Schooner Thomas E. Lannon

What Schooner Thomas E. Lannon does

Schooner Thomas E. Lannon is a family-owned seasonal sailing charter business that operates a 65-foot US Coast Guard-certified wooden Gloucester fishing schooner out of Seven Seas Wharf in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The vessel, designed by Capt. Harold A. Burnham and built in 1997 at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum shipyard, replicates early-1900s Gloucester fishing schooners using traditional materials — white oak, black locust, mahogany, white pine, and white spruce — held together with 2,000 black locust treenails and silicon bronze fasteners. The business offers per-ticket public sails (Sunset, Music Cruise, Tuesday Special, Saturday Mornings, Fireworks, Race Day, Meteor Shower, Moonlight, Sail Boston 2026) priced between $34 and $325 per passenger, alongside private charters at $750–$1,100 per hour for corporate events, weddings, memorials, school groups, and celebrations, with onboard F&B and gift certificates as ancillary revenue streams.

The company sells directly to consumers through its own online booking platform (starboardsuite.com), phone reservations, and walk-up ticket sales at the wharf, with no third-party resellers. Acquisition channels are predominantly organic: Instagram, Facebook, TripAdvisor, an email VIP list, and word-of-mouth. Customer segments span tourists and families (primary), corporate groups, weddings/celebrations, school groups, and memorial-service clients. Operating season runs mid-May through mid-October, with daily sails in peak summer and weekends-only in shoulder months. The Ellis family — currently Heath Ellis (President/Captain) and Yvonne Ellis (Vice President/Charter Coordinator), who purchased the business from founders Tom and Kay Ellis in 2016 — operates the company with no external institutional investment.

Name

Schooner Thomas E. Lannon

Legal name

Schooner Thomas E. Lannon

Website

https://schooner.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schooner Thomas E. Lannon is a family-owned sailing charter business operating a 65-foot Coast Guard-certified wooden Gloucester fishing schooner out of Gloucester, MA, offering per-ticket public sails and hourly private charters (weddings, corporate, memorials, schools) from mid-May through mid-October.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Sailing Charters

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew) (THAJALAE)

Keywords

• Sailing charters
• Harbor cruises
• Sunset sails
• Wedding charters
• Recreational boating

Headquarters

HQ city

Gloucester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Sails (per-ticket): Passengers purchase individual tickets for scheduled 1.5–2.5 hour sails including Sunset Sail, Sunset Music Cruise, Tuesday Special, Saturday Mornings, Fireworks, Schooner Race Day, Meteor Shower Sail, Moonlight Sail, and Sail Boston 2026. Tickets range from $34 to $325 per person depending on sail type and duration.
2. Private Charters: Exclusive vessel rental for private events (weddings, corporate events, memorials, birthdays, anniversaries). Charged at hourly rates ($750–$950/hr depending on day/time), with 2-hour minimum (3-hour minimum for memorial services, 2.5-hour minimum for weddings). Group size limited to 49 passengers.
3. Food and Beverage Sales: Onboard sale of water, soft drinks, beer, ale, wine, prosecco, sparkling rosé, rum punch, and salty snacks. Catering options (lobster-bake, clam chowder, lobster rolls) provided by Gloucester House Restaurant for private charters. 15–22% crew gratuity customary. Cash bar or tab settlement options.
4. Group Rates: Discounted per-person pricing for groups of 30+ on scheduled public sails: $40/person midweek, $45/person for sunset sail midweek. Groups may share the boat with other passengers.
5. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold online; valid for 7 years from issuance per Massachusetts State Law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schooner Thomas E. Lannon operates a 65-foot traditional Gloucester fishing schooner (built 1997, US Coast Guard certified for 49 passengers) out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, selling scheduled public sails (1.5-2.5 hours each, $34-$325 per ticket) and exclusive private charters (hourly, $750-$1,100/hr with 2-3 hour minimums) for events such as weddings, corporate outings, team building, memorial services, and school groups, supplemented by onboard food and beverage service and gift certificates.

