PropTalk Magazine December 2022

# Photo

PropTalk Gift Guide Gift ideas for that special boater in your life.

See the Bay: Celebrate the Holidays—Chesapeake Style From lighted boat parades to crab basket Christmas trees, there’s no shortage of Chesapeake holiday spirit. By Staff 31

The DelMarVa Loop (In a 17-Foot Boston Whaler) The author and his brother completed the 400-mile circumnavigation known as the DelMarVa Loop in their 17-foot Boston Whaler Go-Cat.

By John W. Robinson

Boat Notes: Suncatcher Fusion 324 Modern pontoon boats, and especially tri-toons, have evolved by rather epic proportions.

By Lenny Rudow

Quick Haul Repairs Save the Day

This snowbird’s trip south was salvaged thanks to many helping hands.

By Mike Pitchford

Giving Thanks

PropTalk staffers share what we’re thankful for this year.

In Onancock, VA, Santa arrives by boat! Photo by Lisa Celentano Gurney. Find more Chesapeake holiday events on page 28.

by Eric Moseson

Proud to Earn the Five Star Marine Industry Certification

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announced that Pocket Yacht Company of Maryland has earned Certification as a Five Star Marine Industry Certified Dealership this past June. Becoming a Marine Industry Certified Dealership is a huge accomplishment for everyone on our team. Our goal has always been to transfer our passion for boating to our customers and create a pleasurable buying experience from start to finish. Completing this certification program has helped us not only better our dealership, but better your experience. As a family-owned and operated dealership, we are dedicated to our customers and our community. Thank you for

Owner

612 Third Street, Suite 3C, Annapolis, MD 21403 (410) 216-9309 proptalk.com

PUBLISHER Mary Iliff Ewenson, mary@proptalk.com

A SSoCIATE PUBLISHER Chris Charbonneau, chris@proptalk.com

MANAGING EDIToR Molly Winans, molly@proptalk.com

EDIToR Kaylie Jasinski, kaylie@proptalk.com

SENIoR EDIToR Beth Crabtree, beth@proptalk.com

CoNTRIBUTING EDIToR Lenny Rudow, FishTalk Editor, lenny@fishtalkmag.com

ADVERTISING SALES Eric Richardson, eric@proptalk.com

CoPY EDIToR Lucy Iliff, lucy@proptalk.com

EDIToRIAL ASSISTANT Kelsey Bonham

CUSToMER SERVICE MANAGER Brooke King, brooke@proptalk.com

DISTRIBUTIoN /BRokERAGE /CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER Beatrice Roderick , beatrice@proptalk.com

ART DIRECToR / PRoDUCTIoN MANAGER Zach Ditmars, zach@proptalk.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER / PRoDUCTIoN ASSISTANT Royal Snyder, royal@proptalk.com

CoNTRIBUTING WRITERS

Chris “Seabuddy” Brown, Eric Burnley Sr., Steve d’Antonio, Capt. Rick Franke, Charlie Iliff, Craig Ligibel, Kendall Osborne, and Ed Weglein (Historian)

CoNTRIBUTING PHoToGRAPHERS

Paul Denbow, Dennis J. Falkowski, Al Schreitmueller, and Thomas C. Scilipoti

DISTRIBUTIoN

PropTalk is a monthly magazine for and about Chesapeake Bay boaters. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the officers of SpinSheet Publishing Company. SpinSheet Publishing Company accepts no responsibility for discrepancies in advertisements.

PropTalk is available by first class subscription for $45 a year, and back issues are available for $4 each. Mail payment to PropTalk Subscriptions, 612 Third Street, Suite 3C, Annapolis, MD, 21403.

PropTalk is distributed free of charge at more than 950 establishments along the shores of the Chesapeake. Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute PropTalk should contact the PropTalk office at (410) 216-9309 or beatrice@proptalk.com.

Martin and Betty Casey, Gregory G. Greenwell Sr., Dave Harlock, Abbey Iliff, Ron and Colleen Ogden, John and Chrissy Wathen ember o f: www.pocketyacht.com

© 2022 SpinSheet Publishing Company

Beautiful, Hectic, Crazy -Just Right

As we prepare to put the last PropTalk of the year to bed, I can’t help but reflect on my eight years at SpinSheet Publishing Company, or SPF as we like to call it these days (SpinSheet, PropTalk, FishTalk).

I first came to SPF immediately after graduating from St. Mary’s College of Maryland (it was only SP back then). I did a six-month internship, briefly left to pursue another job, and then came on full time in the spring of 2015.

If my math is correct, I have been to 30 boat shows. By this point, my friends and family know not to schedule anything for April or October without checking with me first. October, especially, is always a hectic month, but I’m beginning to appreciate it as a good hectic-ness (if that is possible). Prior to coming to SPF, October was always one of my favorite months. I just love fall. Then for a bit, it began to become one of my most stressful months because of the fall boat shows. But now, I can’t imagine October any other way.

October 1 was my first wedding anni versary and then one week later, it was two weeks of go, go, go. I always feel a sense of anticipation this time of year, and of course a little stress, thinking about all the things that come with those two weeks. But then this year, for the first time in a while, I began to really appreciate everything else that comes with the boat shows.

The press breakfast the first morning of each show. Seeing fellow journalists and photographers from Annapolis and points elsewhere. That giddy anticipation waiting for the Opening Day cannon to explode. And after eight years, I still haven’t man aged to perfect filming the cannon while plugging my ears at the same time. I only have two hands… And it is always, always louder than I remembered.

By Kaylie Jasinski

The fact that we had four beautiful days of sunshine for the Powerboat Show this year—the best weather in a while, if I’m remembering correctly. The mad dash of running around trying to film videos the first day of the show. Enjoying lunch with

coworkers (pit beef sandwiches at the Fleet Reserve Club and crepes at Sofi’s). Beers at the booth at 5 ‘o clock. Always meet ing my daily step goal thanks to many, many walks back and forth from our office in Eastport across the bridge to the show. Networking with colleagues in the marine industry that you don’t often get to share a beverage with (the Young Marine Profession als Party was especially a highlight this year). Having the pleasure of meeting people in person whom I’d previously only conversed with over email. Walk ing the final day of the Powerboat Show with my husband and picking out our dream boat (looking at you, Ranger Tug R-23).

The new FishTalk Fishing Pavilion and a special in-person LIVE With Lenny seminar attended by most of the SPF crew with Pusser’s Painkill ers in hand. And of course, no show would be complete without our staff’s mandatory Painkiller toast to round out

the Sailboat Show. This year’s end of the Sailboat Show was especially dramatic as we had just thankfully finished packing up our booth when the sky opened up in a torrential downpour. Our team hunkered down in our empty tent, beers in hand, before making our way over to Pusser’s for the grand finale. As the rain abated, we toasted under a beautiful rainbow as the floating docks were disassembled and the sailboats began making their exodus from downtown Annapolis.

So, how best to describe the boat shows after eight years at SPF? Maddening. Exhilarating. Exhausting. Hilarious. And now that it’s over? I can honestily say: fun. Next up: The Chesapeake Bay Boat Show in Timonium January 20-22. We hope to see you there!

# Couldn’t ask for a better team!

# The filming begins!

# Walking the show with my husband, Nick.

Paul Bollinger shares this photo of Jack Bollinger, age five, at the helm of a Sabre 45 at the U.S. Powerboat Show. He says, “His favorite boat was the Grand Banks 60. Jack passed on ice cream to visit the GB a second time. The GB salesperson on the swim platform recognized him and said, ‘This is the kinda guy who will own a Grand Banks in the future!’”

Temma

“What a surprise to read about powerboat winterization in “The Power of the Pickle” in the November issue of PropTalk. FYI, m/v Temma, the focus boat in the article, lived here in Annapolis on Spa Creek and was maintained by the amazing crew at Sarles Marina for many years. She is a lovely boat that attracts attention wher ever she goes. As members of the Classic Yacht Club of America and the Antique and Classic Boat Society (Ches apeake Bay chapter), with m/v Temma, my husband and I were the proud recipients of many awards at Bay boat shows. We sold when Sarles sold the boatyard and its marine railway—a sad time. We sold Temma to Greg and Alana James in 2013. They cruised her from Annapolis to Newport, RI, and then used her as the “drawing card” for their local tour and charter company called Antique Yacht Collection. I don’t know when the current owner bought her.

We wish this newest classic boat owner only smooth waters and calm seas. Thank you for your always interesting and well-written magazine.”

~Erica Lowery

Send your questions, comments and stories to kaylie@proptalk.com

# Zachary “Captain Fish” had a great day of fishing in Kent Narrows. Photo by Mike Middleton

# Photo by Paul Bollinger

# Photo by Erica Lowery

Worth the Wait

The world never stops turning – and her infinite wonders remain. Now is the time to leave all your worries on the dock, let Mother Nature dazzle you with her beauty once more, and discover a truly unforgettable vacation on the water…

Meet Dodge

Mary Reiser at Pocahontas Marine Service in Edgewater, MD, shares these photos of office dog, Dodge. She says, “Dodge is a six-year-old black male lab. He went to work the day after we got him and has gone every day since. He enjoys running around the yard during the day/ summers, sleeping in the shop during the winters, and is always jumping on customers’ boats looking for a bite to eat!”

Maryland Safe Boating Course courses held in Nov & Dec!

A great parent-child opportunity to learn the “rules of the road” on the water together! Prepare for spring by taking this course that covers legal requirements, navigation rules, preparation and trailers, accidents, water conditions, water sports, sailing and personal watercraft safety. This is an eight-hour course and test that satisfies MD law for people to operate any motorized boat in MD waters.

This class is held for one day from 8 am to 5 pm at the “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center. You must be pre-registered to attend. This course is for ages 12+ but those ages 12-15 must be accompanied by a paying adult. For more information or to register, please contact LaKeisha Simmons at lmsimmons@annapolis.gov.

$25 per participant. Course dates and registration codes: Sat Nov 12 #2391 Sat Nov 19 #2392 Sat Dec 3 #2393 Sat Dec 17 #2394

The 50th U.S. Powerboat Show, a Sparkling Success

Historic Annapolis welcomed boat ers from around the globe to enjoy the United States Powerboat Show on the sunny fall weekend of October 6-9. Following the record soaring numbers achieved during the 2021 show year, this fall’s attendee numbers were close behind. Sunday of the Powerboat Show brought in record-setting attendance numbers.

The Boat Shows operations team braved the remnants of Hurricane Ian during setup for the Powerboat Show, erecting tents and securing docks as high winds and downpours blurred their vision and weath ered their bodies.

“It was amazing to see our team come together and push through the elements to keep the show on track,” said Sheila Jones, Annapolis Boat Shows general manager. “It was truly a team effort by all: staff, exhibitors, city officials, and our downtown partners.”

At our usual booth space along Ego Al ley, Team PropTalk enjoyed talking with our readers and hearing feedback about the magazines. “I’ve already read it” and “Love PropTalk” were often repeated comments as we passed out PropTalk, FishTalk,

PortBook, and the occasional SpinSheet. Our team also joined the Annapolis Boat Shows’ festivities at the opening day Block Party outdoors at the An napolis Market House with live music and libations to celebrate the Powerboat Show’s 50th anniversary.

Sparkling new boat models such as the Grady-White Adventure 218 walkaround, Aicon Vivere 66 power yacht, Solara S-310 CW, Bayliner Trophy T24CC, Composite Yachts 55, and many more were displayed on the floating docks at City Dock where sea soned salts, families, novice boaters, and dreamers all gathered to climb aboard. Sold signs for manufacturers continued to be hung throughout the weekends as new boat owners joined their new onthe-water family.

Stand-out land displays included FishTalk Magazine’s Fishing Spot. Anglers checked out free seminars from fishing experts from FishTalk, including Lenny Rudow’s “Live With Lenny,” and representatives from Coastal Conserva tion Association Maryland, new apparel from Under Armour, catfish cakes from Chesapeake Culinary Center, and a

virtual fishing simulator from Harvester with courtesy tackle box giveaways from FishTalk.

As always, awards were presented to industry professionals and exhibitors. The Annapolis Boat Shows presented Melanie Sunshine Neale of Sunshine Cruising Yachts with the Sailing Industry Distin guished Service award and a clock provid ed by Weems and Plath. Kerry Gonzalez of AMG Insurance International also presented Good Samaritan Awards at the Boat Shows’ Cruisers University for Tara Flanagan, John Herlig, and Carolyn Shearlock.

Following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ian, PropTalk contributor Craig Ligibel reached out to the Boat Shows to enlist their help in raising funds for four organizations providing hur ricane relief in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Carolinas. Thanks to Craig and his volunteers, the Boat Shows, exhibitors, and attendees contributed over $50,000 to the relief efforts.

The fall shows will return in 2023 with the U.S. Powerboat Show October 5-8 and the U.S. Sailboat Show presented by West Marine October 12-16.

# Boat shoppers and dreamers gathered to climb aboard shiny new boats. Photo by PropTalk

# Mother Nature provided ideal boat show weather for the 2022 event. Photo by Larry French

Bassett Comes Home as New Riverkeeper for Arundel Rivers Federation

Arundel Rivers Federation has hired Anne Arundel County native, Elle Bassett, as the new South, West, and Rhode Riverkeeper. As such, she will be the eyes, ears, and voice for these three Anne Arundel County rivers.

Bassett will monitor water quality, identify sources of pollution that threaten these rivers, advocate for their protection and restoration, and bring a passion for environmental education and community engagement to the watersheds.

Although she grew up along the South River, she has spent the past 10 years working to advance clean water solu tions on Maryland’s Eastern Shore as an education and outreach coordinator before becoming the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper for ShoreRivers in 2018.

