Chesapeake Bay Boats

CBMM lost a member of our family: Daniel "Dan" Sutherland passed away at age 47.

2012-02-21T10:46:00.001-08:00

It is with a heavy hearts that we report that Daniel Sutherland, our dear friend, and much admired boatyard program manager for the past five years, passed away on Saturday of apparent heart failure at age 47.

Those who had the privilege of knowing Danny, working with him, or learning small boatbuilding from him, always will remember Danny as an enormously talented craftsman, a patient teacher who generously shared and demonstrated his skills with old and young alike, and, fundamentally, just a great guy who was fun to be around and who never took himself too seriously. Danny had a national reputation as a boatbuilder and he was one of the very best judges of antique and classic boats in the country.

He probably was the world's foremost expert on the boats of the famous 19th Century designer and builder J.H. Ruston, from whose designs Danny built over 50 boats during his lifetime. Danny was recognized by those who know wooden boats well as unsurpassed when it comes to building small lapstraked boats.

A memorial service and celebration of Dan's life will be held at the Museum on Saturday, March 10, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations in memory of Daniel Sutherland be made to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum where they will be placed in CBMM's Boat Building Apprentice Endowment Fund.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Dan's family, his two children, Storm and Sky, and his long-time companion Patti Diamond.

Co-Workers laud boat builder's skill
By Kelly Allen, Star Democrat

ST. MICHAELS A master boat builder died Saturday, but the legacy of his craftsmanship remains.
Daniel Sutherland, boatyard program manager at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, for almost five years, died of apparent heart failure at the age of 47.

"He will be sorely missed," said Richard Scoffield, boatyard manager. "His talent is not replaceable."

A fourth-generation boat builder from upstate New York, Sutherland learned much of his craft from his grandfather, Ernest Sutherland, said Scoffield, who worked closely with Sutherland and had known him for about 20 years.

"Danny was extremely intelligent, and a really good boat builder," Scoffield said. "I was thrilled to death every day to have him working in my boat shop."

Pete Lesher, museum curator, said it brought the museum great pride to bring in someone of Sutherland's caliber. "Often the boats that he built were so finely finished that you didn't want to paint these things," Lesher said. "So many of them ended up being varnished. You didn't need paint to cover up the putty that most everybody else uses."

Lesher said the museum hired Sutherland specifically to teach boat building, which he did through the museum's apprentice program. "So often, people who have these exacting standards don't have the patience to teach those who are just learning," he said. "But he had that."

Every weekend, the boat yard bustled with activity as some people participated in the apprentice program, while others watched. "He really was an extraordinary man," Lesher said. Prior to joining the museum, those in certain boating circles knew Sutherland for his work, and through the annual Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival.

"St. Michaels for one weekend is a mecca for people who build, own, sail, cruise...," Lesher said. "Dan was a long-time participant there. It was sort of a home crowd for him ... When he exhibited a boat here, these were the sorts of boats that would win prizes."

Sutherland's work included building more than 50 boats from John Henry Rushton's designs. Scoffield said he considered Sutherland perhaps the world's greatest expert on the boats of Rushton, a premier canoe builder in New York in the 1800s.

And Lesher praised Sutherland's skills building lapstrake small boats. "I have a Lapstrake 12-foot cedar canoe, and when it needed restoration I took it to him," Lesher said. "Nobody I knew knew better how to repair one of these boats than Dan."

Lesher also had the opportunity to sail a boat Sutherland built in New York, where Sutherland built boats for museums. "It's like sailing a piano," Lesher said. "The degree of craftsmanship and finish is truly extraordinary."

Before coming to Talbot County, Sutherland did work for the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, N.Y.; the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain, N.Y., and the Alexandria Seaport Foundation in Alexandria, Va.

He also owned Sutherland Boat and Coach in Hammondsport, N.Y. A celebration of Sutherland's life is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Sarrasin's On the Lake restaurant in Penn Yan, N.Y.

Skipjack Rosie looking spiffy with all new side planking

2012-02-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

This past winter’s mild temperatures allowed for more work to be done on the skipjack Rosie Parks, and as a result, her restoration is ahead of schedule. With the chine log completely replaced and installed, the crew turned their focus on the side planking. After clamping the new chine plank into place, the crew worked their way up, installing new side planks on both sides of Rosie.

Both chine planks are installed.

Spiling for the ship lap scarf that joins the fore and aft planks.

Hmm Hmm LOOK at that scarf!

The batten line helped us to re-fair the original planking lines.

We're getting there! Piece by piece...

It's kind of like a jigsaw puzzle.

The side planks are hung. Next, the shear, then bottom planks.

Apprentice India and returning Journeyman Chris are folding in the hood end of the sheerstrake.

Starboard sheerstrake

Baker skiff build and Smith Island skiff in the January sun

2012-02-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

Casey(center) gets a clamp on as John & Dan watch

Tricia & John Herr are enjoying their first AFAD day as Casey looks at the Baker skiff taking shape

John & Tricia have a rhythm as he pre-drills & she drives copper clench nails

John & Tricia survey the progress as Dan debriefs the process of lapstrake building

The garboard attached with silicon bronze ringnails

Dan applies some steam

The old wallpaper steamer heats up

Do we have enough clamps?

Copper color sparkles inside the box. It won't be seen again until the first restoration in a few decades.

Smith Island Skiff out in the January sun. Nice lines.

The transom awaits an outboard for the 2012 boating season

John drills as Tricia clenches

Great family time at at AFAD

Bernie Bise, a third year AFAD participant watches as Doc John demonstrates the scarf jig for Doug Kohl. The threesome planed & re-sawed 5 of the six pairs of planks over the past two weekends.

Old deck is back on, new fasteners though....

2012-02-01T11:32:00.000-08:00

The new deck beams are now in and secure. Its time to put the old deck back on that we salvaged.

The old decking bends in very easily with some wedges and clamp after years of "memory" in the wood. The second strake in from the cabin you can see is not yet installed. Normally this is not the order in which I'd lay a sprung deck, but we are going to make a new strake here.

There are three reasons for the change. The first, is the diesel fill that was in the deck mildly rotted the planking on that strake. The second being that at one point a short section has been put in due some damage or other. The third is that we thought we could tighten up the deck over the electronics/batteries with a slightly bigger ( read tighter)piece.

The new strake is basically the same as the old: vertical grain beautiful fir. you can see in the picture that its slightly bigger than the old but your eye will never pick up on tat once painted all the same color.

