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Originally built in 1947 under the name Deo Volente I with the fleet number of TX 11, Unicorn's hull was crafted from the metals of captured German U-boats salvaged after World War II. The Dutch-built motor fishing vessel with its locomotive style 1500 horsepower diesel engine trawled the North Atlantic's fishing grounds for 32 years.
When her fishing days were over, she was acquired by a Dutch skipper and his wife, Pieter and Agnes Kaptein of Hoorn. By 1979 she had been converted into a sailing ship and renamed Eenhorn or “one horn”, Dutch for Unicorn.
In the fall of 1999, the vessel was acquired by its current owners, Dawn and Jonathan (Jay) Santamaria of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Along with their four daughters, they have continued to promote the preservation of traditional maritime life through tall ship festivals, community involvement and sail training programs. In December of 2003, the schooner completed a bow to stern refit that took the ship down to its steel ribs, and has been rechristened with her original schooner name, Unicorn. In the summer of 2005, Unicorn was granted a Jones Act Waiver to become a United States registered vessel and she proudly flies the American flag off her stern.
Doug Parsons working on the "Unicorn"!
Doug rolling it on!
Working under the hull!
Up on the "Ways"!
"Unicorn" figurehead!
STV "Unicorn"!
Rigging!
Painted anchor!
Looking over the hull!
Chocked for work!
Bowsprit looms overhead!
Bow on!
Anchor chain!
4 comments:
Looks like he's getting her all spiffyed up! She's a looker thats for sure! It appears the SPV Unicorn is a labor of love for Doug.
Doug is one of the best shipwrights on the east coast! His specialty is wooden boats and has worked at one time or another on just about every schooner and fishing vessel that's ever been hauled out in Gloucester. He's restoring the Phyliss A. which is a gill netter that was built in 1925.
She ran aground this summer in Woods Hole. Any idea if there was damage?
I didn't see any damage other than a few dings & dents.
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