Definitely put this Saturday’s lobster boat races at Moosabec Reach on your Fourth of July list of places to be. It should be a good one. For one thing, I’ve been told that yesterday, July 1, Galen Alley put the engine back in Foolish Pleasure. That’s the 2,000-hp-plus Ford that drove Foolish Pleasure to 72.8 mph in 2013 and what some estimate to be 80 mph the same year at Pemaquid. No radar gun was available, so it’s speculation, but it’s what people expect from Foolish Pleasure.

Galen Alley's Foolish Pleasure is set to race on the Fourth of July in Jonesport, Maine. Jon Johansen photoLast year the Ford crapped out on Galen, and he couldn’t make it to the starting line at one race. The problem appears to be that antifreeze was getting into the pistons, shutting down the engine.

Besides the presence of Foolish Pleasure, three Canadian boats are making the trip to Moosabec Reach. The Canadian boats have been described as not having a house or deck, just pure racing machines. Jonesport and Beals Island lobstermen love speed, so the Canadians should be a good addition to the day’s events.

Expect a lot of boats to be racing down Moosabec Reach. Last year 66 lobster boats entered in the races, and the weather wasn’t that good. The year before it was 84, and in 2012 there were 98 boats. With plenty of sun and calm winds predicted, the number of boats could approach that 2012 mark.

The next day Bass Harbor will host the lobster boat races at Mount Desert Island. Participation there has been improving, with 58 boats in 2012, 63 a year later and 73 last year. The word is Galen has said, “If the thing is still running on Sunday, I’m coming.” Hopefully that Ford will still be turning.