Pilot

Pilot is a historic American pilot boat built in 1924 for the Boston Pilots' Association. Designed by yacht designer William Starling Burgess and constructed at the J. F. James & Son shipyard in Essex County, Massachusetts, the vessel was commissioned to replace the earlier pilot boat Louise No. 2, which had been withdrawn from service. Pilot was a spoon-bowed, knockabout schooner with no bowsprit and twin-screw diesel propulsion. Her dimensions were approximately 121 feet overall, 98 feet at the waterline, and 25 feet in beam. The vessel carried the identifying designation “No. 1” on her mainsail. Pilot was launched on October 2, 1924, and reached Boston on November 19 under the command of Captain Murdock McLean, who had supervised aspects of her construction. Her formal trial trip took place on December 9, 1924, departing Lewis Wharf with approximately 50 guests and proceeding toward Boston Light under Captain William H. Lewis. Built at a reported cost of US$52,000, she entered a working life that ultimately lasted more than five decades. During the Second World War, Pilot was placed into service with the United States Coast Guard, where she assisted with the movement of troop transports, cargo vessels, and tankers. Following the war, she returned to the Boston Pilots' Association and continued operating as a pilot boat into the early 1970s. Her unusually long career made her the longest-serving pilot boat in United States history, according to the referenced account. The vessel left active Boston pilot service when it was sold in 1976 to Norman D. Paulsen of California for use as a research vessel. After another sale in 1998, she was renamed Highlander Sea and subsequently changed hands several more times. Miles and Alex Pincus acquired the vessel in 2015 and converted it into a maritime attraction at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City. From 2017 through 2025, Pilot operated seasonally as a floating bar, combining historic-vessel interpretation with hospitality use. In early 2026, the vessel was moved from its Brooklyn Bridge Park berth to Henry Street Basin in Red Hook for maintenance. The supplied reference states that Pilot later sank at her moorings during the night of July 1–2, 2026, although that event falls after the latest established period of the vessel's public operation.

Pilot was designed in 1924 by William Starling Burgess for the Boston Pilots' Association. The association needed a replacement for Louise No. 2, which left pilot service on December 9 of that year. Construction took place at the J. F. James & Son shipyard in Essex County, Massachusetts, formerly known as Tarr & James. The resulting vessel was a spoon-bowed knockabout schooner without a bowsprit and was fitted with twin-screw diesel engines. She measured about 121 feet overall, 98 feet at the waterline, and 25 feet across the beam. Her mainsail displayed the marking “No. 1,” identifying her in Boston pilot service. Pilot was launched on October 2, 1924. Captain Murdock McLean, who had overseen her construction, brought the vessel from Gloucester to Boston on November 19. On December 9, Captain William H. Lewis commanded a trial trip from Lewis Wharf toward Boston Light with about 50 guests aboard. The reported construction cost was US$52,000. The vessel's principal role was to carry Boston maritime pilots and support the safe navigation of commercial ships approaching the port. During the Second World War, her work changed temporarily: she served with the United States Coast Guard and assisted troop transports, cargo ships, and tankers. After the war, she returned to the Boston Pilots' Association. Pilot remained in or associated with Boston pilot service until the early 1970s, giving her a working career of more than 50 years and making her, according to the referenced account, the longest-serving pilot boat in United States history. In 1976, Pilot was sold to Norman D. Paulsen of California for conversion to research-vessel use. She changed ownership again in 1998 and was renamed Highlander Sea. The vessel subsequently passed through several owners and uses. In 2015, Miles and Alex Pincus acquired her and pursued a preservation-oriented commercial use at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York. From 2017 to 2025, Pilot operated as a seasonal floating bar, allowing the public to experience a historic working vessel in a hospitality setting. The supplied reference states that Pilot moved from Brooklyn Bridge Park to Henry Street Basin in Red Hook for maintenance in early 2026. It further reports that the vessel sank at its moorings on July 1–2, 2026. Because the reported sinking date is later than the documented 2025 operating period, the precise current status should be verified against an updated maritime or local-news source.

1. 2026Reported move and sinking

   The supplied reference reports a move to Henry Street Basin for maintenance and a subsequent sinking at the moorings in July 2026.

