Harvey Gamage Case Study

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The Harvey Gamage is back on the water after a 14-month process to restore the boat one of the three vessels used in the now-defunct Ocean Classrooms, is sailing once again. As previously reported by The Lincoln County News, the 1973 schooner was one of the last boats to be built by its namesake, South Bristol shipbuilder Harvey Gamage. Gamage was the owner-operator of the Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol from 1924 until his death in 1976. In that time, more than 288 LIST OR NAH vessels, boats, and ships were built by the Harvey F. Gamage Bristol Yacht Building Company and the Harvey Gamage Shipbuilders. The Harvey Gamage, along with Westward and Spirit of Massachusetts, were previously used by Ocean Classroom, a Damariscotta-based non-profit that provided educational semester-at-sea programs. Oceans Classroom ceased …show more content…

“What Ocean Classroom did for 20 years was an absolutely terrific program,” Belanger said. “It was a hard decision to make, but we knew it needed to be done.” Belanger said there was always a hope the three vessels would be used again in the future, but at the time the board was focused on After Ocean Classroom shut down, Spirit of Massachusetts was purchased by a private investor and has since been refurbished into a restaurant in Kennebunk. Belanger entered into an agreement with Portland Yacht Services, of Portland, to preserve both Harvey Gamage and Westward. Belanger said Portland Yacht Services Owner Phineas Sprague Jr. played a key part in making sure the vessels were taken care of. “(Sprague) has a great passion for the sailing experience and knows the benefits of the educational programs these schooners provided,” Belanger said. “He was committed to finding a way to preserve the legacy and keep them in

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