Shark Bite Line Cutters

Our diver tells us; when any cutter system does not work or still fowls, it's very (VERY) expensive to clear.
Seems he likes his fingers.
We don't have spurs and our gear eats crab pots well by themselves.
Our diver is under our boat at least once a month. The remaining pot lines he throws up on the dock.

Now, we have an old boat with 32" wheels and 3" shafts.
Your results may vary..

Why do you have a diver under your boat once a month? that seems like a lot to me . Why ,CR, Why? Lol...

The sediment in these waters is unreal. Bottom covered about every month and the paint is worthless then.
Diver just has to dust / wipe the bottom to reveal fresh bottom paint.
My zincs last about 6-7 months here at Huckins. Use to last longer till these relics moved in around me.
When the water temp is way up, a shag carpet can grow on the hulls almost over night.
Soon will be moving further up river and retiring again. Leaving these sediment and poo rich waters.

There are chainmail like gloves chefs use when they get tired of cutting themselves. I would think they would be perfect for clearing gear with cutters.

Probably works well when you can see what your doing. In these waters, it's by feel and remembering what it looks like. Zero vis on a good day under these boats.
Divers here take pictures of customers hull bottoms (when hauled) to help recall (when needed) what is under there & where strainers & zincs are.
I have a picture libary of all bottoms (of boats) that we have ever serviced.
Comes in hand for Josie's surveyors, electronic techs & lift operators.
Also, what kind of cutter if equipped. Some require service.

We've always fitted the Spurs type cutter rather than the circular-saw design. The scissor action seems to work better.

One captain told me of picking up a pot line that perfectly wound itself, like a fishing reel, up along his shaft and not only started to pull the shaft out but also cracked the bell-housing as it was getting dragged out. He got towed back the 11 miles in a F9.

Wow! I did not know that. That stinks. What's around you, some old FlairForm Fyers? Well when you get up to DeLand things will be better including the fishing with golden shiners from your Ranger. Lol!

Surrounded by old FairForm Dock-Queens.

Next Homestead; Satsuma FL.
No speed limits, fast or slow.

Converting the work boats to fish boats.
Going to convert the tow bits to gator bits.

Lots of crab pots down this way. I'm sure I'll wrap up a few of them.
One of Josie's divers is in StAug. He will start checking our bottom and start a new schedule with the new river water.

I have thought about "cutters" because I accept it isn't a matter of IF but WHEN I was actually run over a crab pot. This thread is leaving me undecided again...

As for the diver, yes it FL we have one under the boat once a month .

I used to have spurs but removed them when something came undone and one side was loose on the shaft. I got rid of them a couple of years ago and no regrets as of yet.

Sounds good. Watch out for the SeaCows! What kind of crab on the St. Johns? Blue crab pots?

So it's best to go with an inexpensive bottom paint , since it seems it's for aesthetics only? Since diver is keeping things clean.

Actually crabbing on the Bay is done a lot by Trotlines where you have only two buoys marking the trot trap line which is on the bottom the buoys are spread way apart with pots in between , which cuts down on the crabbers loosing pots to ''us''. So not as many pots to avoid. Crab markers on the bay tend to be set a set depths given the time of year so try to set your course out of that depth zone.. usually 15/20 foot area.

I've never used cutters etc. on my boats. I never got a pot around my prop or shaft. I also have never had an automatic pilot on my boats, just my sharp eyes and hold my conversations while looking forward most times...rude I know, ready to dodge pot makers and Delaware river debris..that one is an acquired skill plus low speed.

And they will often follow the contour. When there's lines or fields of pots they're not supposed to block harbor entrances and they are supposed to stay out of the navigation channels but some of the watermen will trap them and then I think it's on them. It's always a back and forth. One of the reasons why for me day operation is preferred especially into unknown waters outside of channels, and night operation will be slow unless you really know the area.

I have a recipe for manite chili around here somewhere.
Yep, blue crabs.

Suuuure. You put some crap on there and watch your diver charge you double because now he's scraping instead of wiping/brushing.