While on my daily lurk of the waterfront I spied two sea scallopers laying at the end of Straight Wharf. So of course I had to wander down and have a look see. One was a big steel eastern rig. Her name was Patience. I have never heard of her before. I learned from Robert McDonald that she is an O'Hara boat. O'Hara Co. owns several commercial fishing boats. O'Hara also runs a big cube ice company out of Rockland, ME. Patience was a well run boat. Everything on her deck was neat and in it's place. These guys run a tight ship. The other scalloper was the Endurance. I have never seen here in Nantucket before either. She's a big western rig out of New Beige. I'd have to guess she's all of 100 feet if not more. She had two dredges on her deck. The Patience only had one. The Endurance also had a deck which was in order. These guys don't mess around. Everything was in good repair and well maintained. Typical highline boats.
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The Endurance was built for the guy who owned the Valkyrie,she was originally black and white.The captain of the Valkyrie-Lars Sovik-took command of the Endurance and the mate from the Valkyrie-Hallgrinur Bjorgollfson-was promoted to captain.The Endurance was the first dragger to have her winches mounted above the deck.She made a fortune,making several Grand Banks trips after yellowtail flounder,some tows were 50 bushels.The average time steaming up there was 4 days,then 4 days fishing then 4 days home but one fall trip the weather kicked up and it was a 5 day ride back to New Bedford.The Patience was one of O'Hara's draggers,National Sea Products out of Rockland,ME.They were generally used to target deep water Redfish.Those guys made a fortune as well.All good hi-liners who stay at sea when fainter hearts run for home.
Interesting that I was in Rockland ME last week. We always stay at Journy's End Marina which is part of O'Hara. This year the ice business seemed missing? More sheds with "Journey's End" on them rather than "O'Hara" I don't know if they moved the ice operation elsewhere???
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