In the fall of 2005, the keel for another Essex-built schooner was laid, continuing the 350 year tradition of wooden boatbuilding in Essex, MA.  A 38 foot long two-masted schooner, the ISABELLA, was commissioned by William Greene, from South Dartmouth, MA.  

ISABELLA is a traditionally-built schooner using double-sawn white oak frames fastened with locust trunnels.   Master shipbuilder Harold Burnham is worked in close consultation with the owner to design the vessel to meet his needs.  A private yacht, she is similar in design and construction to fishing schooners built in the 1840s. The ISABELLA is a coastal cruising schooner which Mr. Greene sails with his 13 grandchildren.  Burnham and his crew completed the schooner in August, 2006.