- uled for a weekday. It would be a rare occa- sion if a Beals boat left the mooring on a Sunday to go to haul.


Lobster boat racing was a very common occurrence for the men in the Moosabec Reach area. It has been said that any time two boats were headed in the same direction there could be a race. The boats didn’t have to be the same type or size, or anywhere near the same power. A lobsterman would hook onto a lobster smack, two sardine boats would hook up for a knurl, smacks and sardine boats would test each other, etc., but it was likely more commonplace to have lobster boat ver-


sus lobster boat in a chance meeting. If a man sailed up alongside of another boat that was underway and held out a piece of rope and shook it that was a challenge for a race. It meant, “Let’s race, I can tow you!” Generally, though, the one challenged didn’t need an invitation and reached down and opened her wide open. They’d have it out and often that would be that. Occasionally, though, even those unplanned races re- sulted in stories that are told to this day. For example, the time the soaked up and dirty bottomed boat outsailed a brand new boat is


still remembered after many years. Before the lobster boats were fitted with engines the fishermen would have sailing races.


Photograph: Beals Island Historical Society built them for several years.


From, say, the early 1920s when the Jonesport Model appeared on the scene the racing took on a very serious tone, the racing being fun notwithstanding. One boat would be built to beat another boat, with adjust- ments in design to attempt to make that hap- pen. There were dozens of boats built along the lines of the Jonesport Model. A number of different Jonesport and Beals builders


The Jonesport Model (bear in mind that Beals was still a part of Jonesport when the first of these boats were built) was long, narrow, sleek, and fast. The typical model had a deep forefoot, sharp entry, gradually curv- ing bottom from nearly vertical at the bow to quite flat at the stern., and was likely file sided (some more than others), beautiful sheer, an outward slanted pretty and somewhat rounded stem, and a round or so-called tor- pedo stern in many cases . These boats would vary in length, to possibly 35 - 36 feet, and


Painting on tug SATURN Continues!


Stern quarter with final coats, and now finishing final coats on starboard side.


A close up of the starboard side with primer coats on.


The bow view showing the inside of the bulwarks awaiting its final coat. The deck will be repainted red. There will also be steel work around the ballast tank hatches.


This stern view showing a rusted deck covered with scale. This has all been chipped and ground and is nearly ready for its first coasts of primer.


Fall is fast approaching and hours and hours of the chipping, grinding and painting has been accomplished. So far this year the starboard hull, above and below the waterline, main deck on both sides of the mainhouse and aft deck, stack, has been chipped and ground and is now waiting for paint. We are hoping for another three to four weeks of good painting weather and then attention will be turned to the engineering spaces and interior work. SATURN is a 117-foot railroad tug built as the BERN for the Reading Railroad in 1907. She is one of the last railroad tugs in existence and is being saved for future generations to enjoy. For further information : (207) 223-8846 or to join the Friends of SATURN, send a check for $25 or more to P.O. Box 710, Winterport, ME 04496.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com