Editordude: Local shipbuilders are crafting together a replica of The Pilgrim, the ship author Richard Henry Dana made famous in his “Two Years Before the Mast.” Of course, his name is famous around the Peninsula as a local high school was named after him and every student encouraged to read the book. Dana also fought for the rights of seamen and to improve their conditions on board those ships in the early 19th century.
By Dan Plante / Fox5SanDiego / Nov. 7, 2026
With a mission to recreate an iconic slice of American history, master shipbuilders here in San Diego have reached an important milestone in their effort to bring back a tall ship from 1825 known as “The Pilgrim.” In the ship building business, they call this a ‘Rib Party.’
“Today, this is a ‘rib party’, which is the finishing of the frames that have gone into the boat. It really should be called a frame party. But in this case, it’s called a ‘rib party’ because it looks like a beached whale. And they’ve got a lot of ribs,” says Brian Thomas, lead spokesperson and shipwright for The Pilgrim III project.
Using old-world craftsmanship and exotic wood from around the world, each and every piece of the Pilgrim III has been hand-carved, the way it used to be, with one big difference.
“We’re doing things the old school way, yes. However, we are using power tools, which they did not have. But overall, we’re doing the same operations as they did in 1825,” says Thomas.
But with no blueprints or formal designs to guide the way, Master Ship Designer Doug Sharp exercised his skill and knowledge of history to recreate the details of Tall Ship Pilgrim, 201 years after the original set sail. Sharp is the same ship designer who recreated the Spanish galleon San Salvador, used by explorer Juan Cabrillo, who discovered California when he landed in San Diego Bay in 1542. The San Salvador replica now graces the other historic ships at the Maritime Museum along the Bay.
“We don’t have any specific information about this ship, but a lot of ships of this type were built during this period of history, and that’s where we got our information for the design,” says Sharp.
Now, just over a year into the project, the big picture is taking shape. With all the hand-crafted ribs now lined up, like those of a giant whale, it’s time to take the next step in design and construction. Of course, this is 2026, and unlike the original Pilgrim, the Pilgrim III will be complying with modern rules of the sea. Things like radar, sonar and electronic navigation.
“So, you’ve got to take an actual ship from the past, and you have to alter it in ways that comply with Coast Guard requirements of today, without violating the historical integrity of the ship, which is a really great challenge to have,” says the former CEO of the San Diego Maritime Museum, Dr. Ray Ashley.
As the old saying goes, “They just don’t make ’em like they used to.”
In this case, that’s exactly what they’re doing!
No artificial intelligence designs, no modern composite materials. Just good old-fashioned craftsmanship.
“We live in a modern world of communications, and everything is instant gratification. This gives us the idea to let the wood speak to us. It gives us the idea that we can educate ourselves about these important things from the past. And there is so much joy in working with your hands,” says Sharp.
The Pilgrim III is funded entirely by donations under a non-profit corporation known as the “Pilgrim III Foundation.”
If all goes as planned, the Tall Ship Pilgrim III will be christened in 2028.
From there, it won’t sit idle as a museum piece.
The Pilgrim III will be a fully functional tall ship, cruising up and down the California as a floating classroom for all those who enjoy that kind of thing.
