named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Bayles Boat Shop
Workshop for building, restoring, and preserving wooden boats; serves as the operational hub for LISEC's maritime heritage and education programs
Quick & Dirty Boat Building Competition
Annual community event sponsored by Sika Corporation where teams build and race boats using limited materials; promotes creativity and public engagement with maritime traditions
Student/Youth Boat Building Program
Hands-on educational initiative teaching young people wooden boat building skills and maritime history through active participation in restoration and construction projects
Whaleboat 1776 Project
Construction of a historically accurate replica armed whaleboat to commemorate Port Jefferson's role in the Culper Spy Ring and the American Revolutionary War; includes public education and planned historical reenactments
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Recreational Boating and Sailing Programs 4 activities
- Annual Quick & Dirty Boat Building CompetitionHosts the annual Quick & Dirty Boat Building Competition, which began in 2011, where teams construct and race boats using specified materials to engage the community in maritime traditions.
- Historic structure development and volunteer mobilizationConstructed the post and beam building for the Bayles Boat Shop through volunteer labor and in-kind donations, including collaboration with the Timber Framers Guild and over 100 volunteers, organizations, and businesses.
- Wooden boat building and restoration servicesOperates the Bayles Boat Shop at Port Jefferson Harborfront Park, offering volunteer-supported construction, repair, and restoration of wooden boats up to 19 feet in length, including small boat projects and annual raffles of built craft.
- Youth boat building and maritime education programsRuns a Student/Youth Boat Building Program for teens ages 14 to 18, including participation in the Whaleboat 1776 Project where students shape oars, and supports scout troops in earning badges related to marine life, environment, geology, and local history.
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Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 2 activities
- Maritime education and public awarenessPromotes appreciation, awareness, and understanding of the maritime history and marine environment of Long Island through educational programs, community outreach, and public communications such as the BOAT SHOP NEWS newsletter.
- Whaleboat 1776 ProjectConstructing a reproduction of a colonial armed whaleboat used during the American Revolutionary War to promote Port Jefferson's role in the Culper Spy Ring, with plans for launch on May 2, 2026.
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Advocacy for educational access to harborfront facilitiesSecured designation of Harborfront Park as an approved site for school programs by Western Suffolk BOCES, enhancing access for educational use.
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Beach and Waterway Cleanup Initiatives 1 activity
- Community environmental stewardship initiativesOrganizes beach clean-ups and participates in the Adopt-A-Beach program, engaging schools, scouts, and community members in collaborative environmental stewardship.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Preservation of nautical historyPreserves the nautical history of Port Jefferson and surrounding areas, including through the restoration of historic structures such as the Chandlery Building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
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Oyster and Shellfish Restoration 1 activity
- Shellfish Restoration ProgramHas participated in the Shellfish Restoration Program since 2000 by raising and releasing oysters, with over 500,000 adult oysters released into Port Jefferson and Mt. Sinai Harbors.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Fundraising and community partnership activitiesSecured $115,000 in public grants and community donations for the Bayles Boat Shop, including support from elected officials and local businesses, and participates in fundraising events such as sponsoring a golf hole at the Port Jefferson Rotary Club's Putt & Pub Crawl.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$68K
Contributions & grants$56K82%
Program service revenue$3K4%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$45K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$110K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$110K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +49.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 7
- CHARLES KENNY — DIRECTOR EMERITUS
- CHARLES VORRHIS — DIRECTOR EMERITUS
- DAN WILLIAMS — MARINE ECOLOGY/EDUATION DIRECTOR
- PATRICK CULLEN — DIRECTOR
- RALPH ANTIGNANO — DIRECTOR
- TONY DUTRA — DIRECTOR
- WALTER SARACENI — DIRECTOR
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Bayles Boat Shop Partner — Provides volunteer-supported boat building and restoration services in partnership with LONG ISLAND SEAPORT & ECOCENTER INC.
- Bright Side Electrical Partner — Completed all interior wiring for the Bayles Boat Shop at no cost, contributing $15,000 in in-kind services.
- Coastal Steward Long Island Partner — LISEC has partnered with Coastal Steward Long Island on beach cleanups and shellfish restoration programs since at least 2000.
- Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum Partner — Planned site for the exhibit shed to house the whaleboat and serve as an educational learning center.
- Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson Government — Partnered with LISEC to purchase the 5.1 acre harbor property in 1997.
- Mayor Jeanne Garant Government — Provided leadership in support of site cleanup, park development, and historic structure renovation.
- NY State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle Government — Provided leadership in support of site cleanup, park development, and historic structure renovation.
- Nassau Suffolk Lumber Company Partner — Provided all lumber for the Bayles Boat Shop at cost, supporting construction through in-kind material donation.
- New York State Assembly Government — Secured a $50,000 grant through Assemblyman Steve Engelbright for the Bayles Boat Shop construction.
- New York State Senate Government — Provided a $50,000 grant through Senator LaValle for raising the Bayles Boat Shop frame, followed by an additional $25,000 grant.
- Pilotlight Films Partner — Producing a documentary titled "Building Freedom: A Whaleboat's Tale" to document the Whaleboat 1776 Project.
- Port Jefferson Conservancy Partner — Partner in the Whaleboat 1776 Project.
- Port Jefferson Rotary Club Partner — Collaborates with Bayles Boat Shop for the Putt & Pub Crawl fundraising event.
- Robert David Lyon Gardner Foundation (RDLG Foundation) Funder — Provided a matching grant to fund the construction of the whaleboat, including a mooring cover and custom trailer.
- Sika Corporation Partner — Sponsor of the Quick & Dirty Boat Building Competition.
- Suffolk County Government — Partner in the LI250 celebrations commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
- Timber Framers Guild Partner — Provided expertise and labor to shape, assemble, and raise the post and beam frame of the Bayles Boat Shop.
- Village of Port Jefferson Government — Collaborates on the Whaleboat 1776 Project in preparation for America's 250th anniversary celebrations.
- Village of Port Jefferson Government — Partner in the LI250 celebrations and host of the Bayles Boat Shop location in Harborfront Park.
- Village of Port Jefferson Partner — Partnered with LISEC on the Whaleboat 1776 Project to promote local history and prepare for America's 250th anniversary celebrations.
- Western Suffolk BOCES Government — Approved Harborfront Park as a site for LISEC-run school programs.
- Wix.com Partner — Platform used to build and host the organization's website.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Co-Creation in Craftsmanshipmethodology: owner-participation boat buildingBy involving individuals directly in the boat-building process, the organization strengthens personal investment and educational outcomes, because owner participation fosters a sense of accomplishment, ownership, and deeper skill acquisition.
- Ecological Restoration Through Natural Systemsmethodology: shellfish-restoration-for-water-qualityBy restoring oyster populations in local waters, the organization improves water quality in harbors, because oysters act as natural biofilters that remove pollutants and excess nutrients, leveraging ecological processes to achieve environmental remediation.
- Experiential Maritime Educationmethodology: experiential-educationBy engaging participants in hands-on boat building and historically accurate reenactments, the organization fosters deeper learning and connection to maritime heritage and local history, because experiential methods enhance retention, motivation, and personal investment in learning.
- Heritage-Based Cultural Preservationmethodology: cultural_heritage_preservationBy using traditional boat-building techniques and historic technology replication, the organization preserves regional nautical history and strengthens community identity, because aligning construction and programming with historical legacy reinforces cultural continuity and public stewardship of heritage.