Lobster Pot Entanglement Advice

Introduction

The Cruising Association’s Regulatory & Technical Services (RATS) Group shares advice on what to do if you are entangled.

An occasional hazard when skippering a boat is catching a line that is attached to an object on the sea or riverbed – normally either a mooring or a buoy and line marking a lobster pot or fishing net. Normally, such hazards are only found in rivers and closer to the shore when at sea – most typically within 3 to 5 miles of the coast. Additionally loose abandoned lines not attached to the seabed and other drifting flotsam can also be a hazard. This article considers how to avoid entanglement and looks at strategies that can be adopted to free a boat which is caught firstly for lines attached to the seabed with a final section on drifting lines and flotsam.

Jump to content

• Background
• Avoidance
• If your boat becomes entangled
• Free floating lines and flotsam

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Background

Moorings, particularly the old abandoned semi sunken ones on which it is easiest to become attached are, by their nature, found in sheltered waters so usually rivers and harbours. In most cases there will be other moorings in the same vicinity.

Lobster pot and other fishing markers are found more widely around the coastline. Because the fishing gear or pots attached to these markers represents a significant investment for the fisherman, they may be fairly well marked – typically with a dan buoy and a flag or with a brightly painted plastic buoy or container. The fisherman must also be able to find his tackle and whilst they will know roughly where it is they need to be able to see and find it in all types of weather conditions so normally the surface marker will be visible. But some pot markers can still be harder to see in poor conditions particularly when either painted old milk containers or similar are used as the paint can fade and some containers are left unpainted. Around headlands tidal currents may also pull pot markers beneath the surface.

As discussed below once entangled there is no strategy or group of strategies that is guaranteed to always release an entangled boat.

Avoidance

For this reason, avoidance is the best strategy for dealing with entanglement. On rivers and in harbours, whenever possible, navigate along the main channel and not through groups of moorings as that will avoid the worst risks of your boat becoming entangled in any unused mooring – some of which can become semi sunken.

Similarly, when at sea, and especially in areas where there are small fishing boats and or lobster pot markers visible, always be sure to keep a very close watch forward and be prepared to disengage any autopilot, throttle back your engine and/or take avoiding action at short notice. If in a power boat navigate through areas with pots at reduced speed and whenever possible if proceeding at night either keep well offshore or use only marked routes to harbours and marinas, which are normally kept free of fishing gear. On a sailing yacht, it is always good practice to lock the engine in gear and prevent the propeller turning when sailing as this reduces wear but when the yacht has a folding or feathering propeller the risk of catching a line around the propeller is also much reduced once the shaft is locked from rotating.

If your boat becomes entangled

When under power there will usually be a sudden and unexpected change in the engine noise caused by a drop in the engine revs. The first thing to do is to return the throttle to neutral to stop the propeller turning and to allow time to assess the situation.

When under sail the entanglement will normally be indicated by a surging noise around the stern and a change in the yacht’s motion as the boat is slowed to a standstill. As when under engine, the first thing to do is to cut power: free the sheets, furl any sails that can be easily furled and possibly drop the mainsail.

The next thing to do is usually to wait. Frequently the impact of wind and tide on the boat can rotate it around and this may be sufficient on its own to free the boat from whatever it has become entangled in.

Whilst waiting, the skipper should also settle the crew and any passengers and make sure that they remain calm and in the cockpit. With progress impeded and depending on the sea state the boat’s motion whilst stationary will be very different to that before the entanglement. So, if not already being worn, consider donning lifejackets and life harnesses before anyone moves out of the cockpit.

When all on board are briefed and aware of the issues and if time has not yet freed the craft, the next thing to do is to assess how and where the boat is entangled. In a yacht under sail, especially a modern wide-beamed yacht with twin rudders, the line will most likely be caught on the rudder. In a powerboat or a yacht under power the entanglement is more likely to be around the propeller but can also be the rudder. A yacht with a wing or bulb keel can occasionally wrap a line around the keel but this is unlikely unless the yacht is manoeuvring slowly – for example prior to anchoring.

Often simple observation will show where the line is attached but, if not, catching the line with a boathook and moving it forward and aft will clarify whether it is the rudder or the propeller which is entangled. Particularly when the propeller is caught be certain to keep the engine in neutral or turned off whilst the situation is assessed.