Here is a view of the sprung deck where it meets the king plank. It has been caulked with cotton and seam compound in a traditional manner. hopefully for years of water-tightness.

Baker sailing dinghy gets its' shape at AFAD

2012-01-30T16:40:00.000-08:00

Playing with the battens is Bernie's favorite part of the build process. This is his third year at AFAD after his children bought him a journeyman's special as a thoughtful gift.

After Julie spent hours of adjustments with Bernie, Dan comes in to talk to her about the great results.

Apprentice for a day, Mike is glad to see some of his work getting clamped on for the last of the day's dozen fittings with volunteers Casey & Mary Sue.

Dan comes over to give Mary Sue, Mike & Casey some advice as they clamp the garboard plank onto the Baker sailing dinghy. Having started with a 16' plank of Atlantic white cedar, they've brought it to the point of two nearly finished planks.

Seeing Bernie between the battens seems apropos in this shot Doc John took from the other side of the strong back, between the molds.

This craft is already showing its' beautiful lines.

AFAD builds Baker's sailing dinghy

2012-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

Since WoodenBoat chose to include Bill Page's "Nellie " as the featured homebuilders project in the first edition of their magazine, we'll offer a description of Baker's design from the same source. You may enjoy going to WoodenBoat for the article that describes his process for building this sailing/rowing dinghy.

Here's what Maynard Bray had to say about Nellie when she appeared in the WoodenBoat calendar in November 2010:

Sterns like Nellie's are called wineglasstransoms because of their proportions and their reversing curves down low wherethe bowl of a wineglass would connect with its stem. If subtly carried out,such transoms are more attractive than those having entirely convex perimeters.You can't quite see it, but Nellie's bow reverses aswell, where the plank edges go hollow as they approach the stem. A boat's hullis defined by its curves, but if occasionally the curves change from tight toloose and vary their direction, they go beyond the practical and give the hullan aesthetic boost. Refinements in shape near the ends of a boat have no greateffect on performance, but they sure make the difference between a plain boatand one that steals your heart. —Maynard Bray

Nellie— 11'0" x4'10" sailing dinghy designed by RobertH. Baker, built by William C. Page, Camden, Maine, 1972.

This is a picture taken by Benjamin Mendlowitz (c) for the 2010 WoodenBoat calendar

This centerboard trunk will be adjacent to the starboard side of the keel

Maynard Bray's description of the wineglass shape begins to show its' beauty in this rough view of the transom

Use your imagination to see these molds holding the shape of AFAD's dinghy, "MISS B". Bill Page used a different building sequence for NELLIE. Above is the method used at CBMM in St. Michaels.

Check out CBMM on WBOC's Delmarva Life

2012-01-25T06:13:00.000-08:00

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum's education programs and the skipjack Rosie Parks restoration project was featured on WBOC's Delmarva Life Channel.

Watch it here -- http://www.delmarvalife.com/

Click on the Tuesday tab and scroll to the end until you see Pete Lesher's image on the thumbnail (it's the third video from the end)

Deck beams on Delaware are done plus new tie rods

2012-01-13T08:15:00.000-08:00

The new deck beams are complete.

Jenn makes a few final adjustments

Delaware's big engine is covered up nicely while restoration is being done.

Jenn fine-tunes one of Delaware's deck beam on the ship saw.

Ken and Mike cranking the tie rod.

New beefed-up tie rod should keep the carlins more steady along Delaware's cabin.

AFAD January 2012 at CBMM -Baker's North Shore Dinghy & a Smith Island Skiff

2012-01-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

Sam & Casey cutting the transom for the North Shore Dingy

Getting those compound angles around a curve is tricky

R.H. Baker's 1965 plans for this sail\row boat

This shows the shape of the transom


Changing to the right blades and considering how many cuts to make helps move this along

Scout and John take a tour of the various projects underway at AFAD

John is considering what he needs to scribe the inner decking. After he makes that simple tool, some hand planing will be done to exactly match the deck with the knees of the Smith Island Skiff.

Sam and Bernie lay the keelson on the molds

That beautiful piece of mahogany guides them as they consider some minor adjustments to the molds

Getting the front angle correct is critical before the gunwales are cut to final size


It's a shame the angilique inner stem won't be seen. This is true of many of the details built into any boat.

Rosie gets first new side plank

2012-01-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

Rosie doesn't look anything like she did this time last year, which means progress on the three-year restoration project is right on schedule with the framing. This is the starboard side, no planks yet, but the chine log is exposed.

A view forward from inside the transom.

Port side- bending the new side plank didn't require steaming, just a lot of clamping!

Marc and India discuss what's next. The plank will be scarfed with another plank to extend the entire side of the skipjack.

Marc explains building techniques to India.


India cuts out the scarfed joint on the new side plank.

The first side plank on Rosie went up port-side on December 21, 2011.

Sailing Skiff for North Shore Boat Works begun at CBMM

2011-12-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

Miss B is the new Apprentice For A Day (AFAD) project. Designed by Robert Baker in Westport, MA in 1963, only 2 of this sailing skiff were built. She is 11' x 4'6" and will carry a Gaff rig.

The lofting was done & molds made in preparation for the build to begin in January at AFAD. You may join in the fun & learning most weekends from now until May 2012. Perhaps you'll be the recipient of a Journeyman's Special gift, allowing you any four days to see different parts of the process. Perhaps you'll buy yourself the gift of just one day or several. In any case, we'd be glad to see you at CBMM's public boat building program. Please check the schedule at CBMM.org for details.

Julie & Sam Barnett flank Dan Sutherland as he & Julie point out the intersections for the batten on the lofting with Casey Nelson.

Julie & Sam secure & check the batten with Dan and Casey to establish a "fair line" for Miss B. This is when the boat takes it's shape.

Dan & Doc John Hawkinson watch & advise as Casey marks what Julie is taking from the plans the Baker Boat Works supplied.

Sam & Casey place another mold on the strong back. This shows the lofting is beginning to be re-created in three dimensions.

Rosie: Deckbeams, frames, chines done! Now for the stringers!

2011-12-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

Rosie's deckbeams, frames and chines are done. Now we're moving on to the stringers.

Completed Deck Beams

Completed Frames

Completed Chine

Notches for aft stringers

Notches in old chine

Aft stingers in chine

Stringers entering backbone

Stringers and the tools we use.

