Page 4. MAINE COASTAL NEWS March 2016
Maine Coastal News Winterport, Maine 04496-0710 U.S.A.
P.O. Box 710 (207) 223-8846 Fax (207) 223-9004 E-mail -
igmatats@aol.com Web site:
www.mainescoast.com Publisher's Note Maine Coastal News is published 12 times a year and is dedicated to covering the news
along the entire coast of Maine, Kittery to Eastport. We cover general marine news, commercial fi shing, yachting (power and sail), boat yard and waterfront news and maritime history. Distribution of Maine Coastal News is from Eastport to Marblehead, MA and is free on
the newsstand. It also can be obtained by subscription. A year subscription, 12 issues, is $20.00. A single copy is $2.00, which covers the postage. Foreign rates for subscriptions are $40.00 per year.
T e Maine Coastal News offi ce is located at 966 North Main Street, Winterport, Maine. Comments or additional information write: Maine Coastal News, P.O. Box 710, Winterport,
Maine 04496. Publisher Editor-in-Chief
Jon B. Johansen Rachel Elward
Advertising Sara MacCorkle To contact Sara directly: (207) 350-7094
mainecoastalnewsads@gmail.com
Advertising Deadlines: T e deadline for the April issue is March 11. T e deadline for the May issue is April 8.
Here it is the end of February and the temperature is over 50 degrees and there is no snow on the ground. I am not complain- ing. It has been an extremely mild winter and after last winter it almost feels like summer. As many know I do not buy into the global warming or climate change argu- ments being pushed on the public. I was reading an issue of the “Atlantic Fisherman” for 1921 and there was an article saying that the Arctic was in a complete meltdown. In- teresting, what happened to that meltdown and then what happened between then and now? There are cycles and there is always climate change. Scientists have done a poor job understanding what is really going on and probably their reasoning is driven by who is paying their salaries. I would just like to hear the truth, but who do you trust for that, certainly not any government offi cial or agency. There is no question that we have not been good stewards of the planet and changes should be made to lessen the human effect on the environment. Unfortunately, most will only talk about it and nothing will happen. It all starts with each and every one of us, just begin with recycling everything you use.
The winter has been good in more than
one way, as everyone in the marine business seems to be having a good year too. Look at the new boats under construction, the number of re-powers; and the repair work. Last year Greg Sanborn at Billing’s Diesel and Marine in Stonington said it was the best year he had seen in his more than 30 years at the yard. When asked about this year he
said it was even better. He is not the only one saying this. It will be interesting is to see how all the numbers workout. Who are the buyers of new boats based on the lobster boat hull? That seems to be mostly the commercial fi shermen and probably on a 4-1 ratio. Look- ing at the pleasure boat market, especially the higher end, these builders are busy. The age demographic seems to be skewed to the older generation. Pleasure boating seems to be a slow tailspin and sailing has crashed and burned. A bright spot is sportfi shing. I am constantly in discussions with people in marine businesses on this subject and many believe the numbers are falling. There are some transients still left, but that number is decreasing and most of those that do cruise are an older generation. There are a few younger cruisers, but not that many. Go to the marina on a weekend and see how many boats are still tied up to the dock. Then ask how many do not move at all. The answer I have been getting is not comforting. Most boats in a marina have become a cottage on the water.
I was brought up in a world of boats, but I am not sure how many younger people to- day were. It seems that to them it is all about gaming as real life passes them by. Baby boomers got so busy that they have had little time to slow down and enjoy life and in this rat race their children never went boating. Some of the baby boomers are fortunate as they have retired early bought a nice cruising boat and have gone out boating. The multi-million dollar question now is how do we get more people involved?
MCN's Calendar of Waterfront Events
On-Going Exhibits: – 15 May 2016 Wavelength: The Story of Signals at Sea
Maine Maritime Museum Bath
Info: (207) 443-1316
FEBRUARY 26-28 New England Saltwater Fishing Show
Providence, RI
MARCH 3-6 Portland Boat Show Portland Sports Complex Portland
11-16 Augusta Boat Show Augusta Civic Centre Augusta
18-20 Maine Boatbuilder’s Show Portland Yacht Service 58 Fore Street Portland
Info: (207) 774-1067 APRIL
19-21 - NEFMC Meeting Hilton Hotel Mystic, CT
JUNE 18 Boothbay Lobster Boat Races Boothbay Harbor Info: Ashley Lowrey (207) 633- 3915
19 Rockland Lobster Boat Races Rockland Harbor @ Breakwater Rockland
Info: Dot Black (207) 594-3301
21-23 - NEFMC Meeting Holiday Inn by the Bay Portland, ME
JULY 2 Moosebec Reach Lobster Boat Races U. S. Coast Guard Station Jonesport Info: Adrian Rittenhouse (207) 598- 6387
3 Bass Harbor Lobster Boat Races Bass Harbor Info: Wayne/Colyn Rich (207) 244- 9623
10 Stonington Lobster Boat Races Town Dock Stonington Info: Nick Wiberg, (207) 348-2375
17 Friendship Lobster Boat Races Barge middle of harbor Friendship Info: Wes Lash, Jr. (207) 832-7807
AUGUST 13 Winter Harbor Lobster Boat Races Town Dock Winter Harbor Info: Scott Young (207) 963-7272
14 Merritt Brackett Lobster Boat Races State Park Restaurant Pemaquid
Info: Don Drisko & Laurie Crane (207) 677-2432
20-21 34th
Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival
Sat.: 11 AM-5 PM Sun.: 11 AM-3 PM Brewer’s Hawhtorne Cove Marina 10 White St.
The end seem near for this old wooden lobster boat. She is lying in a little cove at Sunset. Salem, MA
Info: (617) 666-8530 or (978) 448- 6757
www.boatfestival.org
20 Long Island Lobster Boat Races Long Island
Info: Lisa Kimball (207) 332-3968
21 MS Harborfest Lobster Boat Races Portland Yacht Services Portland
Info: Jon Johansen (207) 223-8846 SEPTEMBER
20-22 - NEFMC Meeting Double Tree by Hilton Danvers, MA
OCTOBER ?? Maine Lobster Boat Racing Assoc. Awards Banquet & Dinner Info: (207) 223-8846
NOVEMBER
15-17 - NEFMC Meeting Hotel Viking Newport, RI
15-18 Newport International Boat Show Newport, RI Info:
www.newportboatshow.com
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