Once the point of attachment has been identified then various strategies to free the boat can be adopted:

1. Firstly, allow enough time to see if with forward power removed the the boat floats free on its own under any tide and wind.
2. Next, with the boathook it may be possible to manipulate the line sufficiently to clear the entanglement. Particularly if the pot marker is trapped around the rudder, then it may be possible to use the boathook to pull or push the pot marker float clear using the boathook, especially when wind and tide are not strong.
3. When the entanglement is around a rudder it may also be feasible to engage the motor and by reversing up-tide or up-wind reduce the tension in the line enough for the buoy or marker to which the line is attached to either float free or to be released with the boathook.
4. Failing being able to release the trapped marker float and line, it may be possible to use the boathook to pull the trapped line to within reach and then cut it using a knife. Whilst this will free the boat from the pot, it will result in the pot being lost and it may not free the rope sufficiently if caught around the propeller to allow the voyage to be restarted under power. Whilst a sailing yacht could hoist sails and proceed as described under free floating lines below, a motorboat would still require outside assistance and so beware of cutting lines if entangled close to rocks or the shore.
5. Where the entanglement is around the propeller and, if the boat is equipped with a rope cutter, then engaging or re-engaging the engine and revving it may cut the rope. But if it does not then the entanglement is likely to be made worse.
6. In sheltered waters or very calm seas it may be possible to launch the tender and get closer to the surface of the water to either manually assist release or in extremis to cut the line.
7. Under no circumstances should crew enter the water in the event of an entanglement.

CA members can read RATS’ advice regarding diving from your boat.

If all attempts to free the boat fail, then outside assistance will be needed. Normally in calm waters becoming entangled is not a life-threatening emergency so a call to coastguard for advice is the most appropriate next action. Whilst the RNLI may carry tools for cutting underwater lines and freeing a boat, they do not normally assist unless lives are at risk and so skippers should consider other alternatives before requesting help from them.

Depending on the situation a regular call on Channel 67 to the nearest Coastguard radio station may suffice during which you can let them know your situation and discuss the best course of action. But if the situation is more pressing then a Pan Pan call on Channel 16 will give an immediate response as the Coastguard will then give priority to you over other radio traffic.

In terms of alternative sources of assistance in a river or sheltered harbour, where the boat’s situation will often be stable, skippers should consider if there is a suitable boatyard or yacht club nearby with a tender that may be able to assist. Or, if at sea, are there any fishing boats visible in the vicinity as normally they will understand that, even if the pot is not their own, it is someone’s livelihood and therefore they may be prepared to assist to avoid the pot’s loss if you can attract their attention.

If all other options are closed and/or if there is any danger to other boats or to your crew then in conjunction with the Coastguard, the Coastguard will contact the RNLI.

Free floating lines and flotsam

Normally, entanglement whilst onboard a yacht sailing at sea with free-floating lines will be annoying rather than problematic. The rudder may be a bit stiff, but it should be possible to continue the passage under sail until more sheltered waters are reached. The vessel can then be anchored or moored whilst the line is pulled free using a boathook handled either from the deck or from the tender or a pontoon.

Entanglement with free-floating lines is typically more problematic in a motorboat or a yacht proceeding under engine. Again, avoidance is the best strategy so keep a good look out and always alter course to avoid lines of heavy seaweed and flotsam as lines typically become encumbered with weed and may not be easy to see. If the propellor becomes trapped the engine revs will drop or in extremis the engine will stop and the engine should immediately be put into neutral. After settling the crew and considering if lifejackets should be worn, then try using the boathook to work the line free. Again, a line cutter on the propeller shaft may assist as well. But if it’s not possible to untangle the line, whilst a yacht may be able to hoist its sails and make its way into sheltered waters where the problem can then be addressed, a power boat will need external assistance.

One final hazard to be cautious of is trailing lines from one’s own craft. Be especially careful if leaving a pontoon or similar with an unfamiliar crew to ensure that all mooring lines have been brought on board before accelerating away from the berth. If entanglement does occur the boat will be in sheltered waters so, whilst embarrassing, the situation is unlikely to be life threatening. On a yacht underway, spinnaker and jib sheets can also make their way overboard so again be cautious before engaging the engine when at sea in light winds.

Image credit: © Kirsten Jones / Yachting Monthly

Disclaimer:Any advice has been prepared voluntarily by the Cruising Association, its members and others and they and it have tried to ensure that the contents are accurate. However, the Cruising Association, its employees, contributors and relevant members shall not be liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience of any kind howsoever arising in connection with the use of and/or reliance on such advice, save to the extent required by applicable law.

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