Four Aft Chines

Holidays are for demolition.....and I'm so glad you're mine

2011-12-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

Ok, so now that's its winterish outside and thanksgiving is over we decided to make a nice comfortable dome over Delaware to make for a warm winter in the tundra.

Here Ken and Jen illustrate that even the most mundane tasks can be fun in a dome. The goal for this phase of the internal work on Delawares restoration is replace the carlins that hold up the engine room cabin.

To be able to access the carlins, sheer clamp, and deck beams the decks have to be removed . Preferably being able to reuse the original material.

The right people for the job are definitively the A-Team apprentices as I like to call them. First they start out be putting registration lines so when they do go back in it not such a puzzle.

Then it is a matter of cranking some loud classical or bluegrass and pick them bungs out. The bronze screws came out fairly easy, at least from my point of view anyway. Everything looks easier with a cup of coffee in your hand.

After the decking has been removed we can see the extent of work we need to be doing.

The carlin is not only rotten but has more scarfs in it than a large gypsy family. Thats a lot, and it ruins the integrity of the deck and has made the cabin sag in the middle by inches. The sag then holds fresh water on the deck when it rains and rots things like deck beams and carlins.....oh what a vicious cycle.

Next time I'll explain the making of a carlin in place and how we plan to jack the house back into proper height. Until then, go work off those extra thanksgiving pounds.

Tug Delaware - more planks and a boat fort!

2011-12-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

The new side planks are finished and painted, and the shipwright apprentices created a "boat fort" to protect them from the elements this winter as they continue repair work on Delaware.

Right before the last plank was attached.

Vessel Maintenance Manager Mike Gorman gets some help from the Museum's Chief Curator Pete Lesher to attach the final plank from the steam box.

The shipwrights, apprentices, and volunteers have build a fort around the tug Delaware, in preparation for winter's work.

The shipwrights build shelters, scaffolding, anything to make the work more accessible during foul weather.

The aft deck of the Delaware under cover -- windows included.

The scaffolding underneath the constructed walkway around Delaware's deck.

Shipwright Apprentice Jenn Kuhn peeks through a window from Delaware's deck.

Delaware's engine

The new side planks have been painted and are now undercover.

An inside view of the new side planks.

Jenn works on the deck removing fasteners from bad boards.

Doc John's Small Boat Apprentice For A Day 26 Nov 2011

2011-11-26T16:58:00.000-08:00

Peter Barrette is transforming a pile of small planks into a boat.
CBMM is a place to have fun with boats of all sizes.

A day of really small boat building. Arranged by Dr. John Hawkinson for The Van Dervort and Barrette families at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. What a fun way to enjoy St. Michaels during Thanksgiving weekend. (Wait for an update with another photo or two as they arrive by email.)

J.B. Van Dervort is saving his hearing while his dad,

Judd Van Dervort, Jr. helps with his boat building project.

Andrew Barrette was concentrating as Mary Sue Traynelis,
-CBMM volunteer-, showed him how to use the band saw safely.

John Barrette shows off his finished product.

Mary Grace Van Dervort uses the band saw to cut a

bottom plank as Mary Sue acts as the guide or "fence" for her.

Nick displays a hammer & a smile as his brother,
Joe Morrissey, applies his hammer to his boat.

Front: John Barrette, Peter Barrette and J.B. Van Dervort
Middle: Nick Morrissey, Joe Morrissey, Andrew Barrette & Mary Grace Van Dervort
Back: Doc. John Hawkinson - CBMM volunteer who set up & directed this building project- , Bob Barrette, Judd Van Dervort, Jr. & Judd Van Dervort Sr.
The finished small boats await names & berths.

Boatyard Crew Restoring 1931 Potomac River Dory Boat

2011-11-23T06:20:00.000-08:00

A 37-foot, 10-1/2” x 12’ 7” 1931 Potomac River Dory, originally built by Francis Raymond “Peg Leg” Hayden in Banks O’Dee, MD, is now undergoing restoration inside the boat shop of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD.

Over the next several months, museum shipwrights, apprentices and volunteers will be working on several aspects of the boat’s restoration, including replacing all bottom planks. They will also be fabricating a new forefoot piece on the stem and a new section of deadwood with the shaft alley drilled into it. Approximately sixty percent of the boat will also be reframed, with cosmetic upgrades and reinstallation of her engine completing the project. She will be painted in traditional dory colors: green, red, and yellow stripes on the lapped sheer strake, with the topsides and decks painted white.

Like other Potomac River Dories, this one is planked fore and aft, and the chine rises high above the waterline at her bow. Towards the bow, the sawn frames reach from the keel to the top of the side planks, stopping just short of the lapped sheer strake. Farther aft, the bottom frames are bolted to the side frames, but there is no chine log. The frames are spread at variable intervals. Her tuck stern and shield-shaped transom are typical of the Potomac River Dory. The bottom planks rise out of the water at the stern and the transom only touches the water in the center. Washboards reach back to the transom, where there is a curved seat but no decking. The boat is equipped with a six-cylinder Ford engine and two gas tanks.

Potomac River Dories were built in southern Maryland on the Potomac River and used primarily for oystering. These boats are descendants of the Black Nancy, a type of small (18 to 27 foot) and narrow Potomac River workboat dating pre-Civil War. J. Richley Delahay of Compton, MD bought the boat around 1938 in a sunken condition and refitted her. Later he passed the boat on to his sons, Kenneth and Ronald, who used her for oyster tonging. Always called the “big dory,” she was one of the few of her type to be refitted with wheel steering. Arthur Puchetti bought the boat in 1972, and had the cabin widened, raised, and extended aft. The Calvert Marine Museum donated the boat to CBMM in 1988.

Final Deck Framing & New Chine Log in Process on Rosie

2011-11-18T06:54:00.000-08:00

Rosie's deck beams are now installed and we're moving on to the installment of a new chine log.

All deck beams are now in place.

Rosie's old chine log.

Crafting a new chine log with India and Marc.

Initial fitting of the new chine log, port side.

Final installation.

Starboard chine log installation with boatyard volunteer Cliff Stretmeyer, Marc Barto and India Gilham-Westerman

Rosie gets a new mast partner

2011-11-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

The Museum's newest shipwright India Gilham-Westerman, and Bud McIntire finished the installation of Rosie's new mast partner. A mast partner are the ship's timbers between deck beams around the opening in the deck where the mast passes through -- they are under the deck planking. When the mast is stepped it is "wedged" in place at deck level, the wedges going between the partners and the mast itself. This serves to stiffen the installation, so that the mast doesn't move around and start damaging itself and the deck.