In a 2020 interview, Bassett told SpinSheet, “The South River was very much a part of my life growing up… Our

summer holiday revolved around boat trips and raftups with friends. I remember noticing how the shoreline would change when I was younger, and the beach by my home slowly changed and eventually disappeared which sparked my curiosity.”

She attended Washington College, hoping to be an English teacher, but an environmental science class that involved interactive on-water lessons piqued her curiosity.

“I felt as if I was learning more from the river than I was in any of my textbooks,” says Bassett. “I decided that I wanted to help others build similar relationships to the river that I had rediscovered in that course.” As a result, she changed course and went on to earn her master’s in environmental education from Concordia University in Portland, OR.

“Being a riverkeeper is a dream job but being the riverkeeper for my home river is

a home run,” said Bassett. “I’m excited to bring all the skills I’ve learned over my 10 years with ShoreRivers back to this side of the Chesapeake Bay and start working with my hometown communities to protect our rivers together.”

Arundel Rivers Federation’s mission is to protect, preserve, and restore the South, West, and Rhode Rivers by working with local communities to achieve clean, fish able, and swimmable waterways for present and future generations. Learn how you can get involved at arundelrivers.org.

TowBoatUS’s Hurricane Ian Cleanup Efforts

Long after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida on September 28, cleanup is still underway. Tow BoatUS, which ordinarily handles routine on-water assistance, has reported that the role of their Florida operations contin

ues to be altered by the massive need for salvage. Captain Kyle Potts of TowBoatUS Charlotte Harbor/Pine Island said, “Based on the destruction we are seeing, Hur ricane Ian was ten times worse than 2004’s Hurricane Charley,” and that “thousands of vessels were damaged or destroyed.”

By the end of October, Captain Potts and other TowBoatUS crews had successfully cleared most of the small, trailerable boats in need of recovery and have since been tackling larger, more difficult vessels. Captain Potts reported that they continue to encounter debris and other hazards to navigation throughout the waterways.

“If we strike anything, we run the risk of taking a towboat out of service,” he emphasized. Narrow residential canals present an added challenge not only due to their tendency to become clogged by debris, but also due to the number of low bridges that cross them and block access to barges and cranes. This is where creativity and years of salvage experience come into play, with

the use of airbags, custom-built cradles, and precise maneuvers in lieu of heavy equipment.

Farther south, TowBoatUS Naples owner Captain Todd Dilman paints a different but equally complex picture. “Unlike in the north, we didn’t have a lot of sunk boats, but what we do have are boats in precarious places that I did not ever think a boat could be, including landing in swimming pools and being deposited between homes and build ings that only offer a sliver of access,” he explained.

Both captains expressed that cleanup efforts will continue for a long time and that it will likely be a year or more before the local boating experience is restored. When asked if he had any lessons to share from Hurricane Ian, Captain Dil man was clear: “People need to truly un derstand how unpredictable these storms can be. If you see a storm coming, you should start preparing. It’s that simple. It only took one little turn to devastate everything.”

# TowBoatUS salvage crews, working in waters tainted by storm-driven pollution and dangerous debris, recover a vessel that was blown from its boat lift in Punta Gorda Isles. Photo courtesy of TowBoatUs Port Charlotte/Pine Island

Celebrating Oyster Reef Restoration

The core partners in the Maryland Oyster Restoration Interagency Team—NOAA, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Oyster Recovery Partnership—hosted an event on October 21 along the St. Mary’s River to celebrate completion of the initial restoration in the St. Mary’s River. The team also highlighted the completion of the Tred Avon and Little Choptank Rivers projects, which had been completed in recent years but not yet celebrated in person due to Covid.

These efforts are part of the world’s largest oyster restoration project. Across the Chesapeake Bay, agencies and organizations have been teaming up to bring back oyster reefs—and the many benefits they bring. Oysters filter the water, grow in reefs that provide habitat for many species, and support recreation and healthy fisheries.

Thanks to this restoration work, there are now 60 acres of healthy, restored oyster reefs in the St. Mary’s River. In the Little Choptank, a project completed in 2020, 359 acres were re stored, with 1.85 billion seeds planted. In the Tred Avon, a project completed in 2021, 130 acres were restored, with 926 million seeds planted.

These reefs are part of the Chesa peake Bay Program’s goal to restore oysters in 10 Chesapeake Bay tributaries by 2025. Besides the ones mentioned, tributaries in Maryland include Harris Creek and the Manokin River; and in Virginia the Great Wicomico River, Lafayette River, Lower York River, Lynnhaven River, and Piankatank River.

Speakers at the event included Sena tor Chris Van Hollen; Sean Corson, director of NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office and chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team; Lieutenant Col onel David Myers, USACE, Deputy Commanding Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Baltimore District; Matt Fleming, acting assistant secretary of Aquatic Resources, Maryland De partment of Natural Resources; Ward Slacum, executive director of the Oyster Recovery Partnership; and Adam

Werblow, director of St. Mary’s College Waterfront Center and head varsity sailing coach.

For more information, visit  fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/chesapeakebay/oyster-restoration.

# Lt. Col. David Myers, Matt Fleming, Ward Slacum, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Dr. Kandis Boyd, and Sean Corson at St. Mary’s College celebrating oyster restoration. Photo by NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

Blue Friday

For the past few years now, we as an office (SpinSheet, PropTalk, and FishTalk) have designated the Friday after Thanksgiving as Blue Friday. This year it falls on November 25.

What exactly is Blue Friday? We like to think of it as a way to spend time on or near the water with family and friends, to spend one more day being thankful for what really matters, and to be thankful for the Chesapeake Bay that we call home.

We’re not saying you can’t shop, but rather than make the day all about shopping, make the water your priority. Do you have to actually go out on a boat? Nope! Though if it’s nice weather, why not? You can simply get outside and spend time by the water. Take a hike along the shoreline, stroll through a

waterfront town, head to the beach with your pup; maybe even take a trash bag to do a good deed while you’re there.

After you’ve spent time by the water, then you can go shopping. But consider shopping local this year.

If you’re in need of a boating good or service, you’ll find a multitude of options within the pages of PropTalk. And if you shop with our advertisers, make sure to say PropTalk sent you.

If you do go boating, take proper precautions in regard to water and air temperatures. Bundle up, be safe, and enjoy Blue Friday! Share your photos on social media by tagging @proptalkmagazine and using #BlueFriday.

# You don’t have to go out on the water, but if you do, make sure you (and your furry friends) are dressed for the weather.

Winter Boat Safety: Let’s Talk Heaters

By Kelsey Bonham

If you are like me, you’ve been getting emails for the past several months encouraging you to stock up on winterizing equipment. If you are even more like me, you have

opted to ignore those emails and plan to continue enjoying all that the Bay has to offer even in sub-freezing temperatures. If so, you may be in the market for a heater. There are many reasons why you might want a heater, in cluding protection of a non-winter ized inboard en gine from freezing during cold snaps or keeping yourself warm on a weekend trip. Heaters are one of the primary causes of boat fires, however, so they must be chosen and used with care. Perma nently installed systems, such as a diesel heater with temperature control settings, are the safest choice—extra points if they have

remote monitoring capability—but are not an option for everyone.

Any type of heater that involves an open flame, such as a propane or alcohol heater, is effective for a brief trip but should never be left unattended. This includes while you’re sleeping, even if you’re right next to it. If it is impractical to remove extra fuel after each trip, it should at least be stored in a compartment that vents to outside of the hull. Any type of electric heater should have an automatic shut off function if it gets tipped over. Better yet, it should also be designed to reduce the likelihood of tip ping over in the first place—wide and flat. If you’re using an electric heater, make sure to keep it on the floor of your cabin, away from fabrics or other flammable materials.

Safe heaters are important, but they’re not everything. Check your boat regularly and start the engine often. Pay atten tion to the weather, especially the water temperature. Winter can be one of the best seasons to go boating, with plenty of empty anchorages, no mosquitoes, and no sudden afternoon thunderstorms; all you need is a little preparation and a mindfulness for safety to make sure that your boat is ready to weather the cold with you.

# The author’s alcohol heater. Any heater with an open flame should never be left unattended.

Three Caribbean Winter Getaways

If you’re hoping Santa will drop an all-expenses-paid charter trip in your stocking this year, dream on. But if you would like to plan a winter escape, these three Caribbean destinations are easier to get to than you might think. Charter company, The Moorings, has bases in each locale. Learn more at moorings.com.

1. The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)

The USVI consist of the main islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas and 50 other surrounding minor islands and cays. The islands are famous for their beautiful white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and friendly people. And with no real off-season (the average winter temperature is 77 degrees), this destination provides perfect beach weather all year long. As a United States Territory, travel to the USVI does not require a passport for U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Find a list of airports and participating airlines at visitusvi.com/transportation. The Moorings base is located on St. Thomas.

2. The British Virgin Islands (BVI)

The BVI consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke, along with more than 50 other smaller islands and cays. The majority of the islands are uninhabited by people and are designated as National Park space. The archipelago has enjoyed a lengthy renown as being one of the most beautiful collections of isles and cays anywhere in the world, and each landfall has its own distinct texture and character. The average winter temperature is around 83 degrees. A valid passport is required for travel to the BVI. You can find more information at bvitourism.com. The Moorings base is located on Tortola, the largest of the islands.

3. The Bahamas

Consisting of 16 major islands, the Bahamas are spread out across 100,000 square miles of the world’s clearest ocean. The Moorings has bases in the Abacos and Exumas. The Abacos are a lesser-known group of islands and barrier cays located in the northern Bahamas, where laid-back

vibes, historic colonial charm, and postcard-worthy views reign supreme. And nestled just 35 miles southeast of Nassau, the Exumas have some of the most unspoiled pieces of paradise in the Caribbean, many of which can

only be accessed by boat. U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas. Learn more at bahamas.com

For more chartering ideas, visit proptalk. com/category/chartering.

Think Shrink!

Before You

This

year, try a reusable cover

Did you know...

• Semi-custom covers cost the same as shrink-wrapping a 20- 30’ boat for two seasons.

• Reusable covers can last 5 - 10 years.

• Canvas shops can repair and clean reusable boat covers, extending their life even further.

• Installing a reusable cover on a small boat is easy and protects as well as plastic.

• Semi-custom reusable covers are available for most boats.

• Recylcing shrinkwrap is costly and difficult.

Shop online or ask your marina or local marine retailer for help with purchasing, cleaning, or repairing your cover. A list of marinas and canvas workers can be found on the Marine Trades Association of Maryland website (mtam.org)or in the Guide to Marine Services produced by MTAM each year.

REFUSE > REDUCE > REUSE > RECYCLE

# The swimming pigs of the Exumas, Bahamas are world-famous. Photo by Zuzana Prochazka

400 Fourth St Annapolis, MD boatyardbarandgrill.com 410-216-6206

November

Through Nov 28

massoniart Gallery annual Show Marc Castelli’s one-man exhibition: Para lian. Expect to see unmatched renderings of watermen, workboats, and log canoes from a painter recognized as one of the finest marine artists in the country.

1 – Feb 28, 2023

cca maryland Pickerel championship Target chain pickerel all winter long in this catch, photo, release tournament to compete for great prizes including Panfish, Kayak, Fly, and Youth divisions. Learn more at ccamd.org

17 cbmm Fall Speaker Series

Our Common Table with Chef John Shields. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Van Lennep auditorium at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. $20 per person. Register at cbmm.org

19 FSFF monthly Hands-on Session

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse (behind Ford Hall) at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center in Davidsonville, MD. Duber Win ters and Joe Bruce will teach club members how to tie a handful of ‘you really need to know’ fly fishing knots. This is a club spon sored event, free to FSFF members and all visitors. Please contact Ryan Harvey at rybeer@gmail.com with any questions.

19 maryland Safe boating course

This is an eight-hour (one day) class, and by passing the course test, participants satisfy Maryland law to operate any motorized boat on Maryland waters. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center in Annapolis, MD. Cost: $25. Ages 12 and up. Questions:  lmsimmons@annapolis.gov

26 colonial beach lighted boat Parade

Boats adorned in colorful lights move in formation, up the beachfront of the Town of Colonial Beach, and then make their way back to Monroe Bay. The parade, which be gins around 5 p.m. at Marker 2, is part of the town’s annual Winter Festival. Prime view ing areas include the Riverboat restaurant or anywhere along the beachfront or boardwalk or the end of the Town Pier.

19-20

eastern Shore Sea Glass and coastal arts Festival: Holiday edition 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. Tickets include admission on both days. Artisans and craftspeople will exhibit and sell coastal and sea-glass related jewelry, home décor, art, and more. Live music. Food and beverages for sale.

24-27

black

26

middle river Parade of lighted boats

Cheer on the nearly 100 boats that partici pate in this annual tradition in Middle River, MD. Boats will start and end at Stansbury Yacht Basin (beginning at 5:15 p.m.). The route is subject to change based on weather conditions and parade size. To register, text your name, address, and boat length to (410) 463-2686 (the captain’s package includes gift cards worth more than $300!).

Friday

mega Sale Weekend long sales event at Anglers Sport Center in Annapolis, MD.

25 blue Friday

We boaters are outdoorsy people, so on the Friday after Thanks giving, let’s take a waterfront walk with family, friends, and a dog, maybe bring along a trash bag, and enjoy the crisp air and wildlife. If you shop after your walk, give your business to local boating shops. Share you outing using #bluefriday

26 Pasadena lighted boat Parade

The route starts at 5:15 p.m. at The Rumor Reel and ends at the Broken Oar Bar and Grill at approximately 8:15 p.m. Call (410) 255-1771 to register your boat and/or purchase tickets to the after-party. The $25 registration fee includes the captain’s meet ing with goodies, two tickets to the after party, and prizes. The after-party starts at 8 p.m. at the Broken Oar Bar & Grill in Glen Burnie, MD. Tickets cost $40.

