Gundalow Company Sets Sail for Second Season Aboard 'Piscataqua'

The details of history often tell the most compelling stories of how things came to be the way they are now. For Portsmouth, NH, much of the town’s history was formed not on land but by sea. In fact, the Gundalow Company, a Portsmouth-based nonprofit, is dedicated to ensuring that when it comes to the chronicling the region's history no one misses the boat.

In 1886, the last gundalow cargo barge, the Fanny M., departed from Adam’s Point in Durham and drawing to a close the historical rise and fall of the region’s commercial gundalow transportation.  Nearly 100 years later, drawings of the Fanny M. were used to reconstruct the gundalow for people to learn how the vessel helped shape the New Hampshire coast.

Spearheading the efforts to protect the Piscataqua Region’s maritime heritage and environment through education and action, the Gundalow Company, a Portsmouth-based non-profit, is committed to providing an exciting way for people to explore and learn about our rivers. In 2011, the Gundalow Company built and launched a new gundalow to replace the 31 year old gundalow – named the Captain Adams - which had only been used as stationary exhibit.  The new gundalow, the Piscataqua, was built specifically for locals and visitors of all ages to sail on a historic vessel and enjoy the offerings of the region’s unique estuarine waters.

“There is a huge difference between a gundalow tied to the dock and a gundalow able to venture out into the waters.” Explains Gundalow Company’s Executive Director, Molly Bolster. “It gets people attention. The experience connects people to the history of the place and gets them to think about the future.”

The ways in which gundalows defined the early landscapes of the Portsmouth region is chronicled by the geographical development and economic success of the early New Hampshire settlements. The vessel’s practical design allowed for freight transport of up to 50 tons between ocean-going schooners and the growing towns of the Piscataqua Region. It wasn’t until the introduction of trains and the railway development that followed that the demand for gundalows dwindled and by the late 1800s the once popular vessel was a rarity in the Portsmouth waters.

In the heart of the 17^th century, gundalows were established as the prominent cargo barges in the Piscataqua Region.  Their flat bed and shallow-draft construction were specifically designed to navigate the Great Bay estuary and carry cargo from Portsmouth, NH, to coastal towns that were barricaded by mudflats at low tides. The commercial transport gundalows provided are credited for building the successful commerce and trade systems of these towns that otherwise would be unreachable or isolated.

“The gundalow is an icon for the Portsmouth community that sets it apart from nearby regions,” states Bolster. “This is the only place the gundalows existed quite like this and so it inspires a sense of place for people– different from any other coastal community.”

With the passage of time, the inevitable impacts of growth and development continue to test the health of the Great Bay estuary and watershed. The estuarine ecosystem, defined by its brackish water, offers a dynamic habitat for thousands of living species. Formerly the framework for gundalow transportation, the Great Bay-Piscataqua Region now offers a gateway for people to connect environmental and historical values.

“We wanted the Gundalow program to build on people’s connection to place and we looked at examples of programs that successfully encouraged stewardship and place-based value,” explained Bolster. “There is a lot to gain with the approach, even if it’s just to bring some enjoyment to someone’s experience.”

Capturing the rich history of the Great Bay-Piscataqua Region while exploring the scenic estuarine environment, it is hardly surprising that the Gundalow Company’s public sails were named 2013 Editor’s Choice for the Best of New England by Yankee Magazine. Recognized by the blend of history, nature, and entertainment, the Piscataqua sails were featured as New Hampshire’s Best Boat Ride.

Beginning Memorial Day weekend through October, the Gundalow Company’s offers a variety of Morning, Afternoon, and Sunset Sails. Passengers are invited to enjoy the experience as they would like and welcome to bring food and beverages aboard.  Whether it’s to learn from the Picataqua’s knowledgeable crew about the cultural history or to relax on a leisurely cruise with family and friends, the Gundalow Company’s public sails are curbed to the interests of the passengers.

Thursday evenings from mid-June to mid-September, the Gundalow Company offers Specialty Sails featuring either a local band or a discussion roundtable with local marine scientists or historians. The popularity of the 2012 Specialty Sails, led to the expansion of the Thursday evening concert series, as 16 local musicians will perform over the course of the summer season. On Saturday mornings, kids ages 5-12 sail for free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

The Gundalow Company recently partnered with the Green Alliance to contribute to the efforts to educate the community on the importance of supporting local, green initiatives and businesses. The Green Alliance is a collaboration of over 3,300 community members and partners with over 115 local, green businesses that works to raise the profile of sustainable businesses through market leadership and consumer education. Like the Green Alliance, the Gundalow Company recognizes the value of place-based experience and education.

“The approach we take is, if people don’t connect with a place and the natural environment that makes up a place how can we get them to care about it? If people don’t see it and smell it and experience it is very challenging,” Bolster says. “That’s what the Gundalow Company strives to do; to take people out, one boat ride at a time, and get them to fall in love with this place.”

As a Partner of the Green Alliance, the Gundalow Company offers GA members 10% off public sails and 10% off private charters!

Learn more about the Gundalow Company or purchase tickets for a sail by visiting www.gundalow.org.

Learn how to become involved with the Green Alliance by visiting www.greenalliance.biz/join.