Rosie's original mast partner

Shipwright apprentice India crafting a new mast partner

Installing the new mast partner

India and Bud

Garboard Plank Steamed and Placed on Tug Delaware

2011-10-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

Once the piece of yellow pine comes out of the steamer, the boatyard crew has less than two minutes to get it properly into place.

Too much fun, not enough blogging!

2011-10-19T08:17:00.001-07:00

Ok, so its been a while. I'm sorry. We have been doing some of our favorite work though......Demo. Planks are off, knowing we needed some new planks and floors. What didn't we know? That there was a giant check through the keel and all the frame ends we couldn't see are toast. Lets tackle the section of keel first...

First we mark out the area to be cut out. In this case, the top of keel to the middle line (back rabbet) for a run of about 7 feet. Mark that carefully and then make kerf cuts the whole length. Don't go to far down or you will be bummin'

Make angle cuts next for the new piece to go in. I didn't do a crazy 12 to 1 because i wanted maximum amount of material out and the way were installing the new piece, i don't think we lose integrity.

Other end of removed section with the exact same scarf.

Here is a view looking aft showing all the piece removed. Also a good view of all the frame ends in the way of fitting the new piece in there. Let the challenge begin!!!!!!

First, mill up a tasty piece of white oak

Here we have the timber upside down. the bottom face of the new piece is the new middle line of the rabbet. (sort of confusing, don't worry, we cried a lot during the figuring out part too.) We are laying out the bevel taken off the old keel to the rolling frame angles down the length of the new piece.

Next, those angles are chopped at every frame station on the keel piece.

If we know the angle of the rabbet at each frame, then we also know the angle of the frame ends coming into the sockets. They are the same. This allows the garboard plank to lie flat in the rabbet and on all the frames.

Using a sample piece of frame end we milled, we can chop out the sockets and check angle and depth so they fit (almost) perfect.

This is what it looks like when all rabbet and socket sections are cut at each frame the whole length. We then have to do the other side in mirror image.

After we have run out of Grateful Dead and bluegrass cds, the sockets are done. We can at this point run a batten from station to station to mark for the full length rabbet. Here we see ken having marked the rabbet, and power planing the rabbet.

The moment of truth....it fits fairly well and needs some tuning but not too shabby. Next time we'll be cutting and installing new frame ends before we final fasten this keel piece with 5200 and some good old fashion drift pins.

Special Visitors to the Museum to see Rosie

2011-10-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

The Museum was pleased to welcome the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland to the Museum last week, where they felt the transom on Rosie, and listened as project manager Marc Barto spoke about the restoration project.

Later on in the week, we also received a visit from Sharon and Rob Weber. Sharon is the granddaughter of Captain Orville Parks (who donated Rosie to the Museum in 1975).

Taking a turn at the wheel.

The group feels the new transom on Rosie.

Captain Orville Park's granddaughter Sharon Weber and her husband Rob Weber stopped by for the day to work on the boat that her grandfather sailed and her great uncle built.

Painting the wood isn't the most fun of jobs, but all hands on deck are needed during this three-year restoration.

Photo taken from the bow of the boat.

Rosie's Chine Log Revealed

2011-10-05T12:27:00.000-07:00

Marc Barto sawing lower plank, port side, to reveal Rosie's original chine log.

Marc carefully sawing to preserve original chine log.

Marc Barto and volunteer Cliff Stretmater removing lower plank to expose original chine log

Original chine log exposed near transom, port side. Note the sweep upward at the transom.

Lower plank completely removed. Chine log will be removed next intact and used as a pattern for new chine log to be fabricated.

Edna Gets her Jib Sail

2011-09-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

The sails are going up on our queen of the fleet the bugeye Edna E. Lockwood. (August 31, 2011)
Sorry for the belated post -- it's been very busy here at the Museum! Enjoy the photos.

Dang, them are some hot rails!

2011-09-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, here is the rig...boiler with steam bell on it gets water from the blue barrel, fire inside the boiler produces steam and transfers it to the bell and then on through the hoses to the box. The wood is inside the box, and gets cooked for roughly 1 hour per inch of thickness...

A few other things you need, wood to burn, a big box, a lot of people to tell you how your doing it wrong, gloves, patience, lots of tool lay out ahead of time, and I also recommend a bandanna because it looks cool.

Do a dry run before hand so everyone knows where they are going and what they are doing....

Next, try to get them in their correct places to catch the 200 degree piece of white oak. This is the hardest step of the process......I swear.

So the rail comes out of the box and gets fastened at the bow first to anchor the piece for bending.

We have in air impact gun to assist in making this happen quickly....

Then we let the boys at the back know when were made, and they start to bend the rail around the hull...

For the tail end we have an upright nailed on to the poppet that can be used with wedges to hold it tight to the hull.

The A team after getting both rails bent.

Rosie Update - Summer is over

2011-09-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

Summer has come and gone, and not only did Rosie survive Hurricane Irene, but she is completely unrecognizable from when we first began, back in March. Our last post on Rosie centered around a new aft strongback and the construction and installation of a new graving piece for the most forward part of the keelson. We also removed the cabin which we will begin to work on soon.

The only casualty of Hurricane Irene was the tent surrounding Rosie.

Marc installs the first of Rosie's side frames.

Lots of work has been done to Rosie's deck.

View looking aft of new deck beams and hatch openings. Almost time to replace the chine log.

Volunteer Mike Corliss paints the inside of the transom with a wood preservative.

Shipwright Apprentice Bud McIntire installs the carlings in preparation for the rudder box.

A visit to the Tuckahoe Saw Mill to see our logs waiting to be cut.

The Boat Yard dog Rosie, waiting patiently for the milling to be completed.

Our very large piece of white oak for Rosie!

New Spray Rails Anyone? (part one)

2011-09-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

Delaware, our 1912 tugboat is having a birthday this coming spring. To get ready for the party , we will be doing a fair bit of work. The first order of business is to get her some new spray rails. Origionally they went all the way to the stem.

So, lets get started by figuring from old photos and a batten where the new ones will be located. The orange paint is where the old was removed.

The planking on Delaware was done very well and the lining off of the planks make for a handsome hull. To compliment that, the new rails will follow the third strake down from the sheer.

Now we lay out for our landing and fastening schedule. The cut water and inner stem are massive so this will be where we anchor the rail out of the steam box and begin to bend around.