Product overview

The Schooner Thomas E. Lannon is a 65-foot Gloucester fishing schooner offering a portfolio of public sails and private charter services. Public sails include specialty experiences such as Sunset Sail, Sunset Music Cruise, Tuesday Special, Saturday Mornings, Fireworks Sails, Schooner Race Day, Meteor Shower Sail, Moonlight Sail, and Sail Boston 2026, alongside standard 1.5-hour public sails. Private charters provide exclusive vessel use for Corporate Events, Corporate Team Building, Weddings, Memorial Services (burials at sea), School Groups, and Group Rates. Ancillary services include onboard Food and Beverage Service and Gift Certificates. The company operates from May through October, berthed at Seven Seas Wharf at the Gloucester House Restaurant in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunset Sail Two-hour evening sail offering views of sunset over Gloucester Harbor, with beverages and snacks available for purchase onboard. Adults $60, Seniors 65+ $44.
• Sunset Music Cruise Two-hour evening sail featuring live local musicians performing Celtic, bluegrass, folk, and sea chanteys, with sunset views over Gloucester Harbor. $65 per person.
• Tuesday Special One-and-a-half-hour midday sail with buy-one-get-one-half-off pricing, available in July and August only. $34 regular (second ticket half price).
• Saturday Mornings Saturday morning family sail (10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon) where children ages 16 and under sail free with a paying adult (July-August). Adults $50, Seniors $45.
• Fireworks Sails Two-hour evening sail with sunset departure followed by fireworks viewing, including finger desserts. $107.50 per person.
• Schooner Race Day All-day sail aboard the Lannon during the Gloucester Schooner Festival Mayor's Race on Labor Day weekend, with passengers participating in the race. $249 per person.
• Meteor Shower Sail 2.5-hour nighttime sail to view the Perseid meteor shower, featuring astronomer commentary and dark skies away from shore. $75 per person.
• Moonlight Sail Evening sail on select nights during full moon, offering romantic nighttime sailing experience. Adults $58, Seniors 65+ $55.
• Sail Boston 2026 Specialty sail to Boston Harbor for the international Tall Ships event and Parade of Sail, including daily public sails, sunset sails, and fireworks cruises. Adults $76, Seniors 65+ $71, Kids infant-16 free; Parade of Sail $325.
• Private Charters Exclusive use of the vessel for private events including birthday parties, family reunions, corporate outings, retirement parties, anniversary parties, and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Minimum two-hour charter; $750-$950/hr depending on day and time.
• Corporate Events Private corporate sails for company parties, client appreciation events, and team outings with catering options through Gloucester House Restaurant.
• Corporate Team Building Half-day experiential team building programs where groups learn to navigate, set and trim sails, and steer the 65-foot vessel together. $900/hr Mon-Fri; $1,000/hr Sun-Thu evenings; $1,100/hr Fri-Sun. Max 30 passengers, 3-hour minimum.
• Wedding Charters Wedding ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, post-wedding brunches, and anniversary celebrations aboard the schooner, with catering including lobster bakes and Gloucester House Restaurant menu options. $750-$950/hr, 2.5-hour minimum, $175 non-refundable booking fee + 20% gratuity.
• Memorial Services Burials at sea and memorial services for scattering ashes, requiring minimum 3-hour charter to reach 3 miles offshore per Coast Guard/EPA regulations. $750-$950/hr.
• School Groups Educational sails for students aligned with fifth-grade curriculum, coordinated with Cape Ann Museum, Maritime Gloucester, and Essex Shipbuilding Museum. Hands-on learning about navigation, sailing, and maritime history.
• Group Rates Discounted rates for groups of 30 or more on public sails, $40/person midweek and $45/person midweek sunset sail; min 30, max 49 passengers, $100 deposit required. Available mid-September through mid-October for foliage groups.
• Food and Beverage Service Onboard refreshments including water, soft drinks, beer, ale, wine, prosecco, sparkling rose, rum punch, and salty snacks; 15-22% crew gratuity customary. Catered meals include lobster bakes, chowder, lobster rolls, and a la carte options from Gloucester House Restaurant for private charters.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates sold online through the starboardsuite.com booking platform; valid for 7 years from issuance per Massachusetts State Law.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25 seasons of operation with thousands of passengers and only a handful of seasickness cases reported