November

27 - Jan 1, 2023

retro christmas at Piney Point lighthouse museum

Enjoy tours in a family friendly retro holi day exhibit inside the museum and keeper’s quarters. At the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum in Piney Point, MD.

1midnight madness in annapolis

The streets and storefronts of Historic Annapolis will be adorned with holiday decorations and lights to create a Down town Winter Wonderland. Visitors are invited to stroll along Main Street, West Street, Maryland Avenue, State Circle, Market Space and Dock Street from 4 p.m. until midnight.

1 - Jan 1, 2023

St. clement’s island museum christmas doll & train exhibit Enjoy a holiday exhibit of antique and collectible dolls, classic trains, and other retro toys in this festive holiday display inside the St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point, MD.

351st annual alexandria Scottish christmas Walk Parade

Parade starts at 11 a.m. in Alexandria, VA. Dozens of Scottish clans dressed in color ful tartans parade through the streets of Old Town, joined by pipe and drum bands from around the region, as well as terriers and hounds.

3alexandria Holiday boat Parade of lights

Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. at Alexandria City Marina. Dockside festivities start at 2 p.m. at the Old Town Alexandria water front. Dozens of brightly lit boats will cruise along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline.

December3 baltimore Parade of lighted boats

A spectacular display of decorated boats will parade through the Inner Harbor and Fells Point. Find a spot at the Inner Harbor Promenade or choose a waterfront restaurant to watch from. The parade is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Anchorage Marina and lasts until 8:00 p.m.

3 bear creek lighted boat Parade 5 p.m. starting at Hard Yacht Cafe in Dundalk, MD. Visit the Bear Creek Sail ing Association Facebook page to register your boat.

3cambridge dorchester county “crabby christmas” Parade Line up at 4 p.m.; parade at 5 p.m. The parade route begins at Long Wharf, progresses down High Street, turns left onto Poplar, straight down Race Street, and ending at Washington St. by Haddaways. Cambridge, MD.

3maryland Safe boating course

This is an eight-hour (one day) class, and by passing the course test, participants satisfy Maryland law to operate any motor ized boat on Maryland waters. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center in Annapolis, MD. Cost: $25. Ages 12 and up. Questions: lmsimmons@annapolis.gov

3the district’s Holiday boat Parade

30th Anniversary of the District’s Holiday Boat Parade. Celebrate the holidays with this iconic Washington, DC, event that features over 60 beautifully decorated boats parading along the Wash ington Channel. 6 to 9 p.m. at District Pier at The Wharf in DC.

3yorktown lighted boat Parade

Pre-parade festivities start at 6 p.m. and include caroling around a beach bonfire, a musical performance by the Fifes & Drums of York Town, and complimen tary hot cider. The boats will finish out the evening, as they make their way down the river in a dazzling show of lights that starts at 7 p.m. Yorktown, VA.

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christmas in onancock Events vary, from Holiday Wine Wednesday to a tree lighting (Friday, December 2 at Ker Place at 6 p.m.) and holiday movie screenings. Santa arrives by boat December 10 at the Wharf at 11 a.m. The 10th also features a holiday artisan market, Christmas homes tour, caroling, a music festival, and more. The Onancock holiday parade takes place Sunday, Decem ber 11 at 5 p.m.

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yorktown tree lighting ceremony

Everyone is invited to gather at the Yorktown Victory Monument by 6:30 p.m. for live music including a performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town. From there, the procession will make its way from the Victory Monument to Riverwalk Landing, where the tree lighting ceremony will begin.

presented by

# This year’s Cambridge Dorchester County “Crabby Christmas” Parade takes place December 3 in downtown Cambridge, MD. Photo by Jill Jasuta

3-4 yorktown chrismtas market on main

Close to 100 vendors line the streets in Yorktown, VA, selling everything from nautical paintings to handmade soaps to Christmas wreaths. The Town Crier will ring in the market at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a performance from the Fifes and Drums of York Town. Then, Santa Claus will ride in on York County’s first fire truck. Expect strolling musical enter tainment throughout the day.

7

kent island Fishermen monthly meeting

7:30 pm at American Legion 278. Con tact: Bert at (302) 399-5408.

8 midnight madness in annapolis

The streets and storefronts of Historic Annapolis will be adorned with holiday decorations and lights to create a Downtown Winter Wonderland. Visitors are invited to stroll along Main Street, West Street, Maryland Avenue, State Circle, Market Space and Dock Street from 4 p.m. until midnight.

9-11 christmas in St. michaels

This year’s events include a lighted boat parade and festive Talbot Street Parade, a home tour, breakfast with Santa, holiday music and meals, a Santa dash, market place and sweet shop, and a “Light up the Night” drive-by house and harbor tour. Raises funds for local beneficiaries. Lighted Boat Parade December 10 at 6 p.m. around St. Michaels Harbor.

10 eastport yacht club lights Parade

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the parade! 6 to 8 p.m. in Annapolis Harbor. Find a parade route, viewing locations, parking, public transporta tion information, decorating tips, and a registration form at eastportyc.org/ lights-parade. Skippers must register and attend the Skipper’s Meeting Thursday, December 8 at 7 p.m. at Eastport Yacht Club (EYC). The parade is open to anyone with a lighted boat, power or sail, EYC members and non-members.

10 Solomons christmas Walk

The Christmas tree in the Solo mons Riverwalk Gazebo will be lit at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 9. At the gazebo, you’ll also find Santa’s mailbox for letters to Santa, and the island will be decorated with lights and banners. The deadline for judging the Best Decorated Home and Best Decorated Business is Saturday, December 19 on Facebook. The Solomons Lighted Boat Parade captain’s meeting is at 5:45 p.m. at the Solomons Yachting Center dock office and the parade starts at 6:30 p.m. The awards ceremony begins at 8 p.m. at Solomons Island Yacht Club. To register, call the fleet captain at Solomons Island Yacht Club at (887) 256-6272 or email fcsiyc@gmail.com

10 cca Winter classic Catch-photo-release rockfish contest where the stringer of the three lon gest fish wins. There are prizes for Youth, Fly, and Top Lady Angler categories, as well. Tall Timbers Marina, Tall Timbers, MD.

14 Frederick Saltwater anglers club monthly meeting Frederick Saltwater Anglers meet monthly at 7 p.m. at the Frederick Elks Club, the second Wednesday of every month. Food starts at 6 p.m., and we have speakers, vendors, and raffles with 50/50s. Call Rob at (301) 606-0392 for more information.

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christmas in chesapeake city Poplar Hall presents the Christ mas Parade of Horses and Market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The day begins with an amazing parade of horses directly through and around Historic Chesapeake City, MD. Afterwards, enjoy an all-handmade artisan Christmas market, bagpipers, a European Father Christmas, and so much more. The Chesapeake City Candlelight House Tour takes place that night from 6 to 9 p.m.

15 midnight madness in annapolis Stroll the streets of Historic Annapolis among the festive holiday decorations. Even though it’s called “Midnight Mad ness,” for this third Thursday in December, shops will only be open to 11 p.m.!

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maryland

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rock Hall Holiday market 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Rock Hall, MD.

10 Hampton lighted boat Parade

The Hampton River will come to life as a fleet of decorated boats parade past the Downtown Hampton waterfront. The parade runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and concludes with an awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Following the parade, Santa will join the fun dockside from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.

Safe boating course This is an eight-hour (one day) class, and by passing the course test, participants satisfy Maryland law to operate any motorized boat on Maryland waters. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center in Annapolis, MD. Cost: $25. Ages 12 and up. Questions: lmsimmons@annapolis.gov

# The Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade takes place December 3. Photo courtesy of Visit Yorktown

2022

Holiday Gift Guide

For more great gift ideas, scan this QR code or visit proptalk.com/ gifts-for-boaters

2-For-1 Holiday Special For Instruction

2-Day USCG approved safe powerboating class. Regular price: $695. 410-280-2040. jworldannapolis.com

Chesapeake Boating Club Memberships

Enjoy boating without the worries, hassles, and commitments of boat ownership. Annual membership ranges from $2,400 to $6,400. 410-280-8692. chesapeakeboatingclub.com

Chesapeake Boating

Club

Hand Tied Santa Ornament

This nautical Santa ornament is a must have for any sailor or marine enthusiast. The Santa stands a towering 3 1/2” but only weighs two ounces. He’ll look great on any tree either seaside or inland. A reminder of warmer days of coasts, beaches and boating. Made in the USA. MysticKnotwork.com

Radio Controlled Boats

Your local BOE Marine stocks a high quality selection of RC boats, cars and accessories. Our curated offering is built around ease of use, fun factor, and quality. Whether it's for the lake by your house, the sandbar, or to bring on your larger boat/yacht for some fun on the hook, we have the right boats, batts, and chargers already hand picked for you. RC boats, cars, and more starting at $69. boemarine.com/hobby

Our Crab Cakes Make Great Holiday Gifts!

Order at goldbelly.com/ boatyard-bar-and-grill Gift certificates available also! Give your family, friends and clients a meal at the Boatyard Bar & Grill. Enjoy the locals’ favorite voted: Best Restaurant Overall, Best Crab Cake, Most Family Friendly, Best Raw Bar, Best Boaters/Sailors Bar and Best Weekend Brunch!

400 Fourth St, Annapolis, MD boatyardbarandgrill.com 410-216-6206

p hoto by s hannon Hibberd

Celebrate the Holidays - Chesapeake Style!

The holidays are hard to beat no matter where you’re celebrating, but the Chesapeake Bay knows how to put its own twist on things. From crabby Christmas parades to Santa arriving by boat, there’s no shortage of fun happenings. Be sure to check event websites for any updates or weather cancellations before heading out.

Upper Bay

Middle River Parade of Lighted Boats: November 26

Cheer on the nearly 100 boats that participate in this annual tradition in Middle River, MD. This is the MidAtlantic’s largest lighted boat parade, and now the fifth largest in the US! Boats will start at Stansbury Yacht Basin at 5:15 and then the parade route is as follows: Carson’s Creekside/Dark Head Cove/Lagoon, Crazy Tuna/Riverwatch, MRYC, Middleborough/Norman Creek/Crescent YC, Bauernschmidt Manor/Eastern YC, Rockaway/Turkey Point, Bowleys Point, Frog Mortar Creek/Bowleys on the Bay, and then back to Stansbury. The route is subject to change based on weather conditions and parade size. To register, text your name, address, and boat length to (410) 4632686 (the captain’s package includes gift cards worth more than $300!). facebook. com/mrboatparade

Pasadena Lighted Boat Parade: November 26

The route starts at 5:15 p.m. at The Rumor Reel and ends at the Broken Oar Bar and Grill at approximately 8:15 p.m. This year’s parade will be live streamed! Call (410) 255-1771 to register your boat and/ or purchase tickets to the after-party. The $25 registration fee includes the captain’s meeting with goodies, two tickets to the after party, and prizes. The after-party starts at 8 p.m. at the Broken Oar Bar & Grill in Glen Burnie, MD. There will be food, music, non-alcoholic drinks, and drink specials (cash bar). Tickets cost $40. facebook.com/PasadenaBoatParade

34th Annual Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats: December 3

A spectacular display of decorated boats will parade through the Inner Harbor and Fells Point. Find a spot at the Inner Harbor Promenade or choose a waterfront restaurant to watch from. The parade is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Anchorage Marina and lasts until 8 p.m.

Bear Creek Lighted Boat Parade: December 3

Starting at 5 p.m. at Hard Yacht Café in Dundalk, MD. Visit the Bear Creek Sail ing Association Facebook page to register your boat.

Christmas in Chesapeake City: December 10

On December 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Poplar Hall presents the Christmas Parade of Horses and Market. The day begins with an amazing parade of horses directly through and around Historic Chesapeake City, MD. Afterwards, enjoy an all-handmade artisan Christmas mar ket, bagpipers, a European Father Christ mas, and so much more. The Chesapeake City Candlelight House Tour takes place the same day from 6 to 9 p.m. Learn more at chesapeakecity.com

Middle Bay

Colonial Beach Lighted Boat Parade: November 26 Boats adorned in colorful lights will move in formation up the beachfront of the Town of Colonial Beach, and then make their way back to Monroe Bay. The parade, which begins around 5 p.m. at Marker 2, is part of the town’s annual Winter Festival, which also includes a Tree of Lights, pictures with Santa, and all sorts of other holiday delights. Prime viewing areas include the Riverboat res taurant or anywhere along the beachfront or boardwalk or the end of the Town Pier. colonial-beach-virginia-attractions.com

St.

Mary’s County Exhibits

From November 27 through January 1, guests can enjoy tours through a familyfriendly retro holiday exhibit in the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and keeper’s quarters in Piney Point, MD (facebook. com/1836light). And at the St. Clement’s Island Museum, December 1 through January 1, there will be a holiday exhibit

# The 34th annual Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats take place December 3. Mark Hergan of Deadrise Marine Photography took this photo of his own boat participating last year.

featuring antique and collectible dolls, classic trains, and other retro toys in Colton’s Point, MD (facebook.com/ SCIMuseum).

