Douglas Goodale has a new lease on life. The lobster fisherman from Wells, Maine, lost his arm in a grueling accident aboard his boat in 1997. He has continued to fish, but times have been tough. Serendipity stepped in and an unveiling took place in Wells, Maine where Goodale was presented with a brand new home on the site of his old one, as part of ABC Television’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” program.

He and his family were whisked away to Disneyland, while 1,500 volunteers removed his old home and replaced it with an elegant log cabin home. But the icing on the cake happened when he was presented with the Novi II, (renamed Tabatha Marie) a lobster fishing boat. The Maritime Provinces and the New England states share this common maritime industry that can be very profitable but also very dangerous.

Dane Devine, owner of Novi Boat Brokers in Yarmouth, received an email from the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, with a brief outline of Goodale’s plight. Would Devine consider donating a boat so Goodale could continue to make a living?

At first, Devine thought the email was a joke or scam. Once he confirmed that the request was legitimate, the ex-fisherman turned boat broker decided to donate the Novi II (valued at CAD$160,000).

The Novi II (Tabatha Marie) is a Cape Island boat—a model that is extremely popular with lobster fishermen, and Nova Scotia is the only place in North America that makes them. They are world renowned for their design, stability, and efficiency in rough coastal waters.

Devine told ABC-TV that “This boat is not just a boat from Novi Boat Brokers. This is a boat from all the fishermen on both sides of the border who have supported me.  If it were not for their support, I would not be where I am today. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to say thanks.”

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Leaving Yarmouth In Wells Harbour, Maine		The Yarmouth Connection