Lewis Story from Essex

Small fishing boats like the Lewis Story were built in Essex

Essex Shipbuilding

The birthplace of the Lewis Story is on the north side of Cape Ann and tucked well up along the Essex River. This small fishing boat gets it's name from Chebacco Parish, once part of Ipswich. These small schooners sailed out to fish the New England coastline in great numbers from before the time of the American Revolution. Averaging 30' on deck, they were a seaworthy design of a perfect size for a father and son fishing operation.

During the War of 1812, most of these small fishing schooners were blown out of the water by the Royal Navy. The British raided the coastline at will, even though New England generally opposed the conflict.

The Lewis Story is an authentic replica of what the boat builders of Essex called the Chebacco Boat. She was traditionally built in 1998 at Harold Burnham's boatshop for the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. She's a flush decked "Pinky" with two standing wells for captain and crew. Below, there's a cargo hold amidships and quarters forward. And she makes way with a powerful gaff-rig, one forward,
and a mainsail aft.

She' the flagship of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, active at many of the season's boating events around New England. You may have seen her out on the water. But here's the best part... as a member of the museum, you have a good chance of catching a sail on her!

"In the 19th century,...there were only three basic ingredients to a launching... grease, gravity, and momentum." An article by Harold Burnham.

Our voyage to the WoodenBoat Show in Newport, RI

Sailing her down to Newport Rhode Island for the 2006 WoodenBoat Show was an experience I won't soon forget. With "Captain Gnat" at the helm, Fred and myself hoisted sail from the Salem Antique and Classic Boat Festival late in the afternoon. We made for Boston Harbor where we moored for the night off Georges Island.

I had launched the beach skiff Lea that spring and we had her in tow serving as a "ship's boat", even though Captain Gnat insisted on calling her a dinghy! She was the perfect boat to have along to explore the shore. We landed on the beach in the morning to cook breakfast and look around the old Civil War fortress.

With the fore and aft gaff rig set and the wind on our beam, our next stop was Plimouth Plantation. You have to experience first hand to fully appreciate the connection ... wind, water, the history wrapped up in this wooden boat and the reception we got pulling into each harbor along the way!

Sailing the Lewis Story, we were treated as ambassadors from Essex and never had to pay for dock space or anchorage. It seems, we added an element of interest and attraction to their waterfront.

The voyage was not without incident as we hit both wind and heavy chop coming out of the Cape Cod Canal into Buzzards Bay. Our engine quit, then as we raised sail to escape, the wedges holding the forward mast came loose. As I stood ready to spear a potential mooring with a boat hook, I could see the ripples in the sand-bar we were crossing! Captain Gnat brought us about and I tied her off for repairs.

Bob Hicks tells a great story of our trip back in his September 2006 issue of Messing About in Boats. The only part he missed was the Lewis Story schooner ride off of Race Point in 20 foot swells! We visited Cuttyhunk, on the Elizabeth Islands chain, Martha's Vineyard and Provincetown before reaching Gloucester Harbor. And thanks again to all who welcomed us!