Midnight Madness in Annapolis

The streets and storefronts of Historic Annapolis will be adorned with holiday decorations and lights to create a Down town winter wonderland. Visitors are invited to stroll along Main Street, West Street, Maryland Avenue, State Circle, Market Space, and Dock Street from 4 p.m. until midnight. Dates include De cember 1, December 8, and December 15 (shops only open to 11 p.m. on the 15th.). downtownannapolispartnership. org/midnight-madness

Alexandria Christmas Walk Parade and Holiday Boat Parade of Lights: December 3

The 51st annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade takes place De cember 3 at 11 a.m. Dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans parade through the streets of Old Town, joined by pipe and drum bands from around the region, as well as terriers and hounds.

Dozens of brightly lit boats will cruise along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Alexandria City Marina. The duration of the parade can vary from 30 minutes to an hour based on total participants, cruising speeds, and river conditions. Find directions and parade viewing areas at visitalexandria.com/holidays/boat-pa rade. Dockside festivities start at 2 p.m. at the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront at Waterfront Park including a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, food, activities, and more.

The District’s Holiday Boat Parade: December 3

Celebrate the holidays with this iconic Washington, DC, event (it’s the 30th anniversary!) that features over 60 beautifully decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. Enjoy activities through The Wharf from 6 to 9 p.m., including a waterfront beer and wine garden, s’mores, and live music. Boats arrive in the Washington Channel at 7 p.m., followed by a fireworks salute at 8 p.m. and live music on the District Pier Stage from 8:15 to 9 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and will take place rain or shine. wharfdc.com

“Crabby Christmas” Parade: December 3

The 73rd Annual Cambridge-Dorchester County Christmas Parade takes place Saturday, December 3 in Cambridge, MD. The parade is hosted and brought to the community by a small group of community volunteers for their love of community and the holiday season. The parade is 100 percent donor funded by local businesses, charities, and the community at large. Each year brings something new and exciting, and this year’s theme is “Crabby Christ mas.” The parade route begins at Long Wharf, progresses down High St., turns left onto Poplar, straight down Race St., and ending at Washington St. by Had daways. Lineup begins at 4 p.m. and the parade kicks off at 5 p.m. You can find a map of the parade route at christmaspa rade.org

Rock Hall, MD

In the town of Rock Hall, you’ll want to mark December 3 on your calendar as Santa arrives to light the basket tree at 5 p.m. And on December 10, the Rock Hall Holiday Market takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stay tuned for more details at rockhallmd.com.

Christmas in St. Michaels: December 9-11

This year’s events include a lighted boat parade and festive Talbot Street Parade (Saturday, December 10 at 10:30 a.m.

from Perry Cabin south to Seymour Avenue), a home tour, breakfast with Santa, holiday music and meals, a Santa dash, marketplace and sweet shop, and a “Light up the Night” drive-by house and harbor tour. The Lighted Boat Parade takes place December 10 at 6 p.m. around St. Michaels Harbor. This is a judged competition for bragging rights. Find a map of the parade route and a registration form at christmasinstmichaels.org. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will open its campus to view the lighted boat parade and admission is free after 4 p.m. (The exhibition buildings will be closed, but the bathrooms will be open. Please, do not leave trash behind.) All proceeds from the sale of the limited-edition collector’s ornament and other products directly benefit local, nonprofit organizations in the community.

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade: December 10

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the parade! 6 to 8 p.m. in Annapolis Harbor. The city will be extremely busy the night of the parade and traffic movement will be limited before, during, and after the parade. Please note: the Spa Creek Bridge will be closed to vehicles crossing between downtown Annapolis and Eastport periodically from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Find a parade route, viewing locations, parking, and public

# Nothing says “Chesapeake Christmas” quite like the crab basket Christmas tree in Cambridge, MD!

Photo by Jill Jasuta

See the Bay

transportation information at eastportyc. org/lights-parade. You can also find decorating tips and a registration form at the same link. Skippers must register and attend the Skipper’s Meeting Thursday, December 8 at 7 p.m. at Eastport Yacht Club (EYC). The parade is open to anyone with a lighted boat, power or sail, EYC members and non-members.

Solomons Christmas Walk: December 10

This year, Solomons, MD, celebrates its 41st Christmas Walk! The Christmas tree in the Solomons Riverwalk Gazebo will be lit at 6 p.m. on Friday, Decem ber 9 (the 15- to 18-foot tree will arrive Monday, November 28). At the gazebo, you’ll also find Santa’s mailbox for letters to Santa, and the island will be decorated with lights and banners. The deadline for judging the Best Decorated Home and Best Decorated Business is Saturday, December 19. Decorated houses and busi nesses in Solomons/Dowell will be scored and voted on by the public on the Solo mons Business Association Facebook page (facebook.com/solomonsbusinessassoc).

Other events include the Patuxent High School Jazz Band, professional pictures with Santa, refreshments, cookies, and of course, the lighted boat parade.

The Solomons Lighted Boat Parade will be held on December 10, weather permitting. Lighted sail and powerboats of any shape and size are welcome. The captain’s meeting is at 5:45 p.m. at the Solomons Yachting Center dock office

(next to the fuel dock) and the parade starts at 6:30 p.m. The awards ceremony begins at 8 p.m. at Solomons Island Yacht Club. To register, visit solomons maryland.com or call the fleet captain at Solomons Island Yacht Club at (887) 256-6272 or email fcsiyc@gmail.com.

Lower Bay

Christmas in onancock: December 2-December 11

Events vary, from Holiday Wine Wednesday to a tree lighting (Friday, December 2 at Ker Place at 6 p.m.) and holiday movie screenings but boaters will want to mark Saturday, December 10 on their calendars because Santa arrives by boat at the Wharf at 11 a.m.

The 10th also features a holiday artisan market, Christmas homes tour, caroling, a music festival, and more. The Onan cock holiday parade takes place Sunday, December 11 at 5 p.m. Learn more at onancock.com.

Christmas in Yorktown

The holiday fun kicks off with York town’s annual Christmas Tree Light ing ceremony Friday, December 2. This community tradition goes all the way back to 1945. Everyone is in vited to gather at the Yorktown Victory Monument by 6:30 p.m. for live music including a performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town. From there, the procession will make its way from the Victory Monument to Riverwalk Land

ing, where the tree lighting ceremony will begin.

One of the most anticipated Yor ktown holiday events every season is the Christmas Market on Main, which has been extended to two days (De cember 3 and 4). Close to 100 vendors line the street selling everything from nautical paintings to handmade soaps to Christmas wreaths. The Town Crier will ring in the market at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a performance from the Fifes and Drums of York Town to officially open the market. Then, Santa Claus himself will ride in on York County’s first fire truck, before mingling with the crowd to greet families. Expect strolling musical entertainment throughout the day to add to the festive atmosphere.

The Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade takes place December 3. Pre-parade festivities start at 6 p.m. and include caroling around a beach bonfire, a musical performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town, and compli mentary hot cider. The boats will fin ish out the evening, as they make their way down the river in a dazzling show of lights that starts at 7 p.m.

Other events include Cookies with Santa (December 4), An Enchanted Evening on Main Street (a nighttime Christmas market December 9 from 5 to 9 p.m.), Yorktown Market Days – Mistletoe Market (December 10), and more. For more information, visit visityorktown.org

Hampton Lighted Boat Parade: December 10

The Hampton River will come to life as a fleet of decorated boats parade past the Downtown Hampton water front. The parade runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and concludes with an awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Following the parade, Santa will join the fun dock side from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. to provide one last chance for your family to visit with him! This event is free and open to the public. Learn more and register your boat at downtownhampton.com/ lighted-boat-parade-main.

At print time, these were the events that had been scheduled. Find more events at proptalk.com as we get closer to the holiday season.

# There is so much to see and do in Yorktown, VA, during the holiday season from the tree lighting ceremony, Christmas market, lighted boat parade, and more. Photo courtesy of Visit Yorktown

The DelMarVa Loop

(In a 17-Foot Boston Whaler)

By John W. Robinson

The rolling swells of the Atlantic rhythmically heave under the Go-Cat. Like a living thing be neath our keel, the ocean seems to have a mind of its own. It’s a little spooky, but on the other hand, the morning is sunny and full of promise and the breeze is light and favorable. The boat’s running well; and we have ample fuel and provisions. Spirits are high. Our next landfall is Ocean City Inlet, 80 miles of desolate ocean and wild coast ahead. I’m smiling at how good it is to be out here finally doing this.

Go-Cat is a 17-foot Boston Whaler. My brother Kit and I cruised and lived aboard it for a few days, as long as it took to get us to get back to our starting point. We were on a route known as the DelMarVa Loop. To the uninitiated, it’s a 400-mile circumnavigation of the peninsula that includes the Eastern Shore of Virginia and eastern Maryland

and Delaware. Besides open ocean, the trip includes traversing the entire Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay plus the C&D Canal at the top of the loop.

Years in the Making

The trip began at our home port of Locklies Creek on the Rappahannock River. We ran south down the Chesa peake to Cape Charles and spent the night cramped (excuse me, camped in the boat), anchored in a sheltered spot among the shoals and islets of the cape. The day started at first light as we shot out through the swells of the inlet between Wreck and Cobb Islands into the open Atlantic.

I’ve been thinking about this trip for years. “The loop” has been just sitting there in the wings waiting to be done. It’s tricky. As I said, the route totals about 400 miles, but the distance travelled in completing the circle could easily be double that. Depending on the weather and the vessel and the crew, I knew it would take several days to a week. More than that if one really got pinned down by adverse weather.

I couldn’t shake the desire to do it— something about curiosity and restless ness—and finally it looked like things were coming together. I had the boat, and it was ready to go. I was flexible on the time, and I had a willing and experienced

We know how to repair stuff. We tolerate discomfort. Our definition of fun is loose and our sense of humor strange.

# As for provisions we keep it simple. We forego any means for cooking. Meals are easy-grab ones.

# Waterproof paper charts were key.

The DelMarVa Loop

(In a 17-Foot Boston Whaler)

crew member in Kit to go with me. One more vital requirement: a decent weather window, and in late sum mer when all was set for the voyage, we went into standby mode. When a promising forecast hove into view, the cry went out: Let’s go!

We would be doing the loop in a counterclockwise direction. Since our starting point is in the southern Chesapeake, that would put us on the Atlantic Ocean segment, the most exposed portion, early in the trip. I wanted to get that over with while the weather window held.

Since the meticulous, thinking part of what to bring and how to pack it was completed over the span of months, the packing itself went quickly.

# What the numbers don’t tell is just how much fun we had.

We organized the limited storage room on the boat for maximum efficiency: food here, safety equipment there, tools and engine spares somewhere else. We also carried extra fuel in four jerry jugs, the placement of which we could vary accord ing to boat trim. We continued to fine tune our system throughout the trip.

The long Atlantic Ocean segment complete, we entered Ocean City Inlet, large breaking waves adding to the excite ment. Once inside, we continued north for 22 miles, following intricate channels through broad shallow bays and along narrow canals. Assawoman Canal is eight miles of idle-speed, engine-tilted travel. Logs jut into the minute channel; over hanging trees obstruct the sky. It’s beauti ful, and our descriptions of it are the usual woefully inadequate: “This is amazing.”

The scene reminded me of The African Queen. There were doubts that we could

make it through, but we met a small skiff going the other way and its crew assured us that indeed we could. Yay!

Later, after a timely and prear ranged fuel stop at Rehoboth Bay Marina, we traversed another canal, the eight-mile Rehoboth-Lewes. We entered the wide-open waters of Dela ware Bay at Lewes, DE.

Not To Be Taken Lightly

I should say here that a trip of this kind should not be taken lightly; as I said, I’ve been planning and prepping for it for a long time. Kit and I have been doing these sorts of adventures for decades; we have lots of experience in both coastal and offshore voyag ing. We know how to repair stuff. We tolerate discomfort. Our definition of fun is loose and our sense of humor strange.

# I couldn’t shake the desire to do it—something about curiosity and restlessness.

# A trip of this kind should not be taken lightly. I’ve been planning and prepping for it for a long time, and Kit and I have been doing these sorts of adventures for decades.

# The author at the helm.

Our navigation consists primarily of common-sense observation but also with a state-of-the-art chartplotter. Further redundancy is ensured by an old-fash ioned compass, binoculars, and paper charts. We love paper charts. Waterproof paper charts.

For clothes and sleeping gear we go with the minimum we think we can get away with and still be relatively comfort able: foul weather gear, an extra change of clothes, sleeping pads and bags, rain covers, and the full certainty of getting wet at various points on the trip.

As for provisions we keep it simple. We forego any means for cooking. Meals are easy-grab ones: sardines—yum, crackers, beans, applesauce, cheese, fruit. We have a cooler/seat onboard but find the cooler unnecessary. We carry water in gallon jugs. For sanitation needs we have a bucket Porta-Potty but hope opti mistically to use the restroom facilities at the occasional fuel stop instead.

We received a hammering on the rough passage up Delaware Bay. The sky had turned steel grey and the mood was inhospitable. The sea and tide were at odds with one another, and it took all of our concentration to keep making head way. One hand on the wheel, one hand on the throttle, each one continually making adjustments. In these conditions, Kit and I switched places at the helm every 30 minutes.

A large nuclear power plant looked foreboding on the New Jersey shore. We passed a few rust-streaked com mercial craft purposefully underway, but no other vessels. We pressed on to the northwest and 70 miles from departing Lewes, we arrived at the eastern entrance of the 14-mile-long Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The protected waters of the canal were a sight for sore eyes and oh so lusciously smooth for us in Go-Cat

Our “campsite” for the night was Go-Cat anchored in a cove on Her ring Creek, on the Chesapeake side of the C&D canal. Rain was coming and we were okay with that. Dinner was much like the night before: cheese and crackers, cans of beans, tuna, apples, bananas… delicious. Over cookies we discussed the events of the long day and planned for the next. We mused at how delightful this wacky trip had been so far, and how the variety of what we’d seen had been way beyond our expectations.