Ok, so the rails are rough milled and a faithful apprentice has put the compound bevel on for the landing to the cutwater. This is almost too easy. (especially when your watching someone else do it)

So lets hold it up on our lines and pre-drill for the lags that will fasten the rail to the hull. Throw a few temporary fastening in while we do the other side to make sure they match perfectly and were getting there...

The second one tagged at the bow and as soon as we get our handy dandy steamer going we can bend them on with the help of a few friends.....

Next time we'll see how badly we can yell at each other with really hot pieces of wood in our hands...stay tuned.

AFAD, Rosie Parks, Skipjack Kathryn, Sailing Saturdays at CBMM mixed bag

2011-08-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

The boatyard at CBMM was busy in August, as usual. Her are a few of the fabulous people enjoying the Chesapeake Bay at it's best.

Barbara Underwood, daughter of John Carey, a Crisfield Waterman on the left with Gayle Whitelock and Patti Whitelock, the grandaughter and great grand daughter of Welles Evans, an early owner of the Kathryn enjoyed the ride from Deal Island to the CBMM.

Stoney, current owner & captain of the Skipjack Kathryn. She's 110 years old.

Here's the Woods family enjoying the day on the Smith Island Skiff waiting for the start of the log canoe race on the Miles River. The skiff was built here at CBMM.

Jenn & Marc are happy about the visible progress they're making on Rosie Parks.

Frank is making progress on the stem of his 1938 ChrisCraft.

Casey and Bill are having fun planing one of the planks for the 3rd Smith Island Skiff.

Roo & Peter Woods brought their skiff back briefly for a few small additions.

Casey Nelson is taking the Rushton pulling boat out as the NJ Melonseed sails in during August's Sailing Saturday.

Tracey Munson, VP of Communications, is in taking pictures of the 3rd Skiff while one of the Talbot mentor/mentee pairs are at AFAD.

Marty came over from the shop to watch as Doc shows Jermaine Thomas the right angle for the drill. This is another picture of Neil's back. He came over to work since there wasn't enough wind for sailing. Don Schatz, Jermaine's mentor is all the way on the right.

The planking is going along nicely.

Neil is securing one plank while Dan goes to get another.

Ellie and Henry Sweterlitsch play at Rosie's wheel. Orville would have enjoyed watching these 5 and 8 year olds taking turns at being captain & figuring out how the gearing works to move the rudder.

Two more visitors enjoying a visit and looking at the rows of plugs used to cover the screws.

Bill, Doc John & Dan wait as Mary Sue pulls two pieces of Iroko out of the steam box. They were quickly clamped on a jig to give them a curve for use in holding up the canvas cover of the Rushton.

A New Aft Strongback for Rosie

2011-08-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

After the completion of a new graving piece for the most forward part of the keelson, the worm shoe was reattached and the crew removed the cabin, in order to get to the aft strongback. A skipjack's strongback helps to support the structure of the boat under the fore cabin while stabilizing the boat from port to starboard.

Shipwright apprentice moves the old wood to set on top the new lumber for the shipwright's work on the strongback.

The old strongback was cut into pieces to remove from Rosie. Shipwrights are keeping any old wood that can be saved as artifacts to the original Rosie Parks skipjack.

Piece by piece, you can see what the old strongback looks like.

The strongback is notched to attach the stringers for the bottom planks.

Old drift pins will be replaced with new galvanized steel drift pins in Rosie's restoration. Remember our posts about sweet nails? These wooden 'toothpicks' are used below the waterline, like on the centerboard. The strongback is above the waterline, just under the fore cabin.

There's that plumb line. This is where the new strongback will be placed.

She looks so different with her decks opened up and the wheelhouse gone.

Shipwrights Marc Barto and Jenn Kuhn and Mike Corliss stand behind the new aft strongback for Rosie. In front of the strongback is the pattern that was created and used.

The timber is rough hewn, and on purpose.Marc Barto says he wanted the new wood to be installed much like builder Bronza Parks had it to begin with.

3 Guys, 12 Hours and 1 Leaking Boat...

2011-08-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Jackson Skiff is a locally built boat from the 50's used for crabbing. She's shallow draft for the area water, economical on fuel, fun to drive, and has been consistently leaking in the stern. So when its her turn to come out for summer maintenance, we want her to go back in looking good and staying dry. Once we remove the fuel tank and drop some planks off the back end, it's not hard to see what the problem has been.

Over time the rabbet has become chowdered and the rudderpost hole (which was probably drilled too big to start) has become bigger to the point of meeting up with the rabbet. This allows water to flow steadily in behind the planking. Jackson has a tendency to dry out quickly when out of the water so putting her back in before the weekend of 100 degree heat was the goal. That leaves a day and a half to to fix and launch her so we can make sure she's swollen up before we go to the pub.

Here we have chopped off out side portion of the horn timber that forms the rabbet. Also set up a guide to drill a bigger hole for a plug being made.

With hole drilled and the plug made, a hole more fitting for the rudder post is drilled into the plug. The plug is then glued into the horn timber.

Next in the sequence, is to reform the rabbet with a new piece of white oak. While this being cut and installed, one of the boys is milling stock for new planks. On a job like this, its important to think two steps ahead.

As the new piece is being bedded and fastened, cross planking goes on the bottom. This traditional way of planking a bottom is both quick and reliable.

Caulking has been done in the seams and bottom paint is being applied while the last hole for the rudder post is drilled back down through the plug. Its important that all the drilling is done accurately so the rudder moves easily.

After marking the waterline and touching up paint, shes ready to be launched.

She is now back in her home and dry as we could hope...and we made it to the pub on time to start the weekend off right with a job well done and a cold beverage.

Removing Rosie's Wheelhouse & Hatch

2011-08-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, the Boat Yard crew installed the first new deck beams, simultaneously removing the hatch opening, followed by the removal of the wheelhouse, also called a doghouse.

The centerboard trunk has been completed and work has begun on the aft deck beams.

First deck beam installed & another removed.

Second installed & another removed. Do you see a pattern here?

Prior to removal of hatch opening and deck beams.

looking forward...

Jenn is shaping the deck beam while the next one is being laminated behind her.

Jenn Kuhn is shaping the joint on the deck beam to accept the carlin.

On Friday volunteers Bob & Mike, helped us raise the cabin.

Cabin or dog house has been raised and is sitting on 4 x 4's.

