F/V Erica Lee
BOAT CAMP Inc. uses the Erica Lee as its primary floating classroom, but also uses the harbor tour boat Yankee Clipper and Plum Island Eco-Tour’s Joppa Flats. All are U.S. Coast Guard inspected annually, and adhere to the latest safety rules and guidelines. As these vessels are certified for carrying passengers and built specifically to do so with high railings and other design measures, children aged 7 and older are not required to wear lifejackets while onboard. (Just as when traveling onboard ferries and whale watching boats.) Each vessel has life jackets, and other safety gear, in case of emergency. We are happy to accommodate the wishes of parents who would like their child to wear a life jacket during program hours. When transporting kids ashore to islands and beaches in smaller boats, children do wear lifejackets, which we provide.
Children enrolled in our River Runners program will participate in one boat ride aboard the Yankee Clipper, and will wear lifevests for their comfort and ours. Parents are welcome and encouraged to join us on this field outing.
The F/V Erica Lee
The 42-foot Erica Lee is a Bruno-Stillman hull, U.S. Coast Guard inspected annually and licensed for 30 passengers. Powered by an 892 Detroit 600hp diesel, she cruises at 16 knots and carries the latest marine electronics, including 3-d underwater cartography, and safety equipment.
In addition to a variety of fishing gear and educational tools, she is also equipped with an otter trawl for scientific collection and a beach seine for sand eeling at Plum Island. We also utilize a small tender to ferry friends ashore when visiting islands, beaches, tidal flats or marshes. We are docked in front of the Black Cow Tap & Grill at Hilton’s Marina, steps away from our ocean education center, located in the same building as Newburyport Whale Watch and Plum Island Coffee Roasters at 54 Merrimac St. Newburyport.
