BOOK 7+ DAYS IN ADVANCE AND RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 5% OFF YOUR ONLINE BOOKING. ENTER PROMO CODE EARLY AT CHECKOUT

Appledore Star

History

Appledore Star

History beckons when admiring the Appledore Star’s fine hand-crafted details. Designed in the tradition of Chesapeake Bay oyster draggers from by-gone days, the Appledore Star now explores Key West’s shallow waters.

The Last of

Her Kind

The Jenny Norman/Lucky Finn Arrives in Key West.

The Appledore Star is the last known bugeye schooner to be built. Legendary shipbuilder, James B. “Mr. Jim” Richardson of Lloyds, Maryland, built working wooden ships with a …”view to the past, which sought to rediscover, preserve and pass on methods used by craftsmen of previous generations.” Richardson Maritime Museum Home Page When Richardson retired from an esteemed career of building boats for others, he decided it was finally time to build a boat for himself.

With an eye to history, Richardson wanted a boat with a pedigree that was also easy to sail. Spending time around Chesapeake Bay he was familiar with a schooner style sailed in the 1800s for oyster dragging. Needing a shallow draft, log canoes were originally used for oyster dredging but were too small to handle large loads. Bugeye schooners were designed with a centerboard design that allowed them to sail in the Bay’s shallow waters while a low bulwark made it easy to handle dredges and drag for oysters. As the oyster harvest declined, the bugeye schooner dropped out of favor and was replaced by the Skipjack, a less expensive design for oyster dragging.

There are many ideas of how bugeyes got their name. According to the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia, Chesapeake Bay – Watermen – The Mariners’ Museum there are two leading theories. One is that the numerous Scottish immigrants living around Chesapeake Bay referred to oyster shells as “buckies” which over time became “bugeye”. The other theory is that the name comes from the boat’s appearance. From afar the hawse-holes at the bow of the boat look like a bug’s eyes and the bow sprit looks like a nose.

With a round stern, raked masts, and a centerboard, the bugeye schooner has a distinctive design with a simple rig. Having decided on the style, in 1983 Richardson built his wooden two-masted boat by hand. The boat was a true labor of love and he named her the Jenny Norman after his childhood crush. He spent his twilight years sailing the Jenny Norman on Chesapeake Bay.

A fresh coat of paint and maintenance updates take place in the Stock Island shipyard.

Now christened the Appledore Star, the original Jenny Norman now sails warmer waters.

Following his death, the boat was sold and unfortunately neglected for a decade. The Jenny Norman was rescued in 2000 when a skilled shipwright, Mike Rodgers of Maine, bought the boat. Mike and his wife, Julie, poured their hearts into the Jenny Norman succeeded in bringing her back to her former glory. They obtained Jenny Norman’s initial US Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection and started running charters with the schooner in 2003 out of Rockland, Maine.

One of the guests, Bill Noonan, went on an overnight voyage in 2007 with his sons on the Jenny Norman. The experience stayed with him, strengthening his family bonds while enjoying freedom from everyday technology. He realized that many families would appreciate a similar adventure and bought the Jenny Norman to charter in the Cape Cod Bay.

Re-naming her the Lucky Finn after his young son Finneas, a clover was added to her jib. Mr. Noonan started a weekend cruise company running sails along the Massachusetts coastline. In late 2015 the Jenny Norman/Lucky Finn would change hands again and head south to Key West to join Sebago’s fleet of wooden schooners. Sebago chose the name Appledore Star for her in keeping with the Appledore identity. This name is derived from two of the islands that make up the Isle of Shoals straddling the Maine – New Hampshire border. Appledore is the largest of these islands in Maine and Star Island is the largest in New Hampshire.

Appreciating the family bond of the Lucky Finn, Sebago kept her lucky clover. With Appledore Star’s round stern, wide beam, and clover jib, she cuts a beautiful sight on the water. When in Key West, be sure to look for her distinctive clover sailing high every day across the calm, blue waters as the Appledore Star seeks out another adventure.

To learn more about Jim Richardson and the history of traditional wooden sailing vessels on Chesapeake Bay, visit the Richardson Maritime Museum in Cambridge, Maryland. Trailboards from the Jenny Norman are on display at the museum.

A bugeye shallow draft schooner

A bugeye shallow draft schooner

Hull

Superstructure Material Top - White Pine; Sides - Maine Cedar; Sills - PT Yellow Pine Deck 1 3/4 Inch Loblolly and Longleaf Yellow Pine
Covering Boards White Oak
Deck Support Material Beams, 3 Inches by 2 Inches forward and 3 1/2 Inches by 5 1/2 Inches aft to shear clamp. Douglas Fir, Larch
Hull Material White Oak Planks - 1 5/8 Inches to 2 3/8 Inches by 6 1/2 Inches to 7 Inches
Hull Support Oak Ribs and Frames, Deck to Hull Join
Deck/Hull Joint Deck Beams to Sheer Clamp
Frames Double Sawn 4 Inch by 4 Inch White Oak/Black Locust. Reportedly Replaced as Needed during an Earlier Restoration
Keel White Oak with 2 1/2 Inch Oak Worm Shoe. Center Board White Oak
Fastenings Galvanized Iron Ships Spikes
Joinerwork White Pine, Black Locust, Maine Cedar
Mast Main and Fore Mast, Douglas Fir
Boom Main and Fore, Yellow Pine

General Specifications

Year built 1983
Designer Jim Richardson
Builder Jim Richardson
Original Captain Jim Richardson
Length overall 65 feet
Length on deck 49 feet
Beam 14 feet 6 inches
Draft 4 feet 10 inches
Draft with Centerboard Up 4 feet
Fuel capacity 42 gallons

Auxiliary Diesel

Engine Westerbeke Model 55D Four Cylinder Marine Diesel Engine, 55 Horse Power

Welcome back!  We are pleased to announce our official re-opening on June 5th with reduced capacities and additional safety protocols to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both passengers and crew.  Advanced reservations (book Online or Call) are required. No walk ups are permitted per the City of Key West at this time.