![](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/REBBIES-MISTRESS.jpg\")
by Brian Robbins<\/b><\/p>\nby Brian Robbins<\/b><\/p>\n
Welcome to the debut of a new CFN feature, Shakedown Cruise.<\/i><\/p>\n
Periodically, we will focus on a new launch and dig a little deeper into what went into the project \u2013 whether it be a new model or a hull well-known to the New England commercial market.\u00a0 What we hope to do is provide insight and information our readers can apply to their own setups \u2026 and, as always, offer up a little entertainment along the way. \u2014Editor<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
CUTLER, ME \u2013 \u201cDown in Cutler, they\u2019re basically offshore about the time they cast off the mooring pennant.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s more than just an old Downeast Maine one-liner: it\u2019s pretty much the truth.\u00a0 The Cutler lobster fleet may not have far to run to their outer gear (\u201cNine miles and I\u2019m in Canada,\u201d says John Drouin), but the waters they work are fierce with tide.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard enough work on a flat-calm day once the tide starts running; you get a little (or a lot) of wind on top of that, and it gets nasty quick.<\/p>\n
50-year-old John Drouin is, by his own admission, fairly particular about things.\u00a0 As hard as he works in the course of a year, he also takes pride in keeping his boats and gear in the best condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I sold my last boat,\u201d he says, \u201cthe surveyor asked me, \u2018How old did you say this boat was?\u2019\u00a0 I told him it was nine years old and he kind of shook his head.\u00a0 \u2018I\u2019ve actually been trying to find something wrong with it,\u2019 he said.\u00a0 \u2018But \u2026 I can\u2019t<\/i>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
That boat was a Wesmac 46, launched in 2005.\u00a0 It replaced a Wesmac 42 that Drouin had built new in 2002.\u00a0 Both of them were good boats, he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d never had a boat as comfortable as that 42,\u201d says John. \u201cAnd the 46 was just a little more of everything I liked about the 42.\u00a0 I loved that boat.\u201d…<\/p>\n
Get a Print edition of CFN mailed to you.\u00a0PRINT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Quickly enjoy online access with our flip-book.\u00a0ONLINE<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>[add_to_cart=6662]<\/strong><\/p>\n (Read online immediately with access key and download a copy. \u00a0Not sure<\/a>?)<\/em><\/p>\n![\"CFN_5_15-cover\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/CFN_5_15-cover-243x300.jpg\")
Read the full story in the May issue of\u00a0Commercial Fisheries News<\/em>. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n