Welcome aboard the Schooner J. & E. Riggin!

The Ship’s Story

The Schooner J. & E. Riggin was built in Dorchester, New Jersey in 1927 by Charles Riggin as an oyster dredger, and named for his sons, Jacob & Edward. This two-masted, gaff-rigged schooner was built for speed and maneuverability, as was demonstrated in 1929 when she won the only official oyster schooner race on the Delaware Bay.

To honor the ships’s legacy, we serve oysters on the half shell on every trip!

After decades of fishing successfully, diesel technology surpassed sailing efficiency, and in 1960 the J. & E. Riggin was sold to a ground-fishing operation off of Long Island, New York. She was stripped of her mast and sails, and converted into a diesel-powered fishing vessel. She operated here until the life had been worked out of her, and she was decommissioned. 

In 1975, a young couple from Rockland, Maine, Dave & Sue Allen, purchased J. & E. Riggin and began a lengthy restoration project to convert her into the windjammer she is today. Outfitted with eleven cabins accommodating up to 24 guests, she began sailing the coast of Maine in 1977 providing unforgettable sailing experiences to between 600 and 700 passengers each year. In 1991, she became a National Historic Landmark in acknowledgement of her service and importance to our maritime history. 

Windjammer: refers to a vessel that takes passengers on multi-day excursions under sail. It historically was a derogatory term that has since been reclaimed.
— Captain Justin

While nearly a century old, the J. & E. Riggin is meticulously maintained and fit for spirited sailing. Today, she participates in the annual Great Schooner Race on Penobscot Bay with windjammers from around the region and performs admirably. On any given summer day you may see her cruising down the Bay, flags flying and passengers beaming. Or, due to her maneuverability and shallow draft, useful in her oystering days, you may catch her silently slipping into a secluded cove to anchor for the evening. 

The J. & E. Riggin has no in-board engine, but instead is powered almost exclusively by sail. When necessary for navigating small harbors or in calm conditions, her diesel powered 16-foot yawl boat, built by former captain Jon Finger, is employed. The schooner is fully equipped with GPS, radar, and radio. She meets all Coast Guard requirements for construction and safety equipment. Certified to carry passengers, she fully meets all requirements for stability and watertight integrity. 

Now lovingly and capably stewarded by Captains Justin Schafer and Jocelyn Schmidt, the J. & E. Riggin is poised to sail for current and future generations, contributing to the preservation of Atlantic maritime history.