The shipwrights slid 2" x 8" x 20" pieces of lumber under the dog house in preparation for removal.

Prepping for the first step of sliding the dog house aft.

Clamped and ready to go.

Second step, sliding strapping under the house and chaining it to the fork lift.

We have a safe lift off!

Moving the cabin to its new resting place.

Success!

Not bad for a Saturday early morning.

Edna up on the rail for minor repairs

2011-08-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

The Museum's bugeye, the Edna E. Lockwood, was pulled from the water this week for some minor repairs. Edna, a National Historic Landmark, and the last sailing log-bottom bugeye, built in 1889 by John B. Harrison of Tilghman Island. Just as Native American dugout canoes were formed by carving out one log, a bugeye's hull is constructed by pinning together a series of logs and hollowing them out as a unit.

Edna up on the rail - she'll be back in the water soon!

Shipwright Apprentice Bud McIntire paints the stern of Edna

A sacrificial piece of zinc on her bow

Rigging along the bowsprit has been set

Hardware has been replaced on Edna.

Needs a little caulking. Yes that's a gap in the bottom of Edna! Good thing the wood is super thick.

Edna is a nine log boat - and her original logs, dating back to the 1800s, are still in place.

Our shipwrights discovered Edna's rudder has a crack, so they are working out a fix. For the long run however, Vessel Maintenance Manager Mike Gorman made a pattern, and will find a nice chunk of wood to replace the rudder over the next winter.

Update: Rosie work

2011-07-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

With Rosie's keel stabilized, the shipwrights can now move on to her centerboard trunk. Work continues on her deck - pulling off old wood, and salvaging what they can.

Apprentice Jenn Kuhn spreads dolphinite on the final piece of shoe to be installed.

Boat Yard volunteer Kevin helps to clam up the worm shoe in preparation for fastening.

The wormshoe is installed and the keel stabilized.

Without bottom planks, it's pretty easy for the shipwrights to work from the inside out.

Project Manager Marc Barto is cutting out some deck wood on Rosie.

Marc and Cliff remove the deck boards off Rosie by hand, salvaging what they can.

The transom of Rosie Parks. The nameboard will be replicated and replaced. This nameboard will then be returned to our Burgess Collection in the Van Lennep Auditorium of the Steamboat Building.

Community Work Days - Rosie Parks Restoration

2011-07-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Here's what Saturdays look like at the Museum, with lots of folks stopping by to take part in the Community Work Days Program.

Rosie's centerboard trunk has been removed.

Along with the centerboard trunk, a large portion of the deck is now gone.

Volunteers, Mike Corliss & Mark Wells, dry fit the first centerboard trunk piece.

Making a straight edge.

Volunteer Cliff Streitmeter, preps the surface.

Marc Barto & Jenn Kuhn install the first piece.

Drilling for the drift pins that will enter the keelson.

Stage one complete.

Stage two, up and up we go.

Shipwright apprentice Jenn Kuhn appling anti-fouling plate along the new centerboard on Rosie Parks.

The cutest twins ever came to help us work on Rosie. They took turns making wood chips using a hand plane.

Our new Saturday helper, William Ryall, cuts the galvanized rod to length.

Installing the third layer & pounding drifts

Keuka Lake Trout Boat ready for rowing at 87 years old

2011-07-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

Tip it smooth... serious work to finish the boat.

This 1924 Keuka Lake Trout Boat needs attention even after most ribs were replaced.

Bill came in to clean up her exterior.

Artists enjoy the geometry of wooden boats.

Quite an extreme bend in the original ribs. Most of the northern white cedar lasted. Rusted fasteners meant replacing most ribs. Every plank and the four seats are original.

Take care of your toys. Some new wood on transom where it sat on the ground.

Even the steamed coamings from 1924 stayed in shape. Note one piece sitting in the center of the boat to be re-installed.

Satin Dutch Door Green is as close to the original used in upstate New York as possible.

The hardware looked rusted & had many coats of paint.

The oarlocks cleaned up nicely.

Doc's new wood inserts will help this stay quiet when rowed.

Roll the paint.

Doc & Dan add the last pice of hardware.

A veiw of 3 of the 4 oringal seats.

Ready to go out for trout.

CBMM participated at The Wooden Boat Show at Mystic 2011

2011-07-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

Looking at some 100 year + originals is part of the draw to a maritime museum

May look too dark in an amateur photo - another reason to see these in person.

The beauty of boats - even a sailboat motoring in the mist is a delight.

The Mystic bridge rises on a schedule, with no preference for what's coming through.

Many modern vessels come in to enjoy the Wooden Boat Show.

Note this vessel is being rowed.

CBMM set up a display for many to enjoy, whether sitting to discuss how to build or standing around to admire some of the boats built at Apprentice For A Day (AFAD), our public building program.

One admirer approaches and we come over to talk about CBMM.

A steady stream of visitors at the CBMM display.

The Morgan Whaler is an impressive display, as much on land now as when she was in the water a few years ago.

Get those potential boat builders in early.

Kids Help Build Rosie with Hand Tools

2011-07-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

Rosie's new fore foot piece without the rabbit.

Here a visitor to the museum uses a chisel to chip out the rabbit of the fore foot.

Marc Barto explains to this young boy how to use a chisel.

New Keel Piece for Rosie's Bow

2011-06-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

The Boat Yard Crew came to work on Monday and low and behold a very generous donation was left for them. A piece of loblolly pine from Paul Ryban. The crew continues forward in the final repairs to the keelson.

Very generous donation from Paul Ryban.

The piece was very heavy and it took a fork lift to move it.

Here we are laying out the pattern in order to rough cut and get rid of any excess material.

Marc Barto chain saws off the excess length. Its getting lighter with each cut.

Our volunteer, Mark Welles, cuts the curved portion of the piece. It takes a series of four passes on each side.

Mark making the first series of cuts while increasing the depth with each pass.

Pounding wedges in order to break the final seem to separate the two sides.

Jenn Kuhn is pounding in the wedges.

Now we can handle the piece with more ease.

Next we cut out the mortise which will fit the forward king post of the centerboard trunk.

Removing Rosie's Deck

2011-06-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

While we are trying to salvage as much of the original wood as possible, it looks like most of the deck wood will have to be replaced. Hard to believe this boat, and her sister boat, the Lady Katie, took just three months to build, but will take more than three years to restore.