Exceeded Expectations

We stretched out on the floor of our stout little vessel, the rain pattering down on our rain covers. We gradually become wetter and wetter, but we slept surpris ingly well. By 4 a.m. we were both awake and exchanging stabs at humor. We were restless to get moving but forced to nap in our damp things until it started to get light. At 6 a.m. we weighed anchor and headed out south into the rain-soaked Chesapeake. One can only remain but so dry in an open boat in the driving rain, and this was no exception; thank goodness for our foul weather gear. Plus, we could hide behind the little windscreen.

We cruised at 3200 RPM—our stan dard—which yielded about 19 knots in the relatively smooth water. We followed the channel markers of the shipping lane, their red and green flashers comforting in the gloom. The poor visibility improved and by the time we get to Rock Hall, MD, the rain had stopped, and a breeze filled in.

We gassed up at a wonderful marina in Rock Hall—again, planned ahead of time—and we took care of other business there, too. Emerging from Rock Hall Harbor heading south we were greeted by wind on the nose and a chop to match. We settled in for wave smashing at four to five knots. Our next waypoint was the Route 50 bridge at Annapolis, and at that rate, we knew it was going to take us a while to get there.

Throughout the trip we took careful notes on the changing weather and sea conditions, our engine running time, fuel use, engine RPMs, and speed. The chartplotter helped greatly in this figuring. Getting all this data was fun and interest ing, and it helped us to get to know the boat that much better, not to mention as an aid in future trip planning.

In the mid-Chesapeake Bay, finally south of Annapolis, we no longer had that crazy headwind we had contended with previously. The wind had swung around to the north, a change that improved our on board standard of living markedly. In fact, it was a glorious afternoon. We marveled at the big ship traffic and were entertained by the military aircraft training around the mouth of the Patuxent River.

Kit and I were thinking the same thing: This was a great adventure but if these fair conditions held, we could possibly get home tonight. Ahh to be able to sleep in my own bed. We could complete this incredible loop and start planning for the next waterborne adventure.

And that’s what we did. We closed the circle by crossing our outbound track as we entered Locklies Creek after another very long day. The final tally was 380 miles, 77 gallons of gas, 28.5 hours run time, 2.7 gallons per hour, and five miles per gallon.

But what the numbers don’t tell is just how much fun we had. #

# The author’s brother, Kit, on Go-Cat, a 17-foot Boston Whaler.

Suncatcher Fusion 324: Relaxation Mode

By Lenny Rudow

Why have pontoon boats become so darn popular in recent years? The answer is simple: few activities are as peaceful and calming as kicking back in a relaxing environment while afloat, and few boats are as adept at creating that relaxing environment as pontoons. Then consider that modern “tri-toon” models with triple pontoons offer better performance and seaworthi ness than the pontoons of yesteryear. They’re great for visiting swimming

beaches or pulling the kids around on tow-toys, and they rock and roll a whole lot less than most monohulls, so it’s easy to see why so many people love ‘em. One that caught our eye recently is the Suncatcher Fusion 324.

The Fusion 324 lineup has that extra center “log,” and comes in three flavors: the RC, RCX, SL, and SS. All are available—critical for a Chesapeake Bay boater—with a saltwater pack age. They have construction features

like foam-filled pontoons with 0.125-inch aluminum nose cones through-bolted to crossmembers, crossmembers on 16-inch centers from bow to stern, performance lifting strakes, anodized aluminum deck rails, and full-length under-deck shielding. And while pontoon construction perks like these may not be as widely appreciated as some fiberglass boat construction methods, you can boil it all down to this: Suncatcher backs their boats up with a five-year bow-to-stern warranty topped by a limited lifetime warranty on external seams; they are NMMA certified, and for two consecu tive decades they’ve received NMMA CSI awards, which means they rank 90 percent or higher in customer satisfaction year after year.

So, what sets the RC, RCX, SL, and SS apart from one another? It’s a matter of deck layout and furnishings. The RC features four center-facing sofa loungers, two forward and two aft, with helm and passenger’s pedestal chairs amidships. The RCX eliminates the passenger’s side pedes tal chair in favor of extending the port-side sofa. The SL has the two couches forward, but in the stern has transforming double fore/aft swing-back seats that convert into

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# The 324 SS features a pop-up changing room at the stern.

# Modern pontoon boats, and especially tri-toons, have evolved by rather epic proportions. (The 324 RCX.) Photos courtesy of Suncatcher Pontoons

Specifications:

LoA: 23’11”

Beam: 8’6”

Displacement: 2886 lbs. to 3040lbs. (depending on the model)

Fuel Capacity: 46 gal.

Max HP: 225

Price: Varies by specific model

Local Dealer: Anchor Boats in North East, MD. (800) 773-2628 or anchorboat.com Contact dealer for pricing.

a mega-lounger/sunpad. And the SS version has a pair of full-length aftfacing loungers behind the helm and a forward-facing lounger on the passen ger’s side, with twin sofas forward.

We’ve checked out the SS and RC versions in person and can certainly attest to one thing: you won’t be disap pointed by the cushy-factor. The sofas and loungers are sink-into-it com fortable; movable arm rests with cup holders can be shifted where you want them, and the captain’s chair will make you feel like an admiral. Some addi tional surprise perks we found included a pop-up changing room, an integrated ski locker, and on the SS version, glove boxes with USB ports built into the lounger arm rests. We also noted that the rotomolded furniture bases have vents added, to make sure mildew growth isn’t a problem in the moist environment.

What about that “better” perfor mance we mentioned earlier? Remem ber, today’s pontoons aren’t the wallow ing party barges of yesteryear—rig it up with max power and you’ll see top-end speeds breaking past 40 mph and a cruise in the upper 20s to lower 30s. If speed isn’t your thing, opt for a smaller powerplant and enjoy the reduced fuel consumption.

Modern pontoon boats and espe cially tri-toons are similar to those of the past in one way only: they’re excellent when it comes time to relax. In just about every other regard, they’ve evolved by rather epic proportions. But don’t take our word for it. Spend a day aboard a Suncatcher Fusion 324 and see what you think—we’re betting you’ll agree. #

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7149 Lake Shore Drive North Beach, MD 301.265.2122

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# The 324 SL includes transforming double fore/aft swing-back seats that convert into a mega-lounger/sunpad in the stern.

Save the Day QUICK HAUL REPAIRS

By Mike Pitchford

Let’s talk about that expansive hunk of fiberglass you own. It may be the love of your life, your pride and joy. It may a be a critical per sonal escape pod. It may be a familyfriendly magic carpet. It may sit on a trailer. It could be in a rented slip. It may be behind your house or even on a mooring, swinging by itself too often.

In any case, it is going to need maintenance. Things will break, so it will also need repair. If your baby is wood and not fiberglass, the above goes doubly. The need for maintenance can be routinized. While not necessarily inexpensive, maintenance done prop erly can keep your boating schedule intact.

But things do break, unexpectedly. “Repairs needed” can really drain the life out of your boating plans.

Fortunately for us Bay boaters, we have many, many skilled technicians and service yards to keep us going. This makes maintenance even easier, and the dreaded repairs perhaps not so schedule crushing. Let me share one recent example.

Coming back from a short trip in late September I noticed a bang-bang

from the area of the prop shaft at low speeds. I was worried I had snagged a crab pot and had a remnant part rotat ing around the prop. I could actually picture this in my mind’s eye.

A diver checked on it and found nothing. Hope against hope, I thought maybe the source of the noise just fell

off. Sadly, the sound persisted when I checked the day after the diver visited.

I was just days away from a planned de parture to Florida via the ICW. Slowly but surely, I could see the Excel spreadsheet, containing my planned ICW itinerary, melt like an ice cube on a hot day. It was time for drastic measures.

# Captain Tom of TowBoatUS Annapolis towed the boat to Jabin’s. The towboat is pink for breast cancer awareness.

# Winsome Winn at Bert Jabin Yacht Yard.

I made a call (on a Saturday) to one of my favorite service shops, Haven Harbour in Rock Hall, MD. Service manager Greta Sommers talked to me on the phone about the problem. Her over the phone diagnosis (and smooth bedside manor) was helpful in deciding to get the boat towed to a nearby travel lift (not Haven Harbour), ASAP.

As it turned out, Bert Jabin Yacht Yard was willing to work with me (on a Saturday). All I needed to do was get the boat to them before 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Fortunately for me, captain Tom of TowBoatUS in Annapolis was on the job. He and his pink towboat (for breast cancer awareness) arrived very quickly. It was also free, thanks to my BoatUS membership. For the record, free is the best price for either mainte nance or repairs.

So, over to Jabin’s we went. The tow was not long and the travelift was at the ready when we arrived (on a Saturday). In almost no time at all the boat was in the slings and up in the air, still dripping Bay water.

As it turned out, the bang-bang when in gear was from the shaft zinc which had come loose and slid down to bang on the strut. The travelift team at Jabin’s spotted it right away and were pretty sure that was the issue. I made a quick trip to West Marine for a new shaft zinc while the boat hung in air and bingo, it was ready to go back in the water almost before the bottom dried.

test would tell. I started the engine and gingerly pushed forward on the throttle. The lack of a bang-bang sound was perhaps the sweetest music I could not hear.

With one repair problem quickly managed, of course another reared its ugly head.

On the way back to the dock I noticed that the automatic trim tab system was not working. The system, ZipWake, monitors the boat roll and #

Had we solved the problem? Only an in-water

ZipWake repair complete!

# As it turned out, the bang-bang when in gear was from the shaft zinc.

The new shaft zinc.

# Robert Jones from J. Gordon & Co. completed the ZipWake repair.

Save the Day

pitch angles and adjusts both quickly to make for a smoother ride in any sea. One side was working fine, and one was not. So, the boat had a trou bling lean-to port at speed.

So, now, on a Saturday, I needed to get help from the technical folks at ZipWake to diagnose and solve the problem. My trip south was again in peril.

I emailed Corey Smith at Imtra, the parent company of ZipWake. Corey and I exchanged several emails as he walked me through diagnosis of the problem. With a final exchange of emails, late Saturday, we knew the problem was a broken worm gear in the servo that adjusts the trim tabs.

On Monday, Corey arranged for the replacement servo to be rush shipped to me. The delivery was scheduled for Wednesday. My planned departure was Thursday, so I began recalibrating the trip and decided I could leave as late as

Saturday and hustle through the early stops to get back on schedule.

This, I hoped, would leave me time to find a yard and an installer to get the work done. Jabin’s came to the rescue again. They conjured up a window to haul me on Tuesday (this was boat show season, so they were doubly busy).

J. Gordon & Co was the logi cal installer. They were the closest ZipWake certified installer. A call to Marshall Larner, the headmaster at J. Gordon, resulted in some schedule juggling, which freed up one of his

techs, Robert Jones, to do the install on Thursday.

By the end of the day on Thursday, Robert had done his magic and the Zip Wake system tested 100 percent.

Jabin’s accommodated my revised schedule by launching early on Friday. By noon I was back to my home slip loading gear and preparing for an early Saturday departure down the Bay. Yeah!

With many helping hands, the trip was salvaged. By the time you read this our boat will be in south Florida ready to serve as a cruising platform and winter season home. #

Got a New Boat?

# In Hampton on the way to Florida!

As you’ll read in these pages, Chesapeake Bay powerboat club members enjoy many fun cruises, social events, and educational opportunities. Share your club’s fun excursions and other benefits of membership. Send appproximately 350 words (sometimes longer) and clear photos of pretty boats or happy people to beth@ proptalk.com. Remember, our editors are willing to help your team craft submissions that highlight club activities and attract new members. Again this season Argo navigation and social boating app (argonav.io) is sponsoring this section. Thank you, Argo!

Ten Reasons To Join a Boating Club

The types of clubs most of ten covered on the pages of PropTalk’s Cruising Club Notes section are such clubs that are comprised of boat-owners brought together because they 1) own the same brand of boat; 2) keep their boats within a certain geographic area; or 3) are fans and aficionados of classic boats or vintage racing models. All our club members tell us that what they enjoy most from club member ship is the camaraderie, sharing of skills and experiences, educational and philanthropic club endeavors, and last but not least the delicious food and refreshing beverages that seem to be a part of most gatherings!

We would like to hear about what your boating club means to you. Send 300-350 words to beth@proptalk.com. We would also like to profile your stand-out club members. Send us a write-up or share their contact infor mation, and we’ll take it from there.

Boating Club Top Ten

1. Share maintenance tips.

2. Socialize with like-minded boaters.

3. Share ideas for cruising destinations.

4. Cruise with a buddy boat or group of buddy boats.

5. Expand your range of boating skills.

6. Expand the geographic area in which you cruise.

7. Have fun and enjoy good food and drinks.

8. Get to know interesting people you might not otherwise meet.

9. Share tips for destinations and knowledge of local waterways.

10. Give back to the local community.

# Members of Back Creek Yacht Club gathered for the 2021 Holiday Luncheon.

Antique and Classic Boat Society: Chapter Updates

By Chris “Seabuddy” Brown

Eye-Catching Display at the Powerboat Show In Annapolis

The Chesapeake Bay Chapter (CBC) of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) had an eyecatching display of classic boats right in the middle of all the slick contemporary boats and yachts at the U.S. Powerboat Show in Annapolis in October.