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Gloucester House RestaurantcoreOthersLocated adjacent to Seven Seas Wharf where the Lannon is berthed. Provides all catering for private charters including lobster-bakes, clam chowder, lobster rolls, and à la carte menus. Also provides the physical location for ticket pickup and pre-sail waiting area.
• Cape Ann MuseumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates educational programs for school groups alongside the schooner sail. Combines museum visits with maritime sailing experiences for a comprehensive educational field trip.
• Maritime GloucestersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates educational programs for school groups; located two blocks from the Lannon's berth. Part of the floating classroom initiative connecting maritime history education with hands-on sailing experiences.
• Essex Shipbuilding MuseumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lannon was built at the museum's shipyard in Essex, MA. Coordinates educational programs for school groups visiting the museum followed by a sailing experience.
• Discover GloucesterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeath Ellis serves on the board of Discover Gloucester, Gloucester's Destination Marketing Organization. Captain Tom Ellis serves on the Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee.
• Gloucester Schooner Festival CommitteeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoth Heath and Tom Ellis serve on the committee organizing the annual Gloucester Schooner Festival, which includes the Mayor's Race on Labor Day weekend.
• Essex Shipbuilding Museum ShipyardcoreOthersThe A.D. Story shipyard (founded 1813) where the Lannon was built. The shipyard is operated by the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. Tom Ellis chose this location to continue the tradition of Essex-built Gloucester fishing schooners.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lewis R. French Schooner: One of the oldest continuously operating passenger schooners in the US, offering Maine windjammer cruises from Camden. Closely comparable traditional wooden schooner passenger experience with similar pricing and seasonal operating model.
• Clipper City Tall Ship (Manhattan by Sail): 158-foot passenger tall ship offering day sails, sunset sails, and private charters in New York Harbor. Comparable in offering public passenger sails plus large-group private events aboard a traditional sailing vessel.
• Maine Windjammer Cruises: Fleet of traditional sailing schooners offering multi-day and day windjammer cruises out of Camden and Rockland, ME. Most directly comparable operator to the Lannon in terms of authentic windjammer experience, traditional vessel construction, and per-passenger ticket revenue model.
• Schooner America 2.0: NYC-based 105-foot replica of an 1851 schooner offering day sails, sunset sails, and private charters. Direct comparable on the public sailing + private charter product mix and premium event positioning, though operating in a much larger tourist market.
• Schooner J. & E. Riggin: National Historic Landmark wooden oyster dredging schooner operating Maine windjammer cruises. Directly comparable on traditional wooden schooner authenticity, hands-on sailing participation, and seasonal multi-day passenger experience in a New England harbor.
• Schooner Adirondack / Classic Harbor Line: Operator of multiple classic schooners offering public sails, private charters, and specialty cruises in New York Harbor. Comparable on the passenger schooner product line, premium pricing, and event-charter business, though geographically displaced.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Harbor Cruises: Largest New England water-based tour operator, running ferries, whale watches, sunset cruises, and private charters from Boston Harbor. Broader portfolio and geographic reach, but overlapping scenic boat tour and private charter offerings.
• Odyssey Boston: Larger upscale dinner cruise operator in Boston Harbor offering private charters and corporate events on a motorized vessel. Comparable on the private charter and corporate event revenue stream, though motorized rather than sailing.

Regional players

• Cape Ann Whale Watch: Gloucester-based marine excursion operator offering whale watching and deep-sea fishing trips out of the same Cape Ann harbor as the Lannon. Closest direct regional competitor for tourist water-based experiences and shared tourist customer base.

Emerging players

• Harbor Cruise Lines (various small operators): Network of small harbor tour operators in New England and mid-Atlantic ports offering comparable 1–2 hour scenic boat tours. Relevant competitive context for the Lannon's per-ticket public sail positioning, though none match the traditional schooner authenticity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schoonerlannon
• Instagraminstagram.com/schoonerlannon_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schooner-lannon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schooner Thomas E. Lannon