Saving Laurel: America's Oldest Oyster Boat

Picture of the original Laurel at an oyster convention in 1930.

America's oldest oyster boat is getting a reboot - and its reincarnation is the ultimate in oyster cool.  Here's the quick history:  The Laurel was built in 1891 and harvested loads of oysters in and around Long Island Sound, the Great Peconic Bay, the Great South Bay, New York Harbor, and a few points north and south.  In her day, she made the oystermen swoon and the rest of 'em jealous.  As all of us girls do, she started showing her age in recent years - sagging, peeling and losing her beauty.  She was set to be destroyed.  Along came Jean Paul Vellotti, a photographer who came upon the boat by happenstance while on assignment.  It was love at first sight and he couldn't let her go.  He came up with a plan ... and here's where it gets interesting:

Vellotti is turning the boat into a floating oyster bar serving fresh oysters - the only one of it's kind in the U.S.  "We were on the deck and someone said we should throw a party, and I thought yes, and an oyster raw bar would be appropriate. The idea just sort of stuck," he says. While Velotti will be importing some oysters from the West Coast, local highlights will incude Connecticut Blue Points, East Point Delaware Bay oysters and oysters from Thimble Island Oyster Company.

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Recent picture of the Laurel

All of this oyster chic comes at a cost.  Restoring the boat is expensive.  Vellotti needs to rebuild the deck planks before he can safely serve customers.  I thought the oyster lovers at Oyster Stew could give him a hand.  The Laurel's Kickstarter campaign has already raised more than $4,300, but they need much more.  (Kickstarter is funding projects from movies to new technology to charitable events.)  In return, Vellotti has set up some great gifts for his kick starters.  I would pay double for a chance to participate in some of these.  

• Give $35: Receive a 5x7 picture frame made from reclaimed deck planks from the Laurel
• Give $50: Get 2 dozen oysters + 2 cold drinks on the house.
• Give $250: Engrave your name on one of the new planks.
• Give: $500: Spend a day on the water with 2-3 guests catching oysters.  When you're done, you can pack and take 200 oysters with you.
• Give $800: Take a cooking class on the deck of the Laurel with 8-10 friends.
• Give $5000: Hold a private event for 16-20 people, including a raw bar and a farm-to-table dinner

Vellotti made a video for his Kickstarter campaign.  I'm sharing it with you because he tells his story better than I ever could.

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The boat will be based out of New Haven, Conn., but Vellotti will also be traveling with the Laurel.  Check his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Laurel1891) or follow him on Twitter @Laurel1891 for updates to the schedule.  Once they get up and running, they should have a schedule of ports, so people will know when and where to find the Laurel.  Here's the events currently on the calendar:  

June 28-30: The Wooden Boat Show, Mystic, CT
July 12-14: Sailfest, New London, CT
August: Sage Oyster Bar, New Haven
Sept. 6-8: Norwalk Oyster Festival
Sept. 21-23: Greenport, Long Island, NY Maritime Festival

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Laurel - America's oldest oyster boat.  I'm adding this to my oyster bucket list.