Improvements For A Salem Schooner

NBSS Instructor Nick Maraldo CF ’07 recently brought his woodworking skills aboard Fame, a replica War of 1812 schooner in Salem, MA—blending craftsmanship, history, and a lifelong connection to nautical life.

Nick is no stranger to the sea. After graduating from NBSS, he worked in the trades for many years before enlisting in the Navy in 2009. What he expected to be a two-year commitment turned into eight. During his service, he got his first taste of teaching experience, volunteered with the National Park Service in Salem where he was introduced to their replica tall ship, the Friendship—and fell in love with the sea. 

“I remember when I left for the Navy, my grandfather, who was a WWII and Korean Navy vet, said to me, ‘The sea gets into you and it doesn’t soon leave.’ At the time, I had no idea what he was on about, but now I truly understand his words,” says Nick.

Little did he know at the time, that experience would eventually bring him back to woodworking—this time aboard a historic ship.

After he was discharged from the Navy, he wanted to continue his connection to the sea, even as he began teaching woodworking part-time. Through former crew members of the Friendship, he was put in touch with Captain Mike Rutstein of the Fame, a full-scale replica of an early-1800s privateer schooner now used for public tours in Salem. 

Mike was looking for someone to do a few woodworking projects on board. With Nick’s time in the Navy, love for nautical-themed motifs, and woodworking experience, he was the ideal candidate for the job. 

Today, the Fame is a successful charter boat, offering tourists an immersive experience that recreates what it was like to navigate alongside pirates, privateers, East Indiamen, and men-of-war during the War of 1812. “The Fame is truly an experience,” explains Nick. “Passengers get to dive into Salem’s history, shoot a cannon, and enjoy the cove.” 

A notable project for the Captain was to upgrade their coolers, which held precious cargo: the ingredients needed to make the Fame‘s signature Dark and Stormy drinks, which are served during tours. 

“While we are Coast Guard certified, we really do try to keep the Fame as authentic to 1812 as possible,” explains Mike. “One of the elements we struggled to make authentic were the big Igloo coolers. They aren’t exactly authentic to 1812.”

Like many NBSS instructors, Nick takes on side projects that combine skilled craft with personal passion. Though a decidedly fun element on board the ship, he took the project seriously. 

“Since every other element of the ship was so well constructed for the time, I knew the coolers had to look the part,” he explains. While drafting the new design, he also identified issues to resolve during the building process, such as weather exposure and practical improvements. As one example, Nick recalls the original coolers were “flimsy, causing them to slam shut when the boat rocked… Mike said he would have nightmares about that sound,” Nick laughs.

True to form, the coolers maintain the ship’s historic feel, featuring period details, custom ropework, and a marine-grade varnish for enhanced durability. Nick also took the opportunity to honor the tradition of pirates adding the names of their hometowns into their chests. With an expert hand, he skillfully carved the names of the Fame‘s first Captain and first Lieutenant into the mahogany side panel.

Nick was able to combine his experience in the Navy, knowledge of historic preservation, and extensive woodworking skills to seamlessly integrate the past and present, yielding numerous positive outcomes. “Not only did Nick make us these beautiful, rock-solid pieces, but we can now also offer a greater amount of drinks, the cooler drains easier, and we even have a better relationship with the restaurant providing us ice, since it’s not melting right away,” explains Mike. 

Like many instructors at NBSS, Nick has a diverse skill set that goes beyond simply recreating a pirate’s sea chest from the 1800s; he also utilizes skills he acquired during his time in the Navy. While in boot camp, Nick was assigned the task of teaching 80 new recruits how to make their beds. He jokes that, although it might seem like a simple skill, it was actually quite challenging. 

“There is no way I would be where I am today without the training I got in the Navy: in teaching, instructing, and leading, Nick shares. “I’m always drawing on those lessons, whether making furniture, or working on a schooner.”