.gif)
Sabino (steamer)
Encyclopedia
The Sabino is a small, wooden, coal-fired steamboat built in 1908 and currently located at the Mystic Seaport Museum
in Mystic, Connecticut
. It is one of only two surviving members of the American "mosquito fleet
." The vessel was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1992.
. Originally known as the Tourist, the 57-foot vessel was christened on May 7, 1908. The Tourist began her career as a ferry
for the Damariscotta Steamboat Company on the Damariscotta River
in Maine. The Tourist sank in 1918 due to an accident, but was salvaged. On October 8, 1921, the Tourist was sold to the Popham Beach Steamboat Company on the Kennebec River
. The new owners changed the name of the vessel to Sabino in honor of an Abenaki Indian sagamore named Sabenoa. On July 23, 1927, the Sabino was purchased by the Cape Shore Ferry Company in Portland, Maine
. The Sabino ferried passengers from Portland to the many islands of Casco Bay
. Sponson
s were added in 1928 to help stabilize the Sabino in the open water of Casco Bay. In 1935, the Sabino was again sold, this time to the Casco Bay Lines
. After a few years, the Sabino began to show her age and was put into the company's reserve fleet. The Sabino was returned to regular ferry service in 1956, when another ferry ran aground. However, the Sabino's usefulness to the Casco Bay Lines was short-lived and in 1958, the vessel was sold to Red Slavit. Shortly thereafter, Slavit sold the Sabino to Philip and Irene Corbin of Salisbury, Massachusetts
. Corbin's family then spent a great amount of time repairing the vessel and bringing her up to Coast Guard
regulations for a passenger vessel. In 1971, Philip Corbin's son, Jim, began operating the Sabino on the Merrimack River
running between Salisbury and Haverhill, Massachusetts
. In 1975, the Sabino was leased for one year to the Mystic Seaport Museum to determine if a steamboat would appeal to the museum's patrons. The Sabino became a popular attraction, prompting the museum to purchase the vessel. Under the museum's care, the Sabino received regular maintenance and was brought back to her former glory. In 1992, the Sabino received designation as a National Historic Landmark. The Sabino is noted as one of the few National Historic Landmarks that a person can take a ride on.
. The year 2008 was the 100th anniversary of the Sabino.
Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea, in Mystic, Connecticut, is notable both for its collection of sailing ships and boats, and for the re-creation of crafts and fabric of an entire 19th century seafaring village...
in Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is a village and census-designated place in New London County, Connecticut, in the United States. The population was 4,001 at the 2000 census. A historic locality, Mystic has no independent government because it is not a legally recognized municipality in the state of Connecticut...
. It is one of only two surviving members of the American "mosquito fleet
Mosquito Fleet
The term Mosquito Fleet has had nine main meanings in U.S. naval and maritime history:#It is the term used to describe the United States Navy's fleet of small gunboats, leading up to and during the War of 1812, most were part of the New Orleans Squadron....
." The vessel was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1992.
History
The Sabino was built in the W. Irving Adams shipyard in East Boothbay, MaineBoothbay, Maine
Boothbay is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of East Boothbay and Trevett. The Boothbay region is a center of summer tourist activity, and a significant part of its population does not live there year...
. Originally known as the Tourist, the 57-foot vessel was christened on May 7, 1908. The Tourist began her career as a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
for the Damariscotta Steamboat Company on the Damariscotta River
Damariscotta River
The Damariscotta River is a tidal river in Lincoln County, Maine, that empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Damariscotta is an old Abenaki word for "river of many fishes"...
in Maine. The Tourist sank in 1918 due to an accident, but was salvaged. On October 8, 1921, the Tourist was sold to the Popham Beach Steamboat Company on the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
. The new owners changed the name of the vessel to Sabino in honor of an Abenaki Indian sagamore named Sabenoa. On July 23, 1927, the Sabino was purchased by the Cape Shore Ferry Company in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. The Sabino ferried passengers from Portland to the many islands of Casco Bay
Casco Bay
Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth...
. Sponson
Sponson
Sponsons are projections from the sides of a watercraft, for protection, stability, or the mounting of equipment such as armaments or lifeboats, etc...
s were added in 1928 to help stabilize the Sabino in the open water of Casco Bay. In 1935, the Sabino was again sold, this time to the Casco Bay Lines
Casco Bay Lines
Casco Bay Lines is a publicly run transportation company that services the residents of the islands of Casco Bay. These islands include Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Great Diamond Island, Diamond Cove, Long Island, Chebeague Island and Cliff Island.The company has a fleet of five vessels...
. After a few years, the Sabino began to show her age and was put into the company's reserve fleet. The Sabino was returned to regular ferry service in 1956, when another ferry ran aground. However, the Sabino's usefulness to the Casco Bay Lines was short-lived and in 1958, the vessel was sold to Red Slavit. Shortly thereafter, Slavit sold the Sabino to Philip and Irene Corbin of Salisbury, Massachusetts
Salisbury, Massachusetts
Salisbury is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,827 at the 2000 census. The community is a popular summer resort beach town situated on the Atlantic Ocean north of Boston on the New Hampshire border....
. Corbin's family then spent a great amount of time repairing the vessel and bringing her up to Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
regulations for a passenger vessel. In 1971, Philip Corbin's son, Jim, began operating the Sabino on the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
running between Salisbury and Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 60,879 at the 2010 census.Located on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the...
. In 1975, the Sabino was leased for one year to the Mystic Seaport Museum to determine if a steamboat would appeal to the museum's patrons. The Sabino became a popular attraction, prompting the museum to purchase the vessel. Under the museum's care, the Sabino received regular maintenance and was brought back to her former glory. In 1992, the Sabino received designation as a National Historic Landmark. The Sabino is noted as one of the few National Historic Landmarks that a person can take a ride on.
Operation
The Sabino is operated by a captain, one or two engineers, and two deck hands. The captain does not directly control the direction or speed of the vessel. Instead, the captain relays his commands through a sequence of bells and gongs to the engineer, who controls the engine. The Sabino has an average speed of 8 knots and will consume 60 tons of coal annually. It is estimated that the Sabino carries approximately 33,000 passengers per year.Current status
The Sabino currently operates regularly at the Mystic Seaport giving patrons tours of the Mystic RiverMystic River (Connecticut)
The Mystic River is a estuary in the southeast corner of the U. S. state of Connecticut. Its main tributary is Whitford Brook. It empties into Fishers Island Sound, dividing the village of Mystic between the towns of Groton and Stonington. Much of the river is tidal...
. The year 2008 was the 100th anniversary of the Sabino.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut
- List of museum ships