The Watermen’s Museum Boat Building Projects

Unique to The Watermen’s Museum

The art and science of wooden boats is both fascinating and enticing. Whether by “rack of eye” or the thorough process of lofting from a Table of Offsets and plans, the process of creating a boat from raw materials is an activity that has been done along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay for hundreds of years.

The Watermen’s Museum Boat Building Program is a place where people with a passion for wooden boats can become part of the process of creating, repairing, or restoring these beautiful craft.

History

The boat building program operates through the efforts of a small group of dedicated volunteers. Over time, our boat building teams have completed construction of an 1880’s crab skiff (sharpie) and multiple rowing skiffs after a design by Kunhardt (1873), as well as a stitch-n-glue Chesapeake Lightcraft Dinghy.  They have also constructed a 14-foot Norwegian Pram and restored many boas of various styles and sizes.

Process
While our plans for the future include a formal training program, we’re presently structured as a “come as you are” volunteer program for adults.  You could assist our volunteer boat building teams with a variety of boat building and carpentry tasks.projects

Workshop Times/Dates
The boat building crew works varying hours, but most often on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Watch a Video About a Boatbuilding or Restoration Project
 1.  YouTube Video About our Juniper Skiff Restoration (Courtesy WMBG Radio)

2. YouTube Video of Jaycees’ Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta (Courtesy John Broadwater)