A big atta-boy goes out to lifetime International ACBS club member Chuck Warner, who spearheaded the entire ef fort. Chuck is one of the founders who in 1982 established the local Chesapeake Bay chapter. Chuck has great vision and boundless energy and is always working hard in a variety of club roles to achieve the best outcome. Chuck owns two classic cars in addition to his classic boats.

The “youngest” boat at the CBC display was a rare 1989 Boston Whaler Mis chief model. Those who admired it were surprised to learn that Boston Whaler

produced a small run of this water ski speedboat. With her 50-hp Mercury outboard she is in use for three of the four seasons in our region. Her owner, Stanley Boardman, displayed her features for the crowd and managed multiple other aspects of the club’s display at the show.

Another boat on display was a 1966 alu minum houseboat that serves as a weekend retreat and “anchor” boat for watersports for a family of four. Previously owned by Governor Wallace Wilkerson for use on the Ohio River, she lay dormant for several years prior to being shipped to Annapolis

and restored by her current Chesapeake Bay owner and skipper, a woman who adeptly handles this houseboat through tight spaces such as Ego Alley in Annapo lis and the piers of Cambridge, MD.

A rare 1929 Richardson Cruisabout cabin cruiser was also on display. She is repowered by a Gray Marine gas engine and now has a top speed of about seven mph. Her hull has undergone a major redo. Cold-molding over her original cedar planks was a multi-year job, completed in 2019. A triple award winner in a prior clas sic boat show; folks really like her style!

A Close-up Look at the Fun of Classic Boating

The 2022 edition of Historic Bris tol Day in mid-October saw an outpouring of locals and tourists on a perfect fall day along the Delaware River. Members of the Mid-Atlantic chapter of ACBS (The Antique & Classic Boat So ciety) displayed a selection of classic boats along the elegant wharf in Bristol, PA. The Harvey’s Lake ACBS chapter joined them.

The classic boats in-water and the historical hydroplanes on land created an impressive show of speedboats with gull-wings, wood cabin cruisers, and hydroplanes displayed. Here’s a look at the variety of boats:

Steve Ingraham attracted a lot of visitors as he shared details about his two hydro planes, both made from plans. Each is eight feet long and outboard powered. It is amazing to consider how fast one could race across the water in just eight feet. Carmen DeLeo’s award-winning speed boat, No Way, was in-water and shined to win more awards. Her replacement Chevy big 350 V-8 purred dockside. She was the second 20-foot Holiday out of a total of 10 that Chris-Craft built in the 1964 model year.

Perhaps the most eye-catching attrac tion was a rare 18-foot Century Sabre

inboard owned by Ray McDowell. Her gull-winged top was opened wide to show off her interior. Heaven on a Sunday won two awards from the An tique Boat Museum’s 2021 boat show. She’s powered by a smooth-running 238-hp Gray Marine “Fireball” straight inboard engine.

Nick Rosa’s Teacher’s Pet reflects his 15-year effort to restore her to pristine status. Nick’s attention to detail and fine craftsmanship have not gone un noticed. This 1960 classic is another ACBS award winner!

Finally, current chapter president Ed Andrews displayed his awardwinning Liquid Asset, a 19-foot ChrisCraft Holiday, which brings back fond boyhood memories since his dad had a 21-foot Holiday when Ed was growing up. That boat was a big part of his life and summer fun in addition to the regular maintenance projects each spring.

# Red Boston Whaler

# Liquid Asset

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Sea Scout Ship 1959: Youth Boating Education and Community Service

By Derrick Cogburn

The 2022 boating season has been fantastic for the Sea Scouts of Ship 1959, Seafarers Commitment, which is based out of the Seafarers Yacht Club (SYC) in the Eastport section of Annapolis and chartered by the Seafarers Foundation, the charitable arm of SYC. In addition to its Maritime Explorer Club 1959 which hosts the ‘junior’ members of the ship, Seafarers Commitment continues to grow and expand its activities.

One of the highlights of the season was a partnership with the National Park Service (NPS)–Chesapeake Chapter to promote fishing as a vehicle for com munity appreciation for and engagement with the Chesapeake Bay. We began our collaboration at Junior Ranger Day held at Sandy Point State Park. We held a public fishing seminar followed by a heaving line demonstration. Our Sea Scouts were trained in the NPS “Interpretive” approach and helped to lead several community fishing outings on the Chesapeake Bay and throughout its watershed.

Our ship served as honor guard for the return of the tall ships to Annapolis Harbor during the July 4 holiday, and we

continued a partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association (CBYCA) which has developed a program to allow Sea Scout Ships to follow a process and rules to access the CBYCA clubs all around the Bay.

Another major development this season was the return of the Seafarers summer youth program. Held at the SYC clubhouse, Sea Scouts both participated in the summer program and helped to lead many of its maritime com ponents, including marlinspike seamanship, navigation, and sail ing training in conjunction with Annapolis Sailing School.

# Sea Scouts from Ship 1959 helped clean, repair, and replace oyster cages at Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park.

A partnership with the National Geographic Photo Camp–Chesapeake also enabled some of our Sea Scouts to begin the program on the Eastern Shore in Chestertown, MD, and end the weeklong program at the SYC clubhouse. The closing presentations of the documentary work of the young participants was awe-inspiring as they explored the theme ‘Water is Life.’

Our ship also continued our collabora tion with the Annapolis Mar itime Museum as we helped clean, repair, and replace their oyster cages in preparation for a season of growing oyster spat from their docks on Back Creek.

A major highlight of the boating season was our participation in the inaugu ral Seafarers Regatta. Since Annapolis serves as America’s Sailing Capital, the SYC decided this season to host its first sailing regatta, work ing in partnership with the Eastport Yacht Club. Thirtytwo vessels registered for the regatta held on September 24. The regatta was struc tured with four initial classes and one Sea Scout sub-class, which fielded three vessels.

Our flagship Sea Scout training vessel, Commitment, a Tartan 37, took first in the Sea Scout sub-class, and third overall in its class of nine vessels.

While there is still some season left for the ship, our major closing events have focused on our partnership with the US Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. On October 22 our ship participated in the return of face-to-face Safety at Sea at the US Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay, and late in October we were invited to orga nize a booth at the open house held at US Coast Guard Station Annapolis.

As we bring this boating season to a close, we have two major community service events left: Thanksgiving for Seniors organized by the Seafarers Foundation and the Wreaths Across America when our ship will again help lay wreaths at the na tional cemetery in Annapolis. We are also in the middle of our ship elections, and our new Quarterdeck of youth leaders will take office during our Change of Watch and Bridge of Honor ceremony on November 14.

Sea Scouting promotes seamanship, citizenship, personal fitness, leadership, and community service. Sea Scouts is for boys and girls aged 14-21 (and with our Maritime Explorer Club we include boys and girls aged 10-13). Learn more at ship1959.org

# Trophy winners from the SYC regatta: Captain Carl Sink, Mate for programming for Ship 1959 and Sea Scout Joshua, boatswain-elect for ship 1959.

Smith Island Crab Skiff Association Oxford Regatta

The Smith Island Crab Skiff Association held its season ending race on September 17 in Oxford, MD. As the crowd along The Strand gathered and checked out the six skiffs that were on hand, there was a dilemma—the Fat Oyster needed a driver. Skiff owner Paul Emely shouted out to the crowd for a volunteer and Will Zylinski stepped-up. Will hails from the Barnegat, NJ, area and was in Oxford for the sailboat races. With a break in that action, Will came down to check out the skiffs. Little did he know he would be racing one.

In race one, Tuffy Garrett in Swamp Rat pulled away to a commanding lead from the start and was able to hold off any challengers. In Races two, three, and four, Ralph Justice in Twisted Oyster was able to come from the last starting spot in each race to take the wins.

The Smith Island Crab Skiff Association would like to thank its supporters and PropTalk magazine for the coverage provided.

Recap and Photos By Paul Denbow

# Fat Oyster owner Paul Emely with volunteer driver Will Zylinski.

# Tuffy Garrett in Swamp Rat coming up to pass John Pepe in Slippery Eel.

# Did you ever have the feeling you’re being followed? Matt Graves keeping a close eye on Joe Strohmer.

# Race winner 1 Tuffy Garrett leading Ralph Justice, winner of races 2,3, and 4.

# Matt Graves leading Tuffy Garrett, Joe Strohmer, and Ralph Justice out of turn four.

CCWBRA Oktoberfest Regatta

A10-15 knot south/southwest breeze raised a chop on Fair lee Creek, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm and excitement for the Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association’s (CCW BRA) season end, Oktoberfest Regatta, held for the first time at Safe Harbor Great Oak Land ing on October 15. Thirteen of the small, home-built outboardpowered (6-8 hp) wooden race boats competed in several classes over a racecourse near the mouth of Fairlee Creek. Many spectators turned out for the races which were easily watched from Jellyfish Joel’s Beach Bar, which was opened for the event. The choppy conditions made for some exciting races (two boats flipped, nobody injured, just cold drivers in the chilly water) and as the breeze increased in the afternoon, the last race was canceled. Nevertheless, lots of great racing for drivers and spectators. Stay tuned for results at ccwbra.com.

Recap courtesy of Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing, Photos courtesy of Jeff Weeber

Chris-Craft’s Special Race Boat

By Chris “Seabuddy” Brown

Chris-Craft launched a “Special Race Boat” in the middle of the depres sion, late in the 1930s. For several years they were produced in short runs and then discontinued in 1937.

Chris-Craft used a 19-foot length overall but chose to narrow the beam to only six feet, two inches. Forward of her hull was 21 inches with 16 inches aft. In other words, a “small 19.”

She was a racer, designed and built as a lightweight race winner! Although primarily sold for a racing class in Europe, some were also sold and successfully raced in the US.

To reduce the weight, thinner plank ing was used, and fewer accessories were offered as standard. The lighter weight, however, made these boats less likely to survive the hard rides and high speeds required in competition. As a result, finding a truly original version of this boat is almost impossible.

Today we’re viewing a “made in Philadelphia” racer—a replica built from the original Chris-Craft draw ings. Classic Restoration and Supply/ Vintage Craft Boats built her in its fully equipped shop.

Its owner is Chad Brenner. The shop does restoration work on wood and fiber glass boats. Garwood, Chris-Craft, Light ning sailboats, a Shephard wood boat, and a Glastron fiberglass boat are among their recent restorations. Customized, hand crafted new boats to order are also built.

Now this “small 19” speedboat looks like a fresh restoration of a very desirable model. She also has a major advantage: her speed and handling are worthy and fit for today’s boating.

She is powered by a marinized Chevy V-8 gas engine. It is Indmar’s marine

version of the Chevy V-8. The bore is four inches, and the stroke is 3.48 inches. It develops 350 horsepower with Indmar’s special version and changes. With it, she is quick to get on a plane with two or more aboard and is a very fast boat.

Loafing at a smooth 2000 rpms on the tach is a pleasant cruising speed. Top speed with this prop is just under 50 mph. She is fast to react to any steering wheel movement and takes any turns like a bandit. A true racer.

Indmar Marine Engines has a history going back 50 years in the inboard marine industry and a proud tradition of pointing the way forward with its engines. Indmar is the world’s largest privately held manufacturer of gasoline powered inboard marine engines and is recognized for its ability to push the envelope. Dick Rowe, a Marine Corps veteran, founded Indmar in Millington, TN, in 1971.

To this day, it remains family owned, with Dick’s son, Chuck Rowe, currently at the helm.

She was on display at the 2022 land and in-water boat show at Huddy Park in downtown Toms River, NJ. It was a nice boat show in a beautiful waterfront park at the top of the river.

Toms River has about 95,000 people now. It is the county seat for Ocean County. Founded in 1768, it has a central business area (the village) as well as the much broader suburban residential population area.

During the 19th century, Toms River became a center for shipbuilding, whaling, fishing, and iron and lumber production. There was also a salt mining operation.

Back to Chris-Craft now. Joseph Napoleon Lisee was the hull designer behind Chris-Craft’s race winning days. He was nicknamed “Nap.” He was a master builder, designer, pat

tern-maker, wood turner, and had a reputation as a real perfectionist.

He was born in 1891, died in 1946. He started working at ChrisCraft for Chris Smith in 1905. He designed Smith’s 1916 successful Gold Cup raceboat, Miss Detroit. That racer was “a broken, battered hulk after the race, fit only for junk.”

“Nap” designed another racer (Miss Detroit II) to use the 250-hp engine from the remains of the original Miss Detroit boat. That was also a successful single-step hydroplane. She was 20 feet long. Miss Detroit II set a speed record of 61.724 mph. Jay W. Smith was aboard as the riding mechanic when the record was set. All the later Miss America hulls were a “Nap” design, including Miss America X, which set a record at over 124.42 mph.

Chris-Craft has racing boats in its blood. #

Marine Engine Sales, Parts & Service

410-263-8370

By Capt. Rick Franke

The boat shows are long gone, daylight savings time is over, and the hurricane season will end shortly. Winter with its slower pace is about to begin. Looking back over this and recent seasons we notice one problem that seems never to go away: the labor shortage. This problem is not limited to the marine industry of course, but the specialized nature of maritime work seems to make it especially difficult to find good help. It almost seems the labor problem is like the old saying about the weather; “Everyone talks about it, but nobody does anything about it.” That’s true, but we have some good work going on addressing manpower development in our region.

We are fortunate to have a valuable resource in the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) located in An napolis, MD. Recognized as a national industry standard in service training and a certifying organization, the ABYC also offers a post-secondary curriculum and testing which can lead to certification as a Marine Service Technician. Currently, two community colleges, Cecil College in Bay View, MD, and Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, MD, offer programs based on this curriculum.