The deck of the Rosie Parks, before removing any deck boards

Project Manager and Master Shipwright Marc Barto wielding a crow bar to pry up those boards

As you can see, the deck's in pretty bad shape

Boat Yard volunteer Cliff doing all the work, as usual!

Boat Yard volunteer Mike Sweeney peeking out from underneath Rosie.

A few boards down, a lot more left to go!

Mike pitches in

Cliff isn't playing around with these boards.

The old and new rudder together, behind the newly repainted wheelbox

Just a little bit of the old wood from the deck

More bow work on Rosie Parks

2011-06-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

Cutting into the bow prepping to add a replacement piece.

Jenn Kuhn, chiseling away the wood around the bolts.

Marc Barto and his man clamp

With the help of the man clamp and jack the shipwrights have supported the bow, removed the wood surrounding the bolts and are ready to pound out the old bolts.

Parker, Josh and Natalie White, Bronza Parks third and fourth generation family members.

Parker and shipwright apprentice, Jenn Kuhn, are sawing off the tops of sweet nails.

President Langley Shook isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

More work on Rosie's Keel

2011-06-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

Museum volunteer Cliff is cutting sweet nails to fill in where the old iron fastners were once on Rosie's keelson.

Museum volunteers Cliff and Bob

Bracing for keel and worm shoe removal

Pounding wedges to expose the metal holding the worm shoe in place. Next, the shipwrights will cut the metal, thus releasing the shoe

Worm shoe layer one has been released

Up close view of the centerboard where it comes through the keel

Starboard view of the bow, an area the shipwrights will need to address

Port view of the bow

Project Manager and master shipwright Marc Barto explaining to Museum Chief Curator Pete Lesher how he plans to fix this section of the keel

Shipwright apprentice Jenn Kuhn sawiing up side down to remove more questionable wood. Next she will chisel and plane the area prepping it for the new filler piece.

Filler piece installed

Stern keel piece pre-drilled and awaiting installation

Mack's Smith Island Skiff launched at CBMM (in reverse)

2011-06-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

Rushton launch at CBMM in St.Michaels

2011-06-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

We broke out the bubbly & the sparkling cider to get our Rushton Florida model wet for the first time. Bob Traynelis passes the opened bottle to Mary Sue for their unique toast & Dan enjoys another of many in his career.

Dan Sutherland & Mary Sue enjoy the moment as Rich Scofield & others from the boat shop & CBMM crew wish us well for future explorations

It may have a few more items to finish... Yet why waste a beautiful Friday late afternoon in St. Michaels if you're not going to enjoy the water & a new boat?

For those of you who doubted - she's light & she floats

Minutes before, new AFAD member Bill helps Mary Sue start mounting the oar locks

Bob was busy shaving the points off the screws on the underside of the floor boards

Looks good on the time tested Volvo

We haven't weighed her. Around 100 pounds with oars aboard...

The Woodsaic (c) seats are a tribute to Rushton, the Chesapeake Light House & Skipjacks & the CBMM Boat Shop

A proper send off with those who followed the Rushton on the short trip from the boat shop to the floating docks near the Steamboat building

Excitment builds

Get her wet

Last minute instructions

Bob gets ready to use this pulling boat

Look at that smile

Bob rows as Mary Sue checks out part of the CBMM floating fleet

Nice balance

Dan tries her out solo

Frank takes a turn

That oak stem stands out

Don made her glide on the Miles

Doc John left the dock easily

This Rushton Florida Model looks as pretty as the Rushton 109 launched about a year ago in this same spot

Bill - a Georgetown College grad takes a sander to the Keuka Lake trout boat

2011-05-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

Bill made short work of the wood putty covering the new ribs (frames) on this 1924 Keuka Lake (NY) trout fishing boat that's being restored at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
A good Hoya (Georgetown) grad makes short order of this sanding job in May. It was left in October before everything got busy & cold in the Apprentice For A Day (AFAD) shop at CBMM.
Bill also helped router out the underpinnings for the seats on the Rushton rowboat.

Hopefully, he'll come back for other AFAD days.

The third Smith Island Skiff is on the calendar to start on 4 June. The strong back will be set up again then it's on to a new build.

Green paint on the Rushton

2011-05-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

First coat is a great green.

Looks like a Rushton (New York) color.

Green first coat over Atlantic White Cedar planks & Mahogany keel changes this rowboat.

Hardly needs a filter.

Mary Sue scuffs & cleans & starts to tape for painting.

Casey does a clean up before we turn the boat from cedar planking & mahogany keel to a fabulous green.

Casey shows a visitor the interior before we flip the Rushton for a coat of paint.

Last look at the Atlantic white cedar planks, mahoghany keel & iroko sheer before we add paint to the Rushton Florida Model double-ended rowboat.

Smith Island Skiff 2 closer for Mack's crabbing 28May2011

2011-05-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

John closes the Small Boat Shop to add trim to his son's Smith Island Skiff.

John is focused on drilling & driving.

This cabin looks fine after much design, debate & re-design.

The wiring begins.

Mack tries the seat below the cabin as Doc John describes the wiring to a visitor & Dan consults on how the electronics will be installed.

Mack considers his crabbing as Dan explains how it's all going together so he gets feedback on what Mack wants in his skiff.

Rosie's Transom is Complete!

2011-05-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

The transom is up on Rosie! Definitely making some headway.

Jenn works to loosen a galvanized nail on Rosie Parks' existing transom - love the ponytail flying!

Community members are welcome to help work on the restoration on Saturdays from 10am - 3. Must be 16 or older or accompanied by adult. Women encouraged. Pre-registration is not required, but helpful. Email during the week at havefun@cbmm.org or stop by our welcome center for more details.

The galvanized nails from the transom, like everything that is being removed from Rosie, will be saved and either cataloged, or given as mementos to our donors and volunteers working on the project.

A New Rudder for Rosie!

2011-05-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

Rosie's new rudder is sweet! And a real work of art made from a 4" thick pieces of quarter-sawn white oak. Come see this and more all taking place with real shipwrights and the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay.

that's the Rosie Parks starboard side in the background

drilling and pinning the first section to the rudder post

nice work - new vs. old

The pins from above

Some of the shipwright's measurements are seen on the finished piece.

Transom Work on Rosie Parks

2011-05-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

Shipwright Apprentice Jenn Kuhn works to shape the first new transom board for the skipjack Rosie Parks

Project Manager Marc Barto and Apprentice Jenn Kuhn working together.

Old and new.

