THE PINKY SCHOONER
The lines of the Summertime are that of the New England pinky schooner, well known for its
seagoing qualities and its ability to weather storms. The pinky, which originated in Europe
in the 1600's, receives its name from its uplifted or “pinked” stern. The pink-sterned
hull with schooner rig appears to have been used in the New England fishing fleet prior to the
Revolution. These sea-worthy vessels became popular for mackerel fishing after the invention
of the mackerel jig.
The stability of the pinky design is featured in the following tribute taken from The Fisherman's
Memorial, an 1873 Glouster, Massachusetts, publication:
These little vessels from their extreme buoyancy and offering so little resistance to the power of ocean waves, would make comparatively good weather at times when larger ships would be laboring, plunging, and straining every plank and timber to its utmost capacity of endurance. They would mount almost on even keel upon the crest of the highest seas and settle into the hollows with the ease and grace of a wild duck.
THE SUMMERTIME
Launched in 1986, the pinky Summertime was built on the Maine coast using traditional
methods by George Allen, Bill Brown, and many interested volunteers. Master builder of the
Summertime, Captain Allen first began sailing as mate on the Stephen Taber in 1960
before becoming her captain in 1963. He has also helped rebuild and skipper the schooner
Richard Robbins and served as ship's carpenter for the schooner Victory Chimes.
Construction of the Summertime incorporated a variety of locally cut, seasoned
woods, including oak for the keel and frames; locust for the stem and trunnels, or
“tree nails,” that hold the double-sawn frames together; cedar for the planking;
hackmatack for the top timbers and deck beams; and white pine for the deck.
THE CAPTAIN
Captain Bill Brown, skipper and owner of the Summertime,
is a
United States Coast Guard-licensed Captain as well as a Maine EMS-licensed Emergency Medical Technician.
He has been sailing Blue Hill and Penobscot Bays since his arrival in Maine from Ohio in 1974. He has sailed on the
schooners Victory Chimes and Mary Day and has captained the schooners Mercantile and
Timberwind. Captain Brown also taught at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School.
