Possible Clues:

• Waded out to 6, having heavy burden
• Waded out with a number: very heavy
• Where those who have died are delayed, by the sound of it, cannot make light of it
• No light matter not to be quick to hang around, by the sound of it
• Where time hangs heavy, by the sound of it, on the hands of those who have passed away
• Ship's heaviest load shifting added endless delay, we hear
• Rev. Spooner's married girlfriend is an encumbrance
• Total load on ship
• An encumbrance? No more with crew
• A widget he'd constructed -- something hard to carry around?