Spring Has Sprung!

Schooner American Eagle

Spring Has Sprung

photo courtesy of Kate Hassenfratz

While we have not had quite the summer weather as this snapshot of the Eagle on the ways in Gloucester in June of '59 captures. The work-list has not changed a great deal in 66 years. After one of the snowier winters we've had in a while, our little shipyard in Maine has begun to emerge from its winter hibernation. Schooner crews have arrived and the yard is full of the sounds of whirring sanders, the sweet smell of fresh varnish, and the sun making the occasional appearance.

Early Summer Trips

Looking to start your summer off just right? Join us for an early summer trip before the Bay gets busy! The changing of the seasons bring large temperature swings—cool nights and warm days means consistent sailing breezes on the bay.

3-Night Spring Sailing

Fri. May 30^th - Mon. June 2^nd

Welcome in the sailing season with the perfect weekend getaway! Join us as we see whats new on the Bay after our long winter nap.

4-night Summer Solstice

Fri. June 20^th- Tues. June 24^th

A perfect sailing getaway over the longest days of the year—plenty of daylight to explore Penobscot bay on an original Gloucester fishing schooner.

3-Night Main Sails and Lobster Tails

Tues, Oct 2^nd - Sun, Oct 5^th

Looking for the perfect addition to your Maine vacation? A windjamming trip aboard the American Eagle is the quintessential New England summer experience.

Give us a call or an email if you have any questions about these or any other trips on our schedule

See Our Full Schedule

Interior Adjustments ~ back to the fishermans foc'sle

What a fantastic engine advertisement from the fall of 1931 with our beautiful schooner front and center! The then Andrew & Rosalie at just over a year old is rigged here for winter dory trawling with ice covers over the nests of dories—even her bowsprit is stored away for the winter. In between the dories behind the foremast is the galley hatch right where it still is today. If you were to duck down the much steeper ladder in 1931 a very different space would greet you. Rows of bunks with a large table forward of the foremast, lockers and storage bins aft of the bunks and a much smaller galley space, still with the stove in its ever-present position behind the ladder.

The original galley ~ circa 1984

photo courtesy of: John Foss

The galley and foc'sle of a Gloucester fisherman was a unique focal point for the entire vessel. Not only was it where the fisherman slept and took all their meals, it was also the main gathering place on the vessel. A place to tell stories, repair gear, grab a cup of coffee between sets, or rigging and baiting trawls. With its indicative large table and surrounding bunks the atmosphere of that space was an important part of the Gloucester fishing schooner. After our first galley refit last year the next logical step was to recapture a piece of that original space and bring it back to life, while retaining the modern needs of a passenger carrying vessel.

While there is still trim to finish and the new table to figure through, it is coming together very nicely.

We are also so very excited to announce the launched of our new website in March. A lot of time was spent figuring out how to simplify, keeping the important information and showing what a trip on the American Eagle is like in an easier to navigate format.

It will always be a work in progress but there are still some big additions to come, stay tuned for more new pages!

Offcuts & Tailings... Forging, New Wire, and Haulout!

photo courtesy of: Alan Castonguay

It's the start of our second full season running the North End Shipyard as well as the schooner, where most of the windjammers haul out in the spring. One of this year's spring projects we replaced the railways main hauling cable. Replacing 1,200 feet of 7/8 inch steel cable was quite the task wrestling it all into place.

It was also time to make some new staples (slightly bigger than the ones sold at office supply stores) to secure the schooner's blocking on the cradle while we're up on the ways.

These staples start out as a piece of round stock. After coming up to temperature in the forge, the ends are worked down to a point with our 120-year old power hammer. The final step is bending the ends over and balancing the ends so they are even.

Then they are ready to get driven into our cradle blocking to keep things nice and secure.

photos above courtesy of: Tracy Sheppard

A happy crew and a shiny schooner ready to go back in the water after a successful week of haulout.

Crew's News: All Hands for Haulout!

Are you ready to go sailing??

From Beside the Wheelbox...

Hi everybody,

There has been no shortage of activity here on the schooner and on the railway. We had just gotten the Eagle back to her berth when the next day it snowed 4 inches! It made for quite the picturesque morning haul-out for the J&E Riggin who was next on the list.

We have quite the season shaping up and while there is still room on many trips throughout things have certainly been filling in. If you have your eye on one in particular give the office a call. It's so nice to have our crew all back together for the coming season and we are all looking forward to getting back out on the bay as soon as we can. It's such a special thing we get to with our summers here in Maine with our lovely fishing schooner and it truely would not be half as delightful without all of you. So if its for 9-nights or just 3 it would be so great to see everyone this summer, even if its just a visit to the Shipyard.

Hope you all are warm and well,

Book Now!

Schooner American Eagle

info@schooneramericaneagle.com