INTRODUCTION

The Pennsylvania State Navy in cooperation with the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory has undertaken the task of rebuilding the BASILISK, a full-scale naval vessel employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War.   No colonial vessel of this class has ever been reproduced, and no original vessel of its type exists anywhere in the world.

The story told by the history of the Pennsylvania State Navy is one of American ingenuity and determination at a time of great national crisis.  At the outbreak of the Revolution the Pennsylvania Assembly voted to form a Committee of Safety to handle the defenses of the Colony.  The Committee was formed on June 30, 1775 and Benjamin Franklin was unanimously elected President.   Six days later the Committee formed the Pennsylvania State Navy, and within two years Pennsylvania had assembled the largest colonial maritime force in America.

By September of 1777 the British army was occupying Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania State Navy was employed to blockade the Delaware River and delay the British from receiving supplies and reinforcements.  The heroism of the State Navy and the soldiers garrisoned at Forts Mifflin and Mercer ensured that the American cause for liberty would survive. 

Today the newly constructed BASILISK will provide the educational value of a tall ship but without the high maintenance, large crew requirements and costly overhead that a tall ship demands.  A full-scale reproduction with a length of 30', a beam of 8'4" and weighing 3,500 pounds, the vessel falls within restricted travel limitations and can therefore be trailered and taken anywhere.  A State boat registration is not necessary because the vessel has no engine, and a Coast Guard approved captain is not needed because the BASILISK isn't designed for paid passenger service.  Educational programs won't require the vessel to be in the water, allowing for unrestricted hands-on experiences from schools to local museums and beyond.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

The Pennsylvania State Navy's Mission and Constitution lay the foundation for the programming to be undertaken with the BASILISK project:

“To interpret the maritime roles of men, women, and children in 18th
century Pennsylvania in support of interactive educational programming.”

The BASILISK creates a unique opportunity to present interactive maritime history programs to limitless venues.   Practical hands-on learning can be encouraged by permitting school children to experience programs on board the vessel without the risks that come with it being on the water or the restrictions that are imposed by the US Coast Guard on passenger vessels.   Yet waterborne opportunities abound, whether as part of maritime museum educational programs, historical reenactments or film documentaries produced by the likes of the History Channel, the Discovery Channel and National Geographic.

The construction of the BASILISK is itself an undertaking in education.  The Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory is known throughout Philadelphia for its work with both school children and adult students for over a decade, and it was no accident that the Pennsylvania State Navy approached them for their boatbuilding expertise.  The BASILISK will be built by the students and staff of the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory, affording the students the opportunity to learn practical construction and strong team-building skills while they work on the vessel.  The funds raised for the BASILISK will go directly to support the educational programs of the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory while the vessel is being constructed, offering sponsors an opportunity to serve multiple educational organizations in a single project.

When the vessel is completed it will augment well-established educational programs already in place by the Pennsylvania State Navy, including serving as an exhibit at Historic Fort Mifflin on the Delaware where in 1777 the original BASILISK was stationed.  Fort Mifflin is the only standing Revolutionary War fort in the City of Philadelphia and is a testament to this amazing chapter of the American Revolution.  The Pennsylvania State Navy and the Olde Fort Mifflin Historical Society both endeavor to tell this story, and through their combined efforts and mutual support are able to make an exciting educational venue like the BASILISK possible.

MARKETING

Over the last five years the Pennsylvania State Navy has established itself though numerous educational and history programs throughout the northeast.   It became a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation in January of 2000, and in October of 2005 it received its 501(c)3 federal non-profit status.  It has built upon a successful and impressive resume of educational and historical programs that cater to numerous educational, civic, community and maritime history events throughout the region. 

The organization has found itself a unique niche in maritime historical education, and the programs they offer are often supported by well-established museums & historic sites and through educational and corporate grants.  It's through these programs that the PSN pays for its insurance, program costs & equipment maintenance.

For the past four years the organization has successfully operated and maintained a traditionally built 18' cutter that it uses in many of its programs.  Based upon the experience it draws from its skilled members and the successful maritime events it has logged, the PSN has discovered a strong desire from educational institutions, museums and historical societies for a larger and more structured regional maritime educational program. 

The Pennsylvania State Navy's success is achieved by taking a compelling true story of our heritage and presenting it through an educational program that is new and unique.  In its present form, the Navy's current marketing plan holds the potential to exceed the necessary financial support that would be needed to operate and maintain the BASILISK.  With its addition to the Navy's educational curriculum, the increased revenue earned from the vessel will allow the Pennsylvania State Navy to fund additional programs at museums and historic sites where program and exhibit funding is currently unavailable.

The Pennsylvania State Navy is taking full advantage of technology in regard to this project.  The entire process of building the BASILISK will be extensively photographed and filmed.  Both a historical documentary and a companion book on the building of the vessel are considered important tools in telling the story and developing long-term financial support for the project.

OPERATIONS

Since its inception the Pennsylvania State Navy has demonstrated its ability for quality educational programming.  As an all-volunteer organization, the PSN draws its managerial and historical expertise from its membership.  Its Board of Directors was chosen based on the members' tangible business experience, and the Navy's chain of command was established based on practical maritime experience and tall ship training.  It's through this responsible volunteer leadership that the educational programs are managed and fulfilled.

