If this tube, for a more generic and non-professional description is suitable, has anything in it, which is generally “black” it means that the lobster has been fed, or has eaten in the past few days.

If this tube is totally transparent, then it has not had food for a while, so it has been stored for a short period of time. Generally I start finding dead lobsters that I store in crates or cars that are stored under water, on the bottom, for about 5 days.

I do generally feed them but have heard conflicting reports on whether this is good or bad. Overall I find if lobsters are stored for more than a few days I find partially eaten lobsters or just dead lobsters.

If there are dead lobsters in the storage container, do not eat dead lobsters, that are lively and you cook them, there will be some of the black in the vein in the tail. Therefore, I believe from my personal experience, not a textbook, that a lobster is relatively fresh if the vein has some color in it, because they are transparent or translucent if the lobster has been stored and has had a chance to flush out his digestive system.

I don’t know that this is very scientific, but it is based on fact from what I have personally seen.

It really does depend on that type of boat.

This picture is the boat leaving the “Jonesboro Custom Finish Shop” where the hull from RP Boat Shop was finished off. The finish shop did everything and RP Boat shop just delivered an empty hull and top or cabin.

I have a lobster boat. This means there are no amenities for living on board so that there are no tanks that hold water, waste, or things of that nature so all I really need to be concerned about is the water, or water possibly getting into the bilge and freezing. This could cause the keel to split open, which actually did happen to a friend of mine a couple years ago. I do have a site with the same two pictures, Lobstering in Maine, but mention how to winterize a boat, or at least how I winterize mine here, because it is a facet of my life in Maine.

It is quite easy to drill a hole in the keel and install a plug. This way, you don’t need the R/V antifreeze annually.

My boat is a 35 feet long lobster boat. The design is one of Willis Beals and built by the RP Boat Shop.

[singlepic id=28 w=320 h=240 float=right] This is the boat after being used 7 seasons and cruising at about 17kts.

The boat has a 225 HP John Deere Diesel engine. The boat also has the standard power steering and hauler, both hydraulic. Because I have a keel cooler, there is nothing to do concerning the engine or any of the power equipment on the boat.

The electronics should be taken off. On a simple lobster boat like mine, I only have a depth sounder, radar, a couple chart plotters, an am/fm stereo radio, and a VHF marine radio. The antennas can stay on the boat as the weather really won’t bother them.

In the past I covered the boat or had it shrink wrapped, but because it is older I don’t bother anymore. I could put a big tarp over it, but many of the lobstermen don’t bother and I haven’t bothered for a few years now. I believe it might fade the gelcoat, but the bottom line is that it is a work boat.

Because I don’t cover it all that really is necessary is to put the anti-freeze I mentioned in the bilge and disconnect the battery. Keel pipes work like a radiator and contain anti-freeze eliminating the heat exchanger that has raw or sea water running through it. Basically there is nothing that will freeze. The wash down pump drains through the hull fitting so doesn’t need to be drained.

I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I always add some diesel fuel treatment to the fuel, just to make sure I don’t get a large water build up in the tank. I also check the Racor which is a water separator filter to make sure there isn’t water in the glass bowl on the bottom that might freeze and break it.

My boat also has what we call a “winter back” which I close up. The only snow that can bother is on the work deck, but the boat is tilted up in the bow so if anything melts it just drains out the scuppers. I do get down and shovel any large snowfalls so it doesn’t become slushy and make ice that could split the hull.

Some people remove the battery but generally I leave mine on. I do disconnect it, which I believe is required at any boat yard for safety reasons. Surprisingly enough, if the battery is fairly new and is charged, usually the boat fires right up in the spring. Sometimes older batteries need a quick charge or a boost. I have never experienced any problems in the spring. I did need to replace the battery once, but that was during the season, and not from sitting all winter.

The area where the battery is located is nice and dry, just like in a garage. If the battery is charged and is in reasonable shape, it won’t freeze. I personally recommend taking any battery out and storing it somewhere beside on the boat, but after many years of not having problems, I don’t bother.

Obviously boats and cruisers with a sanitary system, fresh water, and things of that nature need much more preparation for winter than a boat with just an engine, some electronics, and some hydraulic equipment.