She combines old world charm with the luxury of modern day amenities

'Bonnie Lynn' is one of the most unique of the Maine Schooner fleet. She is a modified version of designer Merrit Walter's Trade Rover Schooner. Being a serious offshore cruising vessel, she is built to very high standards.

The steel hull is 57' on deck, with an overall length of 72'. She has a 15'3" beam and a 6'6" draft. 'Bonnie Lynn' is a gaff rigged topsail schooner, having three head sails and a traditional square fore topsail, evoking images of a bygone era. She is U.S. Coast Guard Certified for 38 passengers coastal and 10 ocean sailing. Extraordinary means have been taken to make this one of the most comfortable and seaworthy of the schooners. During her construction and now during the final outfitting, the owners, Earl and Bonnie MacKenzie, have paid particular attention to details for both safety and aesthetics. One unusual aspect of 'Bonnie Lynn' is her heavily insulated hull and interior bulkheads, which will offer passengers more privacy and comfort.

Below deck she is teak and mahogany paneled with a teak and holly sole. Traditional style brass lighting fixtures create a romantic, old world, atmosphere. Cabins have hot and cold running water and are equipped with adjoining heads and showers. 110 volt power is available throughout the vessel. The cabins are spacious and have a single berth, in addition to a large double berth (offering more versatility in accommodations). The galley, main saloon, and guests cabins are located midships, with the owners having a private aft cabin. In addition there is a fos'cle lounge for more private relaxation. Although 'Bonnie Lynn' has a very traditional look, she is equipped with the most modern and technologically advanced navigation, communication and safety equipment. She has two steering stations, one beautiful bronze pedestal and wheel are located midships and another bronze pedestal and wheel are in the ship's pilot house. Regardless of the weather, you will be able to stay dry and warm while navigating. She has a sound-insulated walk-in engine room, housing a 220 hp diesel engine and 12 kw diesel generator. Her elaborate electrical system includes a hot water heater, water-maker, ice maker, refrigeration and freezer units.
She is a very self-sufficient vessel.

Each cabin has teak and mahogany paneling. From the main saloon you have easy access to the foc'sle, where there is a lounge area and library. The galley is spacious and very

well equipped. The private cabins have hot and cold running water and adjoining heads with showers. The walk-in engine room is state of the art. The wheelhouse and midship's deck both have
exquisite bronze wheels and pedestals.

The galley is equipped with refrigerator, freezer, ice maker, microwave, four burner stove and oven. The owner's quarters are located in the aft cabin, with easy access to the wheelhouse.

Earl and Bonnie MacKenzie
captain and crew

Earl and Bonnie owned and operated the Schooner Flying Fish for 13 years, chartering her in Maine in the summers. They sold Flying Fish the summer of 1996 and immediately began construction of Bonnie Lynn. She is the culmination of many years of planning and now that their two sons are grown, Bonnie and Earl are living aboard and are offering a variety of charters, from coastal cruising to ocean voyaging. They sail their schooner from Maine to the British Virgin Islands in the late fall, heading offshore to Bermuda and then down to Tortola, British Virgin Islands. In late May they sail back to Maine for the summer charter season.

Earl has spent most of his life on the water. He was born and brought up on the coast of Maine. His earliest memory is being on his father's lobster boat in Friendship, Maine. Earl has skippered yachts and work-boats since his teen years and for 25 years he has held a Coast Guard Captain's license. He spent six years in the Coast Guard Reserves, concentrating on search and rescue. He was co-owner of a boatyard in Maine for 24 years and owned and operated a 28 passenger motor vessel year-round for six years. Earl has a keen interest in marine biology and maritime history, which is reflected in Bonnie Lynn's extensive library. His fields of expertise include boat maintenance and repair, scuba diving, navigation, boat handling and marine surveying. He enjoys sharing his love of the ocean with the guests aboard Bonnie Lynn. He encourages them to participate in all aspects of sailing the vessel and is able to make them feel very comfortable.

Bonnie grew up in Michigan, but shortly after graduating college joined the Peace Corps and headed to the South Pacific to Fiji, where she taught school on one of the outer islands for two years. From there she spent time traveling in Australia, and grew to love mountain climbing while living in Tasmania. While living in New Zealand, she taught school and spent her weekends mountain climbing. On her way back to the States she visited several South Pacific Islands and traveled extensively in South and Central America. She most recently worked in administration at an island school in Maine for 10 years, but prior to that she spent many years teaching, building houses, upholstering furniture, as well as fulfilling the role of homemaker and mother. She began sailing in the mid-80s and has been working as first mate and chef on their schooners since then. She works wonders in the galley, and also spends time on deck with the guests. She feels that each charter is special and she does everything possible to make their voyage a memorable one.

Together, Earl and Bonnie create a relaxed atmosphere. They thoroughly enjoy entertaining and their guests inevitably become friends that often return year after year. Their love of the sea, and the joy of sailing is evident to all who share their magnificent schooner. Bonnie Lynn is their dream and they want to share it with you. Bonnie also holds a captain's license and is STCW compliant.

Click Here for a Sampling of Bonnie Lynn's Superb Menu