The Center for Applied Technology South in Edgewater, MD, part of the Anne Arundel County school system, of fers an elective Marine Service Technology program to high school students.

The Eastport Yacht Club in Annapo lis, MD, has a long history of addressing

manpower issues. For many years the club, through its foundation, has awarded schol arships to students enrolled in marine and maritime programs. The biennial Marine Wizards Program recognizes outstanding marine service workers and, in conjunction with the county school system, the founda tion offers an annual Maritime Career Expo to high school students.

The Annapolis Yacht Club Founda tion, in Annapolis, MD, also provides scholarships to students enrolled in mari time programs. Seafarers Yacht Club in Annapolis, MD, makes a unique contribu tion by sponsoring and supporting a Sea Scout “Ship.” One part of the Sea Scout mission is to promote marine skills devel opment and interest in maritime careers.

Probably the best-known manpower development program in our area is the

one conducted by the Maryland Ma rine Trades Association of Maryland (MTAM). With support by a State of Maryland EARN grant, MTAM has a program that recruits and places interested individuals with one of the association’s 400 members for a six week on-the-job training (OJT) experience. During this paid training period, the trainee works side by side with an experienced mentor, actually performing the day-to-day tasks that make up the job. At the conclusion of the OJT many participants express a desire to work in the field and many receive job offers from their host companies. The MTAM website, (mtam.com), features several pages which offer brief job descrip tions of the many skills involved in marine trades jobs. Each of the more than 20 descriptions ends with a form to use to

# An artist’s rendering of the American Cruise Lines’ newest small cruise ship, the American Eagle, currently under construction at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD.

apply for an OJT placement. The website also hosts a job board where members can post current job openings. Some people are indeed doing something about it. We just need more!

This month we got the following update from Alex Schlegel in Galesville, MD

“Hartge Yacht Yard is now operating out of Hartge Yacht Harbor on Lerch Creek as well as our Woodfield location on Tent house Creek; both locations are in Gales ville and both places are quite busy. In our yard on just about any given week we see a striking and wonderful variety of boats: a sharp O’Neil Dean 46 Baybuilt deadrise yacht was here having the sides waxed, bot tom painted, and props serviced. A builtfor-the-ocean Buddy Davis 47 Sport Fish with a pair of Detroit 8V71s is in for weeks of engine maintenance. We are installing the hydraulic system for a swim platform for a dinghy lift system and troubleshooting electric problems on a commodious Azimut 50.

“On a classic 55-foot Trumpy, built in 1950, there is a long list of jobs as small as new sink drains and spigots to a big job of aligning the engines. Previously, the engines were lag bolted to the engine beds. To align the engines, we are making eight U-shaped metal brackets that fit over the engine beds. This means raising and lowering the engines multiple times to make patterns and test the fit of the new pieces. Other jobs keeping our team busy include: installing radar and ser vicing the Vacuflush heads on a curvaceous SeaRay 420, refitting a cute Fortier 27 New England Bass Boat with a long list of work:

installing bow thruster, batteries, battery chargers, refrigeration. Also, cetol and varnish work, Awlgrip to cockpit, cabin, deck, interior, installing new engine controls, new anchor windlass on a bow roller with a shiny polished anchor, new cockpit seats, new cleats, and autopilot.

“The whole country is busy, and we are no exception,” Alex concluded. “The spray paint booth has been going nonstop for years and is booked through the fall and much of the winter. The carpenters have been working overtime for years but have finally cut back to a regular work week of 40 to 45 hours just in the last few months. Occasionally we have a slow period for one department or another in fall or winter that we use to catch up on maintenance. It’s been good for many years and is getting better.”

We just came across an interesting story from Chesapeake Ship building in Salisbury, MD

American Cruise Lines has revealed details of Project Blue, a new fleet of go-anywhere ships for the U.S. market. The company announced plans for 12 identical sister ships that will more than double the nation’s current capacity for domestic coastal cruises.

Featuring an innovative hybrid catamaran design, these boats will have unprecedented near-shore operating versatility, according to the company. The new U.S.-built fleet will operate exclusively in the United States, with a focus on small towns and close-to-home adventures.

“Project Blue started as a design chal lenge to create a boat small enough for New England harbors and stable enough for the Alaska Inside Passage, with a draft shallow enough for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway,” said Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines. “These boats can run almost anywhere, and because there will be 12 of them, they will be deployed all over the United States.”

American’s Project Blue expansion further reinforces the growing interest in small ship experiences and personal ized cruising. Like all of American’s new ships, the entire Project Blue fleet will be built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD. The first two Project Blue ships are already under construc tion and are due for delivery in 2023.

Each boat in the Project Blue fleet will accommodate 109 passengers and 50 crew. They will be 241 feet long, 56 feet wide, and feature the hybrid catamaran design that enables both shallow draft access and stable sailing along lakes, rivers, bays, and America’s coastline.

“Together with Chesapeake Shipbuilding, we built the first modern riverboats in the country,” Robertson said. “Now we are proud to introduce another new ship design for domestic exploration. American has specialized in small ship cruising for over 30 years and continuing to innovate and expand the possibilities for cruising close to home is central to our mission.”

Authorized d e A ler. Certified t e C hni C i A ns.

# The Trumpy Manatee’s engines in slings while being re-aligned with new and stronger engine mounts at Hartge Yacht Yard in Galesville, MD.

# An O’Neil 46 Deadrise is having her hull waxed and some other minor work done at Hartge Yacht Yard in Galesville, MD.

Work is progressing on a refit for a Fortier 27 New England Bass Boat at

The first two ships will debut along East Coast itineraries and will be named American Eagle and American Glory—namesakes of the company’s first two small U.S.-built ships.

Christian Cabral, Shipyard Manager at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St Michaels, MD, reports that CBMM is wrapping up railway season for its historic floating fleet with the vessels winterized and moved to their winter slips for safe keeping.

“The close of the internal mainte nance season means the shipyard can turn its attention to some out-of-town visitors in need of annual care and repair. First on the docket this fall is the Wm. B. Tennison, a nine-log bugeye conversion buyboat from partner organization Calvert Marine Museum. The balance of the CBMM floating fleet team, led by shipwright Alex Bell,

will turn their attention back to the 1912 river tugboat Delaware and begin with the installation of sawn frames, additional structural timbers, and planking. On the other side of the shipyard, the focus is on a trio of Chesapeake buyboats that will be worked on over the course of the next year under the direction of foreman Jeff Reid.

“First on the list is CBMM’s very own Winnie Estelle. In celebration of Winnie’s

Hartge Yacht Yard in Galesville, MD.

A difference of opinion during an engine installation at Marine Services in Edgewater, MD. Photo by Rick Franke

The river tug Delaware was sidelined during the push to complete the Dove, but now has high priority for restoration at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels MD. Photo by Rick Franke

Authorized d e A ler. Certified t e C hni C i A ns.

102nd year in commission, the shipyard is completing the refit of the 1920 buyboat’s structural timbers with particular focus on the vessel’s keel, dead wood, and chines. Simultaneously, construction has begun on a new 36-foot buyboat, a scaled adapta tion of the well-known 1928 Virginia-built Mundy Point. This new vessel is a complete keel up construction, the bulk of which will be performed inside CBMM’s primary

boatshop. Finally, the third project is the completion and outfit of the newly restored 70-foot buyboat, Choptank ex. Crow Broth ers II. Choptank is slated for an interior installation, a rig installation and USCG passenger carrying certification.

“The Chesapeake buyboat, the iconic workhorse of the Chesapeake region, his torically performed a dizzying number of commercial services, including an integral

role in the oyster fishery, cargo transpor tation, shellfish seeding, and lighthouse supply. As always, please come and visit CBMM’s shipyard and experience these iconic vessels and the unique opportunity to witness traditional boatbuilding in all its forms—construction, restoration, and refit.”

Enjoy the holidays, and we will see you next year. #

A pile of old outdrives awaiting disposal at Gunther Marine in Edgewater, MD. Photo by Rick Franke

The museum’s 102-year-old buyboat Win nie Estelle being craned out of the water for a refit of major structural members at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. Photo by George Sass

Cores waiting to be stripped and returned to the factory for rebuilding at Chesapeake Marine Engineering in Tracys Landing, MD. Photo by Rick Franke

F ISH Ne WS

By Lenny Rudow, FishTalk editor

Mayhem in Maryland

This fall brought a flurry of ac tion to the state record keep ers in Maryland with two monster catches shattering previous marks. Tad Bodmer of Poolsville, MD, was aboard the Top Dog when a 77-pound albacore tuna smashed a ballyhoo, leading to a 25-minute fight that ended with a new state record fish flopping on the deck. The tuna topped the old mark by three pounds, putting Bodmer into the record books.

Meanwhile on the RoShamBo, angler Jeff Jacobs was completing a day of fishing out of Ocean City, MD—or so he thought. While preparing to pack up and head home after eight hours of fishing, a hookup resulted with a fish on the line that “jumped out of the water and looked like a Volkswagen.”

It took him five and a half hours, but eventually Jacobs bested a 393-pound swordfish. That crushed the previous 301-pound record set just last summer during the Big Fish Classic. Our congratulations go out to Tad Bodmer, and Jeff Jacobs, both of whom certainly enjoyed epic days on the ocean this year.

Record Release

Tennessee may be a little out of our usual area of coverage—okay, a lot—but we just can’t help but report on a catch made there this fall which will blow an angler’s mind no matter where he or she does their fishing: Micka Burkhart caught and released a mammoth 118.7-pound blue catfish in the Cumberland River. The catch broke the standing 24-year-old record, which was also from the Cumberland River, by 6.7 pounds. After a 45-minute fight on 30-pound test (which included nearly get ting spooled) Burkhart managed to land the beast and fit the 54-inch catfish into his boat’s livewell. He waited almost four hours for a Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency official to locate a certified scale large enough to weigh the catch. After confirming the weight, he put the monster blue back in the livewell, went back to the river, and released the fish alive. Congrats, Micka!

# Jeff Jacobs claims a new state record for swordfish, besting the one set last year by almost 100 additional pounds.

Photo by Jeff Jacobs

Tournament News

Winter may be closing in, but that doesn’t mean the tournament calendar is over for the year. December 10 is the CCA Winter Classic, a catch-photo-release rockfish contest where the stringer of the three longest fish wins. There are prizes for Youth, Fly, and Top Lady Angler categories, as well.

We also remind everyone that the Winter Pickerel Championship is now underway and runs through February 28. There are a ton of ways to win or place in this one, which is also a C-P-R tournament platformed on the iAngler app, and it’s definitely not too late to join in the fun—the biggest pickerel of the year are often caught late in the game, so break out those gloves, hats, and hand-warmers and enjoy some red-hot winter fishing action. Visit ccamd.org to learn more about either event.

Cheaters Never Prosper

Just about any angler with access to the internet will have seen the videos by now—the “professional” angling team of Jake Runyan and Chase Cominsky was busted and berated after bringing abnormally heavy walleye to the scales this fall in the Lake Erie Walleye Tour in Cleveland, OH, with close to $30,000 in prize money on the line. Tournament direc tor Jason Fischer immediately realized something was amiss, sliced open the fish, and found a mix of walleye fillets and sinkers had been stuffed down their gullets. Ten lead weights, six fillet chunks, and a pair of pliers totaling over eight pounds were liberated from the walleye’s bellies as angered contestants and the silent culprits looked on.

Police were called to the scene to prevent any violence, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was provided with evidence of the crime. Cuyahoga County prosecutor Michael O’Mally released a statement shortly thereafter that the two anglers were being criminally indicted on felony charges of cheating, grand theft, and possessing criminal tools, and a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully owning wild animals. This same team was disqualified from the Fall Slam tournament last fall, after failing the post-win polygraph. We guess that some people just don’t learn—cheaters never prosper.

Fish For a Cure

Team FishTalk/PropTalk was once again proud to partici pate in and sponsor the Fish For a Cure tournament November 5. We exceeded our fundraising goal of $10,000, raising funds for cancer sur vivorship programs at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Cen ter’s (LH AAMC) Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. Thank you to everyone who made a donation and participated in our online silent fundraising auction.

Our team placed 11th in the Cap tain’s Challenge, raising $13,175. The top fundraisers were team Reel Coun sel, raising a whopping $141,533. We placed 12th in the catch and release rockfish division coming in at 75 inches (the longest of three fish), and we were just four inches away from third place. It was a close field! Con gratulations to the top competitors. Stay tuned to PropTalk’s January issue for the full results. For more informa tion, visit fishforacure.org.

# Eric Packard donated six original pieces of artwork and two fishing trips for the cause.

# Team FsihTalk/PropTalk

# Dillon Waters caught our team’s biggest rockfish: 27.5 inches.

# Kaylie Jasinski

# Zach Ditmars

# Lenny Rudow

Holiday Fishing Gift Ideas

By Eric Burnley

For those on your gift list that engage in fishing there are loads of things you can buy without taking out a second mortgage on the house. Of course, I have been asking Santa for a 73 Spencer for too many years to count. The last excuse I got was it won’t fit down the chimney. Fine, just leave it tied to the dock at Indian River Marina. I’ll find it.

The one thing saltwater fishermen always need are bottom rigs. This is especially true for those of us who go after sea bass, tog, or other creatures that dwell inside of wrecks or reefs. This type of structure eats up bottom rigs like a little kid eats candy so having a supply of rigs in your tackle bag is a good idea.

Speaking of tackle bags, this past June my beloved sister Debbie Hatfield gave me some money for my birthday, and I turned that into a beautiful and much needed tackle bag. The bag I chose is made by KastKing and is built to last. There are storage pockets everywhere and plenty of room for clear plastic tackle trays in the center of the bag. The straps are extra heavy and the material of the bag itself is not going to tear or wear out.

