Galley Secrets from a Schooner Pro | Recipes and Tips from a Maine Schooner Chef

• October 25, 2025 by BoatFools Sailing |
• Language: EN
• Play Time: 00:27:18
• SAILING YOUTUBERS

#boatfoolssailing #MaineSchooner #SailboatCooking #cruisinglife #BoatRecipes #SailingMaine

Hey BoatFools Nation!

Today, we’re doing something a little different—but definitely boat related! We’re in Rockland, Maine, joined by Canadian Ken, and visiting the former captains of the historic two-masted schooner J & E Riggin, John Finger & Annie Mahle. They owned and operated this classic Maine windjammer for over 22 years, sailing the coast and feeding lucky guests incredible meals straight from the galley.

Annie’s not only a seasoned sailor—she’s a chef, cookbook author, and true boat-galley magician. Today, she’s showing us how to make one of her favorites: a Chicken & Mushroom dish with caramelized onions and creamy white-wine sauce, easily adapted for life aboard. We’ll cook it on a two-burner Coleman stove, to approximate our galley and what one might find in most cruising sailboats, and pair it with fresh herbs from her garden.

Along the way, we’ll talk about:
⛵ The story behind the J & E Riggin, a 1920s oyster-dredger turned Maine schooner
🥘 Easy boat-friendly recipes for sailors who want real meals—not just sandwiches
🦪 How to shuck oysters like a pro (without losing a finger)
🍋 Galley-chef tips for provisioning, storing food aboard, and keeping things fresh
🌊 What it’s really like living & cooking aboard a classic wooden boat

If you love classic boats, Maine schooners, and sailing lifestyle stories, you’re in for a treat. It’s a little “Below Decks Meets Windjammer Cooking”—BoatFools-style.

TOC:
00:00 Intro from Rockland Maine
01:05 Meet John & Annie, Former Captains/owners of the J & E Riggin
04:54 A Visit to the Garden
07:52 Preparing the Sauce for the Oysters!
09:59 Prepping the Main Dish
21:48 Ken stuffs his face with the final product!
22:17 Shuck an Oyster Like a Pro (and Ken was a pro!)
24:48 Galley Essentials - shelf stable for a boat!
26:35 The FEAST!

📚 Annie Mahle’s Cookbooks: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAnnie%2BMahle&s=relevancerank&text=Annie+Mahle&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

TODAY'S RECIPE:
1lb fettuccine (or potatoes)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups sliced onions (about 2 small to medium onions)
10 ounces of mushrooms, sliced (about 4 cups)
1.5 teaspoons of kosher salt
Several grinds of black pepper
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups cooked chicken, pulled into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Enjoy!

If you’re into sailing life, liveaboard cooking, or cruising, hit Subscribe, give this video a like, and share it with a friend who loves the smell of caramelized onions on a sea breeze.

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BoatFools Sailing

Ahoy! With a reputation for being slightly dangerous enablers of dreams, this is BootFools. If you wander into our waters, we have a suspicious feeling you may be a BoatFool too. Through inspirational, educational, and often hilariously entertaining storytelling and boat tours we journey into the world of exceptional used sailboats. By offering real intel on classic, wood, and fiberglass boats - that are actually worth your time, money and imagination - we inspire people to get out onto the water and behind the helm of their own sailing vessel. This community is made up of real boats, real people, and life-changing fun. It's the place that will remind you why you fell in love with sailing in the first place. 🚨New episodes weekly. Subscribe to get on board and join the adventure, one boat at a time. (And join our Substack community for even more useful tidbits and general Boatfoolery.)

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Galley Secrets from a Schooner Pro | Recipes and Tips from a Maine Schooner Chef Locations

• Maine (45.253783,-69.4454689)