{"id":4397,"date":"2014-01-26T14:38:07","date_gmt":"2014-01-26T19:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/?p=4397"},"modified":"2014-02-03T15:00:48","modified_gmt":"2014-02-03T20:00:48","slug":"maine-line-dirigo-ii-new-addition-to-maine-marine-patrol-fleet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/maine-line-dirigo-ii-new-addition-to-maine-marine-patrol-fleet\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Line \u2014 Dirigo II – New addition to Maine\u2019s Marine Patrol fleet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mother Nature must\u2019ve liked the looks of the new Maine Marine Patrol vessel Dirigo II.\u00a0 The old gal saw fit to warm things up in the middle of what had so far been a bitter January, even clearing the ice out of Somes Sound for the 38-footer\u2019s christening ceremony at the Henry R. Abel yard in Mt. Desert.<\/p>\n

\"maine-line-SH\"Dirigo II was built by SW Boatworks of Lamoine, ME.\u00a0 Designed by Calvin Beal Jr. of Beals Island, the 38’9″x15′ Dirigo II joins the Marine Patrol\u2019s six-vessel fleet, replacing one of the older 35-footers.\u00a0 Main power is a 700-hp C12 Caterpillar backed by a 325-1 A ZF gear, supplied by Billings Diesel & Marine in Stonington.\u00a0 Spinning a 34″x36″ 4-blade prop (Nautilus Marine) on a 2.5″ AQ-22 shaft from R.E. Thomas Marine Hardware, Dirigo II has a top speed of \u2026 well \u2026 with any luck, you\u2019ll never find out.<\/p>\n

Specialist Colin MacDonald will be skippering the Dirigo II and is looking forward to the task.<\/p>\n

When asked why the Marine Patrol chose this particular model, MacDonald said, referring to Col. Joe Fessenden, Marine Patrol Chief, \u201cThe Colonel wanted something in the 38′ range, and we basically looked at what the fishermen themselves were using.\u00a0 This hull has a good reputation out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

One major improvement over her predecessor is Dirigo II\u2019s extra deck space and rope locker, which will make handling trap trawls much easier.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really is a huge 38-footer,\u201d said MacDonald.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s built to work in whatever we have to for weather and get us home safely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dirigo II will operate out of Northeast Harbor.<\/p>\n

CLICK PHOTO FOR GALLERY \u00a0(Brian Robbins photos)<\/p>\n\n\t\t