The 158-foot topsail schooner Clipper City, which has operated day trips and charters out of Baltimore's Inner Harbor since 1985, is listed for sale in a major magazine followed by yachters.
But not to worry, the Clipper City's general manager says. Such ships are always for sale.
"The only reason we would sell it is if we could turn a tremendous profit doing that," general manager William Blocher said. "We honestly don't want the boat to leave Baltimore, ever."
Clipper City Inc. is not aggressively seeking a sale, he said, noting that an eager broker placed the advertisement. No serious buyers have emerged so far.
Nearly 10 years old, the replica of a 1854 Great Lakes lumber carrier is pictured under full sail in a full-color ad in a recent issue of Yachting magazine. Placed by Emerald Yachts, a broker based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the ad says the ship is currently "operating a VERY successful day charter business in Baltimore. Enormous possibilities for winter charters . . . Recent price reduction."
No asking price is noted in the ad, but Emerald agent Warren Callaway said the ship is listed at $1.3 million if sold with the Baltimore business. By itself, he said, it would probably sell in the high- to mid-$900,000s.
The ship's construction in 1985 cost its Harford County investors $1.1 million. They expected to recoup their investment in five years.
Built specifically for the Baltimore cruise trade, the steel-hulled Clipper City is Coast Guard-certified for 155 passengers. It offers charter cruises, but it also makes scheduled day sails under a 20-year, annually renewable contract with Baltimore City. The city provides dock space at the Inner Harbor's Finger Piers. The day-sail rates are regulated by the Public Service Commission.
"Nobody's getting wealthy, but we're doing our job and doing it well," Mr. Blocher said. About 26,000 people sailed on the Clipper City last year. The ship made as many as 16 scheduled trips a week.
If there is any disappointment in Baltimore, he said, it is that the current city administration lacks the same enthusiasm for tourism that was displayed when William Donald Schaefer was mayor.
"What we haven't seen is any aggressive movement from the city to increase tourism and help us attract more people," Mr. Blocher said.
"This is probably the best port on the East Coast we could be in, but it is also the most competitive, and it takes a lot of contact people bringing bodies to the city to keep these boats working," he added.
Clipper City Inc. employs four people during the off-season, from October through March. In-season employment grows to 27, including captains, crew, bartenders and added office help.
Mr. Blocher said the ship's owners are eager to find someone interested in leasing the Clipper City for the winter season. Several times during off-seasons the ship's owners have moved it to the Caribbean and run charter cruises or day sails from Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. But it has not always been successful.