MV Times
Sailing on: Shenandoah retiring after next summer
The original Shenandoah will sail for its last summer next season.
By Nicholas Vukota July 16, 2025
One of the Island’s most iconic wooden watercrafts, the Shenandoah, often touted as being the only topsail schooner of its size to operate without an engine in the world, announced that after 63 seasons edifying the Island’s youth, next summer will be its last.
Designed and built by Island legend and Capt. Robert S. Douglas, the wooden schooner has shaped tens of thousands of lives through the Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Academy’s (MVOA) youth hands-on educational programs.
The decision to retire the vessel arose following a recent U.S. Coast Guard inspection in Fairhaven that determined extensive structural repairs to the aging wooden hull far exceeded the cost of n building a new steel-hull replica, the Shenandoah II.
“It would cost twice as much to rebuild Shenandoah as opposed to building a new boat,” said Ian Ridgeway, co-founder and executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Academy.
According to a press release by the Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Academy, even with repairs, Shenandoah would not meet current Coast Guard standards for small passenger vessels, relying instead on its grandfathered status. According to the release, restoration would also require years of downtime and materials, potentially delaying the ship’s return indefinitely.
“In light of these realities, we are announcing that Shenandoah will complete her final season in 2026,” said Ridgeway. “This ship has changed tens of thousands of lives through decades of service to our Island. It’s time for us to ensure her legacy and services carry forward.”
The Shenandoah II is a steel-hull schooner designed by Capt. Douglas himself to succeed the original vessel. Unlike its predecessor, Shenandoah II will include an engine, introducing the possibility of year-round programming, and potentially allowing semester-long trips to expand MVOA’s mission.
“The [steel-hull] schooner he designed to succeed Shenandoah is an improvement over Shenandoah,” said Casey Blum, co-founder and executive director of MVOA. “He wanted this vessel built more than anything. It feels good to try to follow through on our promise we made to him to preserve Shenandoah’s legacy by building its successor ship.”
The MVOA has raised $3.25 million toward the $9.85 million needed to build Shenandoah II, and to fund additional programming and scholarships. However, with construction timelines expected to extend beyond 2026, according to Ridgeway, the academy is exploring options such as chartering a vessel in 2027 to maintain programming continuity.
“We thought we’d have uninterrupted programming, but it’s taken longer to advance the campaign,” Ridgeway said.
For Blum and Ridgeway, former students of the Shenandoah and the Alabama, the decision comes with emotional weight, but they believe it’s the best option to preserve the device-free and educational environment.
“It’s bittersweet. I spent more than 25 seasons on Shenandoah, and grew up on the boat, and the experience it provides is something that is so important for our youth today to have,” said Ridgeway. “[It’s critical] to get them [the youth] away from screens and devices and into a novel and challenging environment where they can learn and grow with confidence, and develop the ability to work as a team and meet new people face to face.”
“It sounds basic, but a lot of the kids who come on this boat say to us, ‘I didn’t know I could make friends without a phone,’” added Ridgeway.
“I am really hopeful for the future, and I think the plan the MVOA has in place for Shenandoah programming is really smart and forward-thinking,” added Blum. “At the end of the day, the preservation of the legacy is what matters most to me, and I know that we are carrying out Capt. Douglas’s wishes by building a Shenandoah successor.”
According to the press release, in addition to building Shenandoah II, MVOA is exploring ways to preserve the original Shenandoah hull as a permanent waterfront exhibit in Vineyard Haven, where all generations can connect with her history, touch her decks, and learn from her story.
“As we honor Capt. Bob’s steadfast vision, we invite Shenandoah’s far-reaching community to help us build the next generation topsail schooner for life-changing voyages,” said Blum. “With your support, we can continue shaping and empowering our Island youth with the profound experiences that only a ship like this can provide.”
To support the Shenandoah: The Next Generation campaign, visit