The piece is placed with clamps to the transom before anti-fouling paint and Sikaflex is used

Recently surpassing her fifty-year mark, Rosie Parks is in need of substantial rebuilding. Repairs were made to the boat as needed until 1994, but Rosie remains one of the least altered historic skipjacks in existence. If restored in accordance to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Vessel Preservation Projects, Rosie could be the best example of her type for interpretation of the work of this fleet.

Removing Edna's bowsprit

2011-05-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Shipwrights and volunteers removed the bowsprit off the bugeye Edna E. Lockwood.

Removing the hardware around the bowsprit.

A perspective from the end of the bowsprit, it's a big, heavy piece of wood! The new one is made from Douglas fir.

Tying her up to the fork.

Rich Scofield, once again climbing a spar.

Rich and Mike work to get the bowsprit loose from the deck.

Jen working on the bowsprit from down below.

Trying to use some wedges to knock the bowsprit from its stuck position

Almost ready to pull on her again.

Getting ready to lay her down next to the new one, which will be installed after painting the deck, etc. from where the bowsprit was removed.

Working Rosie's Deadwood

2011-05-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

The shipwrights at the Museum have been busy removing, carving, and refitting a section of Rosie's keel called the deadwood. (a wooden part of the centerline structure of a boat, usually between the sternpost and amidships)

Pattern used in duplicating the deadwood.

Marc is using a chainsaw to cut away part of the scarf joint.

Painting on red lead, a wood preservative, in preparation for the new deadwood piece.

Cutting kerfs.

Gradually cutting away excess wood and weight getting the shipwrights closer to the final shape.

Notice there are four of us carrying this piece of angelic (a Brazilian hardwood so heavy that it sinks!)

The first fit!

Just about perfect! Good pattern making at its best.

Rushton Florida Model to get wet later in May at CBMM

2011-05-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

Casey shows off the oars, ready for varnish

Working that cherry with a spokeshave

A muskrat comes up for lunch during our high tide

Dick gets a shot at the wildlife we get to see every day at CBMM

6 Coats of Captain's Varnish for all the brightwork

The center of the decks won't be visible when we're done

After the varnish, painting time for the planks & keel

Plenty of shine on the inside

Everything get sealed before the varnish or paint is applied

Two more coats of varnish on the sheer & deck, sink some nails & get to the paint

The Rushton Florida Model double ended rowboat will be going into the water sometime later in May. The schedule published in October of 2010 showed 22 May 2011 and 26-29 May's Memorial Day weekend for getting her wet.

We won't be in by the 22nd of May. Look for an update when the boat gets launched at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

For boat time, being even close to the planned schedule is fabulous.

Smith Island Skiff - Mack's progress at CBMM

2011-05-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

The roller for crabbing nearly finished

The mount for the roller and for the controls have been added

John cleans up after getting another coat of paint on the cabin

The cabin's lines look better with each tweak of the original design

Mack and his dad, John share the roll & tip chores to add another coat to the skiff

More memories being made at CBMM. It may seem like work, but the years of enjoyment will be more than worth the effort.

Sam sealed all these floorboards as Doc & Dan made them. Now they're ready for paint.

Picture yourself looking over the bow in the Smith Island Skiff

AFAD is very busy at CBMM with boats coming & going & in process

2011-05-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

Bob Traynelis works on the decks of the Rushton Florida model row boat in the CBMM paint room while many other things are happening in the small boat shop & its' surrounds

Sam Barnett considers how to re-position the 1924 Keuka Lake trout boat so he might finish painting the new SIS risers on the saw horses.

Mack is concentrating on rolling on the first coat of white while his dad, John, follows to brush it out on their Smith Island Skiff (#2 for the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum)

After the trip on Roo & Peter's Smith Island Skiff, John and Mack are happy to put the first coat onto SIS #2

Doc John & Ethan enjoy the first trip in the Smith Island Skiff which the former helped to build & the later will be able to talk about to his brother, who will be the owner of SIS #3

Mack & John Northrop at the stern while the other father/son team of Peter & Roo Wood enjoy the ride in their boat, Smith Island Skiff #1 for CBMM while Dan Sutherland, apprentice for a day manager sits in the bow to watch their reactions

Sam explains about our active boat building while standing on the lofting table "inside" the cabin that will be added to the second Smith Island Skiff

Rushton Florida Model Rowboat gets outer stems

Cutting Rosie's Keel

2011-04-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Marc and the shipwright apprentices got the chain saw working yesterday, and were able to remove part of Rosie's keel as part of her restoration. You can watch it all unfold right here at the Museum - harborside near the lighthouse.

Marc has his two apprentices on either side, helping to guide how far to go with the chainsaw

The wood still looks pretty solid in the middle. Above is a peek at Rosie's aft cabin, which is surprisingly in good shape

It's all a learning process for the apprentices and our shipwrights. Shipwrights must be smart, creative problem solvers....and remain flexible in their plans of historic boat restoration.

AFAD busy with 2 Smith Island Skiffs and a Rushton

2011-04-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Casey balances hard cherry as Bill concentrates on Rushton Oar shape

John, Mack & Jeff check out Smith Island Skiff # 1 with Dan out in the April sun

Casey uses hand plane on edge of Rushton rowboat oar

Casey continues to work plane on Oar while Bill works on Rushton deck channels.

Doc John, Mack, Jeff & John work on Smith Island Skiff as Dan provides advice from top of tool box.

One plank of hard cherry will be two oars for the Rushton Florida model rowboat. Look above to see how it was shaped.

Richard at bow on portside, Henry, Frank, John, Michael, Bob, Sam, Dan work to help SIS #1 off the platform onto its new trailer.. Get the engine & other items finalized...

SISkiff #1 goes out to launch & SIS #2 will settle back for final work. Two ships passing during daylight.

Skipjack Rosie Parks Restoration Project Officially Started!

2011-04-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Skipjack Rosie Parks Restoration project has officially began. This privately-funded, three-year restoration project will be done completely in view of the public. Stop by periodically and see Rosie's progress!

Marc and his apprentices discuss the plan on getting the rudder off safely and intact.

Oh the stories this rudder could tell from its history in the Chesapeake's waters. Thanks to generous donors and the work of CBMM's shipwrights, apprentices and volunteers, Rosie will get a new rudder through the restoration process, and will be back in the waters for new stories to unfold

The rudder was dropped just an inch from the ground, thanks to the precision work of our shipwrights, apprentices and volunteers.

The rudder will be on display as the restoration continues.