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2. 2017Floating-bar operation begins

   Pilot began operating seasonally as a floating bar at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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3. 2015Acquisition for maritime attraction

   Miles and Alex Pincus acquired the vessel and developed a public-facing attraction at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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4. 1998Renamed Highlander Sea

   After a later ownership transfer, Pilot was renamed Highlander Sea.

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5. 1976Sale for research use

   Pilot left her long association with Boston pilotage after being sold to Norman D. Paulsen for use as a research vessel.

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6. 1941Second World War Coast Guard service

   The vessel worked for the United States Coast Guard, helping move troop transports, cargo vessels, and tankers.

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7. 1924Pilot designed and built

   William Starling Burgess designed Pilot for the Boston Pilots' Association, and J. F. James & Son built the vessel in Essex County, Massachusetts.

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8. 1924Launch and entry into Boston service

   Pilot was launched on October 2 and reached Boston on November 19. She replaced Louise No. 2 in the Boston pilot-boat fleet.

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Pilot was not a consumer product brand in the conventional sense. Its identity derives from a named working vessel whose significance rests on historic pilotage service, unusually long operational life, wartime support work, and later preservation and hospitality uses.

• PilotPilot boat1924

  The original 1924 vessel was a working pilot schooner built for Boston harbor operations. Designed by William Starling Burgess, it combined schooner rigging with twin-screw diesel propulsion and was configured to carry pilots and support the movement of commercial vessels into and out of port. Its long service life made it historically notable among American pilot boats.

• Pilot / Highlander SeaHistoric vessel attraction1998

  After leaving Boston pilot service, the vessel was adapted for non-pilot uses, including research work and later public maritime entertainment. It operated under the name Highlander Sea after a 1998 sale, before returning to the name Pilot in its Brooklyn Bridge Park attraction context.

• Pilot floating barHospitality venue2017

  Beginning in 2017, the preserved vessel served as a seasonal floating bar at Brooklyn Bridge Park. This use repositioned a historic working boat as a public-facing waterfront venue and maritime attraction.

• 2017Launch of seasonal floating-bar operationProduct launch

  The owners sought to give the preserved pilot boat a continuing public and commercial role.

  What changed. Pilot opened as a seasonal floating bar and maritime attraction at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

  Aftermath. The vessel operated in that format through 2025, according to the supplied reference.

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• 2015Conversion into a public maritime attractionStrategy

  The historic vessel had passed through several owners and uses after leaving active Boston pilot service.

  What changed. Miles and Alex Pincus acquired Pilot and converted her for public attraction and hospitality use at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

  Aftermath. The vessel began seasonal floating-bar operations in 2017 and remained associated with Brooklyn Bridge Park through 2025.

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• 1976Transfer from Boston pilot service to research useOther

  After more than five decades of pilot-boat service, Pilot was no longer required in her original operational role.

  What changed. The vessel was sold to Norman D. Paulsen of California for use as a research vessel.

  Aftermath. Pilot continued in maritime service under a different operating purpose and outside the Boston Pilots' Association.

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• 2026Pilot moved to Red Hook for maintenance

  The vessel was moved from its Brooklyn Bridge Park berth to Henry Street Basin in Red Hook for maintenance, according to the supplied reference.

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• 2026Pilot reported sunk at Red Hook moorings

  The supplied reference reports that Pilot sank at its Henry Street Basin moorings during the night of July 1–2, 2026. This event is later than the vessel's documented 2025 seasonal operation.

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• 2017Pilot begins seasonal floating-bar operation

  The preserved vessel began operating seasonally as a floating bar at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

  Product launch
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• 2015Pilot acquired for Brooklyn Bridge Park preservation project

  Miles and Alex Pincus purchased the historic vessel and converted it into a maritime attraction at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

  M&A
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• 1998Pilot renamed Highlander Sea

  Following a subsequent sale, the vessel received the name Highlander Sea.

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• 1976Pilot sold for research-vessel use

  After more than five decades associated with Boston pilotage, Pilot was sold to Norman D. Paulsen of California and assigned to research-vessel use.

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• 1941Pilot transferred to United States Coast Guard wartime service

  During the Second World War, the vessel supported the movement of troop transports, cargo ships, and tankers under Coast Guard service.

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• 1924Pilot launched for the Boston Pilots' Association

  The new pilot schooner was launched at the J. F. James & Son shipyard in Essex County, Massachusetts, on October 2, replacing Louise No. 2 in Boston pilot service.

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1. Pilot (1924 boat)