The Pennsylvania State Navy board of directors is responsible for the organization's mission statement, support of the volunteers, the negotiation and management of financial resources, program oversight and the maintenance of programming assets.  It also manages the BASILISK capital campaign.

The Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory has agreed to design and construct the vessel.  It will provide the cost and labor estimates needed to support the capital campaign and will supply the professional oversight when building the vessel.  Once the BASILISK is completed the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory will put the vessel through its sea trials, and upon completion will turn the vessel over to the Pennsylvania State Navy for use with its educational and historical programming.

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Pennsylvania State Navy received its 501(c)3 status from the IRS on October 27, 2005.   Since its inception in 2000 it has consistently demonstrated sound fiscal responsibility.  A total of $130,000 is being raised by the PSN to fund the vessel's construction, custom trailer and towing vehicle, with revenue being derived from corporate sponsors, state & local grants and private educational & program funding. 

Revenue to support the BASILISK is generated through educational school programs, living history programs at historic sites and state parks, paid media appearances, annual appeals, grants, corporate gifts and in-kind contributions.

During fiscal 2005 the organization attended ten paid educational events and generated revenue in excess of $7,000.  The key components that make up its revenue stream are:

The Pennsylvania State Navy has experienced steady financial growth since its inception five years ago.  Gross revenue for each year is given here:

Having established itself as an independent history venue, the Pennsylvania State Navy can deliver quality educational programming to schools, museums and historic sites while still maintaining low overhead and operating costs.

Fiscal 2005 total maintenance and insurance costs: $975.00
Fiscal 2005 total equipment costs: $600.00

The Pennsylvania State Navy's estimated operating cost inclusive of maintaining the BASILISK falls within the current revenue potential of the organization.

Estimated total annual maintenance and insurance costs with the BASILISK: $3,500
Estimated total annual equipment costs with the BASILISK: $1,000
2005 gross revenue: $7,200
Estimated annual first year revenue earned by the BASILISK: $20,000

SUMMARY

The BASILISK project is indeed unique.  It combines multiple facets of education, history, imagination and adventure into one dynamic presentation, while each dollar contributed to the project benefits three 501(c)3 non-profit organizations: The Pennsylvania State Navy, the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory and Historic Fort Mifflin on the Delaware.

Projected total cost: $130,000 ($88,000 vessel, $6,500 trailer, $35,500 tow vehicle)
Projected annual maintenance & equipment cost: $4,500
Projected first year revenue: $20,000

Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Pa. navy on board to build vessel
UNIQUE TEACHING TOOL. Group still needs to raise $130,000.

By Sara K. Satullo
The Express-Times

U. SAUCON TWP. | In the days of tricorn hats, quill pens and Ben Franklin, Pennsylvania had a navy to protect the main waterways into the nation's first capital, Philadelphia.

Few people know Pennsylvania ever had a navy or that it still does. Damian Siekonic, Pennsylvania State Navy president, wants to change that.

Today, the navy is a nonprofit organization made up of historians and historical boat aficionados. It has launched a project to rebuild the Basilisk, an original navy vessel, hoping to use the craft as a mobile educational tool.

It will be the first of its kind, Siekonic said.

"If we're competing against Xbox and television on a regular basis to keep education interactive, new activities have to be hands on," said Siekonic.

Construction on the 30-foot boat has not begun. The navy is in the early stages of raising the $130,000 needed to make the plan a reality.

The group is working with two other nonprofits, the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory and the Historic Fort Mifflin on the Delaware.

"Youth visitors to Fort Mifflin often have trouble conceptualizing the modern day river as the site of revolutionary battles," said Don Johnson, a member of the Fort Mifflin organization's board of directors. "It is important because of the absolute historic intimacy between the Pennsylvania Navy and the Fort, the really crucial role they played together at the siege that saved Washington's army," said Johnston of Aston, Pa. "Without that there wouldn't be a Valley Forge or even the United States."

The Wooden Boat Factory was founded in 1996 by Geoff McKonly and a friend to use maritime activities to find alternative ways to learn academic skills, later expanding to offer adult classes.

"Most of the work with kids is school groups. Typically, we work with a class for the whole year, they come in once a week and the class works on building three or four different boats," McKonly said. "It becomes a service project for them, where they can work on team-building skills and hands on applications of math skills, physics skills and geometry."

The Wooden Boat Factory is exploring starting programs for experienced students focusing upon helping build the vessel while using Siekonic's expertise on historical aspects, McKonly said.

"With this project, we have an organization whose only concern is the history," he said. "This gives us an opportunity to develop a lot more educational programs around it."

Siekonic said he is excited about the possibility of students helping to build the Basilisk.

"In a demonstration, kids can board the vessel out of water and truly get a feel of the weight of an oar in their hands," he said.

Siekonic is a Northampton County native and a history buff. Active in the restoration andng of the Bachmann Publick House in Easton, Siekonic became the first director of education and programming at the Bachmann house.

After leaving Easton for Upper Saucon Township, Siekonic was hired by Blue Mountain Vineyards to list the Frederic Leaser Homestead on the National Register of Historic Places.

He is also president of Privateer Media which specializes in providing film projects with 18th century boats, cannons and crew training, he said. Its most recent project is the PBS four- part series "The War that Made America," he said.