Wendameen (yacht) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wendameen (Yacht)
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Maine State Pier, Portland, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | John G. Alden |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000273 |
| Added to NRHP | March 26, 1992 |
The Wendameen is a very old and special sailboat called a schooner. It usually stays at the Maine State Pier in Portland, Maine. This beautiful boat has two masts and was built way back in 1912. A famous boat designer named John G. Alden created it.
Today, the Portland Schooner Company owns and runs the Wendameen. They use it to give fun sailing tours around Casco Bay. You can even see another schooner, the Bagheera, sailing with it! Because of its history, the Wendameen was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it's an important part of history.
Contents
What is the Wendameen?
The Wendameen is a wooden sailboat with two tall masts. It's called an "auxiliary schooner" because it has an engine to help it move when there's no wind. The boat is about 67 feet (20 meters) long. Its main deck is 51 feet (15.5 meters) long, and it's 17 feet (5 meters) wide.
Sailing Gear and Inside the Boat
The Wendameen uses a special type of sail setup called a "gaff-headed schooner rig." This means the sails are shaped a certain way to catch the wind. Below the deck, the boat has cozy rooms called staterooms. These rooms are decorated with beautiful mahogany wood. The Wendameen can carry up to 41 passengers, making it perfect for group tours.
A Journey Through Time: The Wendameen's History
The Wendameen was built in 1912 for a businessman named Chester Bliss. It was made at the Adams Shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine. The boat was one of the first 21 "recreational fisherman" designs by John G. Alden. It is one of the oldest boats of its kind that is still around today!
Owners and Adventures
In 1915, Chester Bliss sold the Wendameen to Erwin C. Uihlein. He sailed the boat for about 20 years on the Great Lakes. Later, in 1933, a boat dealer named Gerald W. Ford bought it. The boat was taken out of the water and partly fixed up. However, it stayed on land for a long time until Neal Parker bought it in 1985.
Neal Parker gave the Wendameen a full restoration, making it look new again. He then started using it for "windjammer" cruises. These are sailing trips where people can enjoy the sea and the wind. These cruises started from Camden, Maine. Now, the Portland Schooner Company owns the Wendameen. They use it for special group trips and two-hour sailing tours from Portland.
