YOUTH BOATING
For 75 years, the Sea Scout Ship Edwin Binney
has taught youngsters the basics of boating
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TREASURE COAST BOATING
SEA WORTHY
BY CAMILLE S. YATES
PHOTOS BY ED DRONDOSKI
The Sea Scout Ship Edwin Binney 404, sponsored
by the Pelican Yacht Club in Fort Pierce, has been
mentoring young boaters for 75 years. Sea Scouting
originated in England as a means for the country to
prepare its young men for service at sea. The idea
was enthusiastically received by the young men of Britain and
soon found its way to the United States where it was officially
founded in 1912. By 1917, the Boy Scouts of America took the
Sea Scouting program under its wing and hired James Austin
Wilder, a veteran sailor, global traveler, artist and devoted Boy
Scout volunteer, as the first director of the Department of Sea
Scouting of the Boy Scouts of America.
At about the same time that the Sea Scouts came to America,
a successful businessman discovered Fort Pierce. In 1911, Crayola
Crayon founder, Edwin Binney, and his wife, Alice, left their
home in Old Greenwich, Conn., and came to Fort Pierce for a
fishing vacation aboard their yacht. They later bought property
near what is now Indrio Road, built a home, and
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GLADWIN COLLECTION
Robert U. “Bob” Gladwin, back row center, was founder and skipper of the local Sea Scout Ship 404 Edwin Binney, a group he led for half a century. Here
he’s shown with one of his early troops.
ED DRONDOSKI
Through the years, the Ship has participated in many sailing regattas.
Some of the old trophies are displayed at the Sea Scout clubhouse,
located at the Pelican Yacht Club.