Page 24. MAINE COASTAL NEWS October 2010 Early Beals Island Lobster Boat Racing Continued from Page 23.


then put a wrench on the head bolts and turn them down as hard as they could. There’s a story of one fellow taking off his exhaust manifold for added power. In some instances everything that didn’t have to be in the boat was taken out, even to most of the floor boards and the engine box. Possibly, though, a small amount of weight would be added in the bow or stern to adjust the trim. It is said that one man cut a lot of the keel off of his boat in an unsuccessful effort to win. A fellow “from away” built what may have been a V bottomed boat and came to race, but was unsuccessful in his attempt to win. It seems that everyone knew when the race was to start, and people would crowd the shore line, wharves, and their anchored boats so as to have a good vantage point for the race. The excitement would build. As race time approached the boats would appear from the various coves, wharves, and moorings. If, at that time, a fisherman decided he would race he’d go get his boat and go into the wharf, take out his bait tub, anchor and road, and any other excess weight he could, and go to the starting line with his fellow competitors. Sizes of engines and boats didn’t matter. This was THE RACE! They never knew which engine might blow a piston or otherwise fail, which propeller would lose a blade (like, it is said, from an aluminum propeller), which boat might have a steering problem or some other difficulty, or who might run out of gas. In other words, it was possible, with enough calamities, for the least likely boat to win, and give that skipper the bragging rights for that 4th


until the next year. In one race the “Thorobred “blew a piston and caught fire in the base, but limped in to win, as the story


goes. One boat ran out of gas and drifted across the finish line to take second place. Now it was RACE TIME! When the competitors were lined up at the starting line the starter would give the signal and throttles would quickly be opened wide open and boats that had barely any headway getting to the line would lurch forward, bows lifting, with a rush of water coming out from under their sterns as their props dug in, driven by their engines that had just been given full speed ahead. Aboard the boats there could be some interesting things going on. For example, a big screwdriver could be dropped into the carburetor to hold the choke open, high test, or even possibly airplane gas could be causing extra RPMs, moth balls could be adding a little extra kick as they were dis- solved in the gasoline, wood alcohol could be dripping into the carburetor for added power, a second carburetor would have kicked in, and in later years a third carburetor could be pushing the engine to even greater power. And, those reamed out needle valves would be providing an increased flow of fuel. The skipper would be standing at the tiller, prob- ably bent forward, encouraging his boat on toward the finish line, and glancing across at any boats near him , to see if he was gaining on them or whether they were gaining on him. Skippers who found their boats behind oth- ers had to be careful in maneuvering through the wakes of the boats ahead of him. As excited spectators looked on they’d likely see a boat’s bow dip and see her slow down and stop, sometimes in a cloud of smoke, as something went wrong and she was finished. Meanwhile the rest of the fleet roared on- ward, each boat and engine giving the best they could while piloted by their capable skippers. Anticipation and excitement built as the faster boats neared the finish line.


Would they hold on and the favored winner be able to get across first? Then, all of a sudden, it was over! The judges had signaled the winning boat was across the line, and second and third place finishers were desig- nated. The crowds of spectators were excit- edly sharing their collective wisdom about the winner, who should have done some- thing differently, and if they had, they would have won, etc., etc. These discussions could last all winter around hot stoves in shops, boat shops, stores, and buildings, wherever men got together to talk things over in bad weather. Men who had done the racing were thinking and planning what they could do, if necessary, to win next year. One man told me he raced every year and got beat until he learned how to win.


Prizes for winning and placing may have been a coil of 6-thread rope, a pair of boots, a suit of oil clothes, a case of oil, or such. For several years in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and 50s the Beals Lobster Boat Races were highlights of the Fourth of July celebrations. They provided great excitement, enthusiasm, and discussion topics, and were the source of shared wisdom, planning, speculation, and preparation for the upcoming race next 4th


.


In researching this story I augmented my memory by conferring with my cousin, Erroll George Woodward, as he remembers a lot about the races and we grew up together, and he and I made a round stern playboat when we were boys and I still have her; Richard Alley, who’s about my age, a boat builder and fisherman and whose father once owned the


“Red Wing” and his grandfather, “Nat” Al- ley, had the “Red Wing” built by Will Frost (Richard said the “Red Wing” once outsailed a speed boat from Jonesport); Guy and Ruth Carver as Guy, a fisherman, did a lot of racing and remembers a lot about it and Ruth has a very good memory of the people and boats, and Guy said he raced every year and got beat until he learned how to win; William Faulkingham, who has built a model of the “Thorobred” and whose father, “Lessie”, ran out of gas and drifted across the finish line to get second place once and won other races, and whose grandfather, Herman Beal, bought the “Thorobred” when she was built by George Addington; my cousin, Willis Beal, boat builder (built at least two torpedo stern boats, too), racing veteran, and fisher- man , and whose great grandfather, Lowell Beal, won a trophy in a sailing contest in the early days.


One additional historical point: when lobster boats first had inboard engines they were referred to as naphtha boats, or gasoline boats, because of the fuels they used. I extend my sincere thanks to my wife, Lois, and those others who helped me in preparing this story.


And it is with deep gratitude, apprecia- tion, and hearty congratulations to all those, past or present, who had any part in the Early Beals Island Lobster Boat Racing. Best re- gards to those participants in the recent past, current, and future lobster boat races. “Where’re ya goin’ the 4th


?”


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