Jump to Der Pelikan Availability & Requests
The 46 ft. Morgan ketch “Der Pelikan” (DPK) was built in 1982 in Florida. She was built for the Caribbean charter trade with a roomy layout with plenty of hatches and opening ports. She was sailed in the 1990s by Paul Kennedy and Clare Rozzell Kennedy with the Annapolis Naval Sailing Association. Clare donated Der Pelikan in 1999 at which point she became SSTV Der Pelikan supporting the Sea Scout program with the Boy Scouts of America. SSTV stands for Sea Scout Training Vessel. It was decided to keep the boat as a regional asset rather than assigning her to a specific unit. In this scenario, DPK would see wider use as a regional asset.
The first Sea Scout trip was on March 28, 1999 when DPK was moved to her new home on the Magothy river. From the beginning the boat was used for sail training and to 
conduct the SEAL program. Later, an Adult Seamanship course was developed to develop and expand the Sea Scout adult leadership base.
Skipper Steve Nichols took over the operation of Der Pelikan in December 2001. He operated the boat for a decade, using the Hendersons Wharf Marina in Baltimore as home port. Steve Alexander assisted with the operation and maintenance of the boat. The boat continued to be used in Sea Scout training activities, including weekend courses, SEAL, Seabadge Underway, and individual ship long cruises. Joel David is the current operator of Der Pelikan. She now operates from the Maryland Yacht Club on Rock Creek as her home port.
In her 23 years of Sea Scout service, youth from dozens of Sea Scout ships have participated in sailing operations on hundreds of trips, ranging from one day to weekend trips to week long cruises. The youth from these ships come from all over the United States. The Sea Explorer Advanced Leadership (SEAL) course under the Chesapeake Flotilla SEAL Director Joel David is hosted annually in service to the Sea Scouts BSA program, Northeast Regional Fleet.
Der Pelikan operates from the Baltimore area sailing to destinations including Solomons Island, Annapolis, St. Michaels, Rock Hall, Tangier Island, and Norfolk. She has travelled around the Del-Mar-Va peninsula, a trip length of approximately 300 miles.
Every boat requires maintenance and SSTV Der Pelikan is no exception. She has to be hauled every other year to have her bottom cleaned and painted to keep marine growth at bay. A new Volvo engine was installed in 2005 to replace the original Perkins engine. The main mast was replaced in 2010. Recent upgrades include a refrigeration system for food storage, single-lever throttle control, bow-thruster, a lazy-jack and u-stack for the mainsail, a new oven for the galley, and a bimini-dodger for the cockpit.
She has served the Sea Scout program for over 2 decades and she’s only getting started.
- Technical Specifications
- Vessel Data Sheet
- Make/Model: 1982 Morgan 462 Ketch
- Length: 46 Feet
- Beam: 15 Feet
- Draft: 6 Feet
- Vertical Clearance: 60 Feet
- Sail Area: 876 Square Feet
- Head Sail: 476 Square Feet
- Main Sail: 281 Square Feet
- Mizzen Sail: 119 Square Feet
- Auxiliary Power: Volvo D2 – 75hp Diesel
- Fuel Capacity: 80 Gallons
- Average Fuel Consumption: 1 Gallon Per Hour @ 2000 RPM
- Fresh Water Capacity: 180 Gallons (2 Tanks)
- Holding Tank Capacity: 30 Gallons (2 Tanks)
- Bilge Pumps: 3 (1 Manual ; 1 Manual/Automatic ; 1 Emergency Hand Pump)
- Shore Power: One 30 Amp Connection With Battery Charger
- 12 Volt Outlets: 2
- 110 Volt Outlets: 8
- 12v-110v Inverter: 1
- Berths: 8-10
- Heads: 2 (Plus 1 Emergency Portable Head)
- Amenities & Equipment
- Type III PFDs
- Sailing Tethers
- Lightweight Foul Weather Gear
- Lines & Fenders
- Boat Hook Poles
- Bow Thruster
- Roller Furling Head Sail
- Bimini & Dodger
- Cockpit Seat Cushions
- Boarding Ladder
- USGC Required Safety Equipment
- Chart Books & Navigation Tools
- First Aid Kit
- Ditch Bag
- Tool Kit
- Galley
- Refrigerator With Freezer Basket
- Propane Stove/Oven
- Hot Water Heater (Shore Power Only)
- Pots & Pans
- Cooking Utensils
- Cups, Plates, Bowls, Eating Utensils
- Cleaning Supplies
- Electronics
- VHF Radio (Distress Call & AIS Enabled)
- Depth Sounder
- Wind Reader
- Inflatable Dingy & Outboard Motor
Der Pelikan Availability & Requests
To request dates aboard SSTV Der Pelikan, follow the link below. A request does not guarantee those dates will be approved. Use of SSTV Der Pelikan requires a FOSSOM trained & registered Skipper to operate the boat. If you do not have one identified, FOSSOM will assist you in scheduling somebody. Thank you.
FOSSOM 