Voyage on The Gundalow Piscataqua to/from Newburyport Waterfront Park and Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury! September 7th-13th.

Photos by: David J Murray ClearEyePhoto.com

The Gundalow Piscataqua enters the Merrimack River near Newburyport, MA in 2019. Photo by: David J Murray ClearEyePhoto.com

The Gundalow Piscataqua will once again be visiting the Merrimack River during September 7th through 13th. The 65-foot lateen-rigged gundalow is a traditional reproduction of the flat bottom river barges once prevalent in the Merrimack River. Harbor tours and Sunset Sails will be available from the Newburyport waterfront park and Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury.

Before the arrival of automobiles and trucks, Merrimack gundalows provided vital transportation links in the region’s economy.  In his book “The Piscataqua Gundalow: Workhorse for a Tidal Basin Empire”, Richard E. Winslow stated that the Merrimack River basin of Massachusetts ranked perhaps second to the Piscataqua in volume of gundalow traffic.  In the stretch between Haverhill and Newburyport gundalows were once a familiar sight on the river and nearby salt marshes.

In their prime, gundalows were employed to load and unload vessels in Newburyport harbor.   Also, they were essential for farmers of the lower Merrimack River Valley to bring in hay for their cattle and to ferry their products to Market.

Ironically, the gundalows hastened their own demise by assisting in the construction of wharves, roads and bridges, including the Eastern Railroad bridge built across the Merrimack in 1840.

Join the Gundalow Company for a sail or open ship during our visit!

Sails from Newburyport Waterfront Park

The Gundalow Piscataqua at Lowells Boat Shop on the Merrimack River, near Newburyport, MA in 2019. Photo by: David J Murray ClearEyePhoto.com

Wednesday, September 7th
2:30-4:00pm Harbor Sail
5:00-7:00pm Sunset Sail

Thursday, September 8th
2:30-4:00pm Harbor Sail

Friday, September 9th
2:30-4:00pm Harbor Sail

Saturday, September 10th
12:00-1:30pm Harbor Sail – ideal for families & kids
2:30-4:00pm Harbor Sail

5:00-7:00pm Sunset Sail

Sunday, September 11th
11:30-1:00pm Harbor Sail
2:00-4:00pm Concert Cruise – Penhallow
5:00-7:00pm Sunset Sail

Monday, September 12
2:00-3:30pm Harbor Sail

Sails from Lowell’s Boat Shop
Tuesday, September 13th
12:00-1:30pm Amesbury Sail
2:30-4:00pm Amesbury Sail
5:00-7:00pm Amesbury Sunset Sail

Choose your Cruise

1.5 hour Afternoons:
Adults $32, kids 8-15 $16, kids under 8 $8
2.0 hour Sunsets:
Adults $38, kids 8-15 $19, kids under 8 $8
Concert Cruise: 
Adults $44, kids 8-15 $22, kids under 8 $8

Ticketing
Tickets are available from the booking calendar at Gundalow.org or by calling 603.433.9505
There will additionally be ticket sales available at the docks.