An Everyman Story in an Everyman City
Citizen sailors are on a mission to champion Erie’s history while creating a schoolship capable of transforming the lives of Erie’s young people. From fiberglass hull to 1812 Gunboat Schooner Porcupine – the reproduction is made possible by private donations and led by BMC.
A Donated Hull and a Dream
Rich Eisenberg, BMC founder and executive director, accepted the donation of a 40′ fiberglass hull and began the long task of harnessing volunteer, student, and shipwright expertise with money and materials to build a representation of the Schooner Porcupine.
The hull was meticulously crafted by an Ohio couple, Keith and Kathy Palmerton, who dreamed of retiring aboard and cruising. When their plans were thwarted by health challenges, the couple donated the hull to BMC.
The Schoolship for Presque Isle Bay
Porcupine’s mission will be sailing as the Schoolship for Presque Isle Bay, a hands-on sailing STEM classroom and historic regional attraction, interpreting her important part in the War of 1812, sailing for the US Coastal Survey Office, being a United States Revenue Cutter, and carrying cargo as the merchant schooner Caroline until 1873.
The Schooner Porcupine will serve as an environmental science lab and research vessel, accommodating a traditional classroom of students on and below deck for discovery trips in Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. This hands-on style of learning fosters the growth of critical thinking and problem solving skills and this spark can ignite a new interest in learning and careers.
A Part of Erie’s Past and Future
The completed topsail rigged Porcupine will be operated by the Bayfront Maritime Center as a historic, sailing science vessel for area school students. Porcupine will also offer sailing charters and special events during the sailing season.
Porcupine will be able to visit Erie’s smaller neighboring ports on both sides of Lake Erie that are not accessible to larger vessels. Because of her modern high density closed cell marine foam and fiberglass hull, she will be a sustainable, efficient, cost-effective and high profile local asset with deep ties to Erie.
A Day in the Life of Schooner Porcupine
Imagine this: Erie High – Bayfront Maritime Center student research teams collect and analyze samples aboard the ship that tell a story of development, pollution, lake deterioration, and harm to fish and other wildlife. They share their findings through a running blog about their work that will culminate in a publication to be shared amongst maritime school colleagues and Great Lakes advocates.
A second afternoon sail is based around BMC’s acquired expertise in behavior management and team building, gained through years of program delivery with behaviorally challenged students. This group of adolescents from a local therapeutic residential school will work on team building, trust activities, and skill development.
Behind the scenes on this busy day on the water, BMC office staff monitor reservations online for the Schooner Porcupine’s scheduled weekend sails, a Saturday evening sunset cruise with a wine, and a Sunday afternoon employee appreciation outing for a local small business with a focus on the history, geography, and commercial life of the bay.
A six-month sailing season, lasting from late April through late October, places a premium on maximizing the use of the Porcupine, day in and day out.
Schooner Porcupine’s History
The Porcupine was one of the schooner rigged gunboats built in Erie by Daniel Dobbins and Ebeneezer Crosby to fight in the battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The gunboat Schooner Porcupine was used as a hospital ship immediately following the Battle of Lake Erie. She fought in several later campaigns supporting the Detroit and Thames River land forces, making her story intimately connected to regional history.
Porcupine was transferred to the US Coastal Survey Office and used to chart and document coastlines. She later served in the Revenue Cutter Service. After being sold to a merchant in 1825, she was renamed Caroline and carried cargo on the Great Lakes for 47 years, making this square topsail schooner the longest lasting vessel of Perry’s fleet.
Meet the Shipwright: Ron DeLappa
Ron DeLappa has worked on several famous schooners in the Finger Lakes region of NY, all of which have returned to various ports around the world. One of them is When and If which many may remember seeing during Tall Ships Festival 2016 in Erie.
He also was part of the team which did a major rebuild of Malabar X, built in Maine for the famous yacht designer, John Alden. Malabar X has won several Bermuda Races and now resides in Barcelona, Spain.
Thank You to Our Dedicated Team, Donors, & Volunteers!
Phase III of the Porcupine Project’s accomplished team:
Ron DeLappa – Shipwright
Richard Eisenberg – Project Director
Iver Franzen – Naval Architect
Howard Rice – Boat Carpenter
Volunteer Carpenters – Ken and Blanche Phillips, Steve Russ