Welcome to Sea Scout Ship 243! Based in Rahway, New Jersey, we are a youth development program dedicated to teaching leadership, teamwork, and maritime skills. At the heart of our program is our historic training vessel and a legacy that spans generations.
⚓ Our History & Legacy
Originally founded in 1946, our ship has long been a pillar of the local community. In 2013, a dedicated group of former Sea Scouts came together to re-charter the unit, determined to preserve its rich legacy for future generations.
Our program is unique because it truly comes full circle: many of our adult volunteers and leaders grew up in this very program, coming back to mentor and train the next generation of mariners. At one point, our bond was so strong that three generations of scouts and leaders served together aboard—a true testament to the enduring spirit of our organization.
🚢 The Storied History of the Sea Horse
Our current training vessel is the fifth ship to proudly bear the name Sea Horse. Before becoming the floating classroom for Sea Scout Crew 243, this 65-foot vessel lived a remarkable military and historic life:
Elite Military Training: Stationed at Little Creek, Virginia, with Special Boat Unit 24 (SBU 24), she was used as a rigorous training platform for Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and Marines.
Stealth Technology Testing: She later served as a cutting-edge military test platform for stealth technology, outfitted with specialized radar-absorbing tiles.
Carrying the Olympic Flame: In 1980, the Sea Horse was honored with the historic task of carrying the Olympic flame from Langley Air Force Base to Yorktown for the Lake Placid Winter Games.
🌊 Adventures on the Open Water
As a training vessel, the Sea Horse has proven her seaworthiness on extensive voyages across the East Coast and beyond. Our Scouts have sailed her on long cruises as far north as Montreal, as far south as Norfolk, and as far east as Nantucket, gaining real-world navigation and shipboard experience along the way.
🗺️ Shaking the Future: Where Our Alumni Go
The skills learned aboard the Sea Horse stay with our Scouts for a lifetime.Many of our former scouts have gone on to attend maritime colleges, become professional ship captains, or build distinguished naval careers.
On September 11, 2001, several of our brave alumni stepped up to participate in Operation Boatlift, helping evacuate hundreds of thousands of people from Lower Manhattan.
For many others, the program simply sparks a lifelong passion for boating, safety, and respect for the sea.
No matter where their horizons lead, our Scouts leave Ship 243 prepared, confident, and ready to lead.
Ship 243 has a rich military history. In 1980 she was honored with carrying the Olympic Torch between Langley AFB and Yorktown. She was used for many years as a Naval, Army and Marine training vessel. She was select to be a test ship for radar absorbing tiles. Now she is a real world training ship for our local Sea Scout Crew 243.
