Our Fleet

We've built a fleet of boats that is fit for a museum, but we think that boats should be used as their builders intended!  From small Optimist Prams to historic Friendship Sloops (and plenty in between), the midcoast sailing center (a program of the Sail, Power, and Steam Museum) offers you a chance to get out on the water.  Whether you are an experienced sailor and just beginning, we offer many opportunities for you to sail with us.  Check out our sailing lessons, daysails, and charters.

NOTE:  The following vessels will be available for the 2023 sailing season:
- Persistence. 34' Friendship Sloop, available for lessons and daysails
- Our newly restored Beetlecat, available for lessons
- O'Day Widgeon, available for lessons
- and, of course, our Opti fleet for youth sailing.
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(2) Friendship Sloops

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Our two, gaff rigged Friendship Sloops are the pride of the museum!  40' Blackjack, is the oldest Wilbur Morse built Friendship Sloop still afloat.  She was meticulously and authentically restored in our boat shop by volunteers over hundreds of hours, then launched (the old fashioned way), transported by Oxen to the launch site.  What a site it was!  (see photos of her launch and restoration below)

34' Persistence began her life in the 1950s when her keel was stretched by a Friendship fisherman. He set up some frames and became terminally ill. The back bone sat for 60 yrs until the Museum received it and our volunteers finished it off as a fishing sloop as was intended. She is now an able, hansom craft.

(1) Muscongus Bay Sloop

The Muscongus Bay sloop was a forerunner to the Friendship Sloop, used for inshore fishing and lobstering in the midcoast of Maine in the mid 19th century.

Jade is currently a work in progress.  Her builder started her as the culmination of a life-long dream, but was not able to finish her.  She came to the Sail Power and Steam Museum unfinished, and our wonderful volunteers are working hard to get her out of the shop and in the water where she'll join the sailing fleet of the Midcoast Sailing Center!

(2) Herreshoff 12-1/2

Currently in our shop and being restored for launch are two of these classic sailing boats.  One will rigged with Marconi sails, the other will be gaff rigged.  We're looking forward to getting these two old girls out on the water!  One of these beauties was purchased from the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. in 1927 by Nelson and Happy Rockefeller. At that time a fleet of this design was being developed in Northeast Harbor.  We are especially anxious to get her back in "fighting" (sailing) form!

(3) Catboats

With a single sail on a single mast, set well forward in the bow of the boat (traditional rig is gaff), most catboats have a shallow draft and center-boards.  Their beam is half as wide as the hull length at the waterline. From the 1850's to the early 1900's, catboats were the dominant inshore boat along the New England Coast, used for both fishing and pleasure.

Two of our two catboats are Beetle Cats.  These boats were a 12' 4" gaff-rigged catboat, first built in 1920 in New Bedford, Ma., by members of the Beetle family.  Over 4,000 have been built,  (Wikipedia) We're proud to be restoring one of these Beetle Cats for the 2020 season.  She has spent the last few years, "hard aground" in the Coastal Children's Museum as a display, giving small children a chance to climb aboard and sail the calm seas of their imaginations.
The Cat boat pictured is a Dynamite Payson creation, home built and donated to our sailing fleet. Here Grandad and Grandson take a sailing lesson at the Midcoast Sailing Center!

(1) O'Day Widgeon

Described as one of the smallest sailboats that is practical for adults to sail while being easily handled by kids, the Widgeon provides stability and great sailing ability for a sail around the harbor! The perfect learning tool

​ Sailing Dinghy

(3) Sunfish

With a flat, board-like hull, these personal sized vessels can be launched right from a beach or boat launch.  They carry a lanteen sail, mounted to an un-stayed mast.  Developed by Alcort, Inc., they first appeared on the sailing scene around 1952 as an improvement on their popular Sailfish.  A great little boat, they are still around, providing a great sailing experience for both new and experienced sailors.

(21) Optimist Prams

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"Optis," as they are affectionately called, are the backbone of our FREE Youth Sailing Camp -- Awesome little boats for kids learning to sail.  In an Opti, they are fully in charge of their own vessel, utilizing all that they have learned in the classroom and together in one of our larger boats.    

With names like "Follow Me," "Cat Fight,", "River Rat," and "Harry,"  we have a fun time cheering on these intrepid sailors as they race against each other, passing by the our committee boat!   

For details on the building of the Friendship Sloop Persistence and the rebuilt and launch of the Friendship Sloop Black Jack, click here to go to our Sail Power and Steam Museum Vessels page.