As an example, in my old bag I had to carry my Gulp! and FishBites in the same pocket. With the new bag, I can have a single pocket for each.

Tackle trays are great gifts that all fishermen can use. They come in a number of sizes to store everything from big plugs to tiny snaps and swivels.

Speaking of snaps and swivels, why not an assortment of these. Salt water will destroy cheap ones, so be sure to purchase only those made for this harsh environment. I only use black because bluefish and Spanish mackerel will bite off the nice shiny ones.

Jigs are another good gift for saltwater anglers. They can be used to catch

everything from bluefish to black sea bass. There are a couple of charter boats that claim to only use jigs and they come in with lots of sea bass and flounder. I personally have used jigs and found they catch the largest sea bass. Some of the more popular are made by Norman, Williamson, Captain Jay, Goture, Thkfish, and Fregito. All come in more colors than the rainbow and more sizes than lady’s dresses.

Smaller jigs such as bucktails and Stingsilvers also make good gifts. Something fairly new are tog jigs. These jigs lie flat on the bottom with the hook pointing up. The tog will grab the bait and take in the hook while the angler has a direct pull up on the jig. This is supposed to improve the hook set ratio. Tog are notorious bait stealers and these jigs are designed to put the odds back in favor of the angler.

All fishermen use fishing line. Monofilament is inexpensive and is often used for trolling while braided line is comparatively expensive and is used for bottom fishing. If you know what type of fishing the person who the gift is for does, that makes the choice easy. If not, just ask.

In the same category, you have leader material. Most anglers will use Fluorocarbon leaders because they are tough and invisible in the water.

A real nice gift would be a lightweight rain suit. Frogg Toggs makes one that retails for around $50. This includes a hooded jacket and pants. I have had a set of Frogg Toggs for many years. They do a good job of keeping me dry and warm. The dry part I expected, the warm part was a pleasant surprise.

All the items I have mentioned are available from local tackle shops. These stores deserve your business this holiday season.

Pick out a selection of bottom rigs or a nice tackle bag to store them in.

Books for Fishermen

By Eric Burnley

With winter upon us there will be time to sit back and read a good book about fishing even if we can’t go out and do some ourselves. To that end, I would like to recommend a few titles that I have found enjoyable.

My friend Jeff Waxman has written three books about his adventures on the water. “Fishing Well is the Best Re venge,” “More Fishing Well,” and “Tales of Fish, Boats, and the Sea.” Jeff has run boats from Oregon Inlet, NC, and Indian River Inlet, DE. He has also been a boat broker as well as a captain.

The books contain short stories about his various adventures while fishing for everything from flounder to marlin. He has an easy style that makes for good storytelling. One point of criticism: the

parts about the unnamed outdoor writer are not entirely accurate.

Unapologetic self-promotion: I have writ ten three books that, believe it or not, all have to do with fishing.

One that I didn’t pick the title for is, “Ultimate Guide to Striped Bass Fishing.” While I did spend a lot of time doing re search on striped bass fishing from Maine to Florida, I would never consider any book on fishing as the “ultimate.” Things in nature constantly change, but my book remains a good source of information for anyone interested in catching striped bass.

Believe it or not, my “Fishing Saltwater Baits” is the only book that covers that subject. My objective was to teach anglers

how to use and treat baits for everything from bloodworms to ballyhoo.

Although this is a magazine devoted to boating, I must mention my “Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast.” If you surf fish, buy this book.

My son Ric Burnley wrote “The Complete Kayak Fisherman” long before kayaks became so popular. He is currently the editor of Kayak Fishing Magazine and spends most of his free time in his kayak fishing the waters near Virginia Beach, VA.

All of the books are available at Ama zon. You can also get them at your local bookstore, if you have a local bookstore.

# A pair of Jeff Waxman’s books.

New Floating Docks

Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing Marina in Chestertown, MD, has begun the installa tion of new state-of-the-art floating docks. The new docks will replace two fixed docks adjacent to the popular Jellyfish Joel’s Beach Bar and will feature 104 floating slips that can accommodate yachts up to 60 feet in length. The marina’s new floating slips will also be able to accommodate wide multihulls. Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing has become a popular home port and service marina for large multihulls as a result of their wide, 75-ton Travelift, able to haul and launch vessels with beams up to 31 feet. Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing is a full-service marina with ABYC-certified technicians, 350 slips, fuel and pump-out services, The Landing Restaurant, 30-room inn with pool deck, fitness center, nine-hole executive golf course, and other amenities, and is a part of Safe Harbor Mari nas, the largest network of marinas with over 130 locations nationwide. shmarinas.com/ locations/safe-harbor-great-oak-landing

Accreditation Director

The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) has named Sarah Devlin as the new accreditation director to manage and promote the ABYC Foundation’s expanding Marine Trades Accreditation Program (MTAP), which launched earlier this year. Devlin will work directly with secondary and post-secondary schools across the country that are educating future marine technicians. “I am eager to get more involved in these initiatives for graduating techni cians to receive the guidance necessary to succeed in the marine industry,” Devlin said. “I look forward to connect ing with both schools and industry to ensure students are getting trained to the standards behind 90 percent of the boats built in North America.” Devlin, who has been ABYC’s content director since early 2021, formerly worked as communications director for The Landing School and education director for the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX). She will continue the work with teachers and school adminis trators that Margaret Podlich initiated as the foundation’s executive director. Accredita tion is available to all high school and post-secondary school marine service technology programs that deliver consistent and reliable instruction on industry-acknowledged topics and techniques. Practices, resources, and instructors must all meet ABYC Foundation Accreditation Commission standards. Visit teachboats.org to learn more.

New Product

Suzuki announces the DF350A/300B, the newest, biggest, most powerful en gine in the Suzuki lineup. Suzuki engi neers came up with a symbol to inspire the team in their work. In Japanese it’s called Geki, which translates to “part ing seas.” In other words, a force to match the power of nature and the sea. Suzuki started with a V6 engine with 4.4-liter displacement, which would be the largest displacement in the V6 category. Then they had to figure out how to get 80 horsepower per liter and still achieve their other goals. Su zuki’s 350-hp solution was to increase the compression ratio to 12.0:1, the highest compression ratio ever for a production outboard engine. In order to make this work without knocking (a typical problem at this ratio), they developed a dual injector system that mixes highly atomized fuel with cooler air to provide optimal conditions for complete and controlled combus tion. The new DF300B was designed for boats with 300/600/900/1200 maximum ratings. The combination of the Suzuki Dual Propeller System and the Suzuki 2-Stage Gear Reduction successfully produced better torque to power larger, heavier boats. Engi neered with a 10:5:1 compression ra tio, the DF300B can run on 87 octane fuel. Learn more at suzukimarine.com

Legasea Marine

A well-known name in boating throughout the Mid-Atlantic and far beyond has announced their purchase of Dare Marina. Chris Hall Jr. and his wife Jennifer have formed Legasea Marine, a premier yacht sales, service, and marina enterprise. Situated in the historic river community of Yorktown, VA, the Dare Marina property has been serving boaters for over three decades. “We would like to thank the former owners of Dare Marina—Cason Barco, Hugh Delauney, and Pat Milmo—for their kindness and help in making our dreams a reality,” reflects Chris. A lifelong Hampton Roads resident, Chris not only has deep ties to the local boating community, but he also brings well-established relationships with most national and local marine vendors and manufacturers. Jennifer was raised in Newport News and enjoyed a successful 24-year career working for the Department of the Navy in Information Technology Acquisi tion and Business Systems. Jennifer is excited to bring her leadership and proficiency prowess to work collaboratively with her husband, team members, and customers to ensure Legasea Marine experiences are on time, on budget and, most of all, enjoyable. Long-standing customers and transient boaters who have made Dare Marina one of their favorite stops will enjoy seeing familiar faces on the crew while benefitting from new management and ownership. legaseamarine.com

# Chris and Jennifer Hall

BROKER

BOATs4HEROEs.ORg

Donate Your Boat, Planet Hope is a local 501(c)(3). Teaching youth from DC, Maryland and Virginia to sail for over 15 years. 800.518.2816 www.planet-hope.org

BROKER SERVICES

Yacht Brokers of Annapolis A native of the Annapolis area, Matthew Sansbury has always had a love for being on the water. Prior to opening Yacht Brokers of Annapolis, Matt worked as a marine service technician as well as a commercial electrician. His passion for boating and his technical expertise make him a trusted resource for both buying and selling quality yachts. Phone: 410.206.2755 Email: Matt@YachtBrokersofAnnapolis.com

S&J Yachts Full-service yacht brokerage. 5 offices, 10 locations from Maine to Florida. 23 full-time, experienced brokers to promote your boat & get her sold. S&J Yachts has established an outstanding reputation for integrity and service! We work to meet the goals of each of our clients by taking time to get to know what they want. Our wide reach helps find top buyers. Whether buying or selling, our services are professional and effective! Dealers for Makai Catamarans 37’-45’ and Bavaria Sail & Power 30’-55’. Ask us about free storage for brokerage listings! 410.639.2777 info@sjyachts.com www.sjyachts.com

Composite Yacht Sales Offering personalized service from Capt. Rob Hardy, who is a Chesapeake Bay native and spent his entire life in the maritime industry, with a focus on boat building, service and repair. Backed by the knowledge and experience of Composite Yacht, you are ensured thoughtful and thorough representation for both Buyer and Seller. Contact CYS now to learn how we can help you: 410.476.4414 or rob@compositeyacht.biz

Yacht View Brokerage, LLC announces our new 8% commission, which may include complimentary Annapolis dockage (for yachts above 100K and up to 80’ in length) and 10% co-brokerage listing commission! We will successfully market your yacht from her current East Coast location or arrange delivery to our secure dockage for yachts from 30’-80’ (Power/Sail). Located 20 minutes from BWI airport, our listings are easily inspected and demonstrated to prospective buyers. Targeted print advertising & Yachtworld.com MLS internet exposure with wide angle/high resolution photos and video. 30 yrs proven customer service! Call/text Capt. John Kaiser, Jr. @ 443.223.7864. Email your yacht’s details for a full market appraisal to: john@yachtview.com www.yachtview.com

YaZu Yachting With a career in construction equipment rental and sales, thirty plus years boating on the Chesapeake Bay, and a twenty-year Gwynns Island resident, Bob Hoefer has taken his sales talents to the water with a new career at YaZu Yachting. “Understanding the importance of relationship building in any sales arena, I am eager to meet and get to know new people. Whether in the acquisition of their new boat or the sale of their current boat, it all starts with a relationship.” 804.241.8924 bob@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

Yacht Brokers of Annapolis From cruising the Potomac River in his powerboat to racing sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay, Drake Bowers loves all aspects of boating. A native of Northern Virginia, he recently graduated from The College of Charleston, where he continued to enjoy life on the water. After returning home, Drake joined the YBOA team working to help clients realize their own boating dreams. Phone: 703.869.8162 Email: Drake@YachtBrokersofAnnapolis.com

Brokerage & Classified

21’ Sea Ray 210 ‘18 Late model, current Sea Ray offering - well below replacement (Over 75k today) - Lots of options, black hull, tan interior, ready for boating NOW! Asking $54,500 Call Rob Summers 443.771.4467 or www.seattleyachts.com

2016 Robalo R222 Center Console UPGRADED Yamaha V-Max 250, Only 45 hours, GPS, Trailer in Nice Condition. $56,500 Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

24’ Port Carling Seabird 24 ‘37

Classic boat, professionally maintained. Lift/Shed stored and trailer/indoors out of season. 454Fresh everything. This boat is a LOOKER! Call Rob Summers 443.771.4467 or www.seattleyachts.com

26’ Pacemaker FB ‘86 New 350Hp Merc, Very Nice. $24,900 Upper Chesapeake Yacht Sales 610.299.3598 www.UpperChesapeakeYachtSales.com

23’ Boston Whaler Vantage ‘16 New to the market and super low hours, this Whaler Vantage 230 is the perfect family and fishing boat for the bay and beyond. Fresh full detail, wax and oil change. Asking $112,000 Call Jeff Nicklason for details; 410.353.7423 or email jnicklason@annapolisyachtsales.com www.annapolisyachtsales.com

2003 Chaparral 246 SSi LIFT Kept, Low Hours. ONLY $41,900 Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

2011 Chaparral 246 SSi Volvo 300Hp V-8, LOW Hours, GPS, LIFT KEPT, One Owner. $42,500 Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

Cutwater Boats C-24 DC 2021 $149,987 She boasts a very beautiful, comfortable, and useful set of options. Lovingly cared for by her first owner and a change in plans makes her available at a significantly lower price. Call John Osborne at 410.490.6250 or john@pocket-yacht.com www.pocketyachtco.com

(Dream Catcher) 27’ Rinker ‘05 $34,900 Wayne Smith 516.445.1932 wayne@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

27’ Rinker EX Express ‘18 Low hours, great for family and entertaining, well taken care of. Asking $114,999 Call Jeff Nicklason for details; 410.353.7423 or email jnicklason@annapolisyachtsales.com www.annapolisyachtsales.com

24’ Everglades 243CC ‘17 New Listing! Well-constructed & maintained mid-sized center-console with variety of applications, options, safety features/equipment. Fish, cruise, water sport or trailer. She is a beautiful Sea Foam Green and her owners have kept her shrink wrapped. $112,000 S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

Ranger Tug R-25 2021 $189,937

Ranger Gray “like new” Ranger 25. Many extras include; EVA foam decking with Ranger logo, FusionMS BB100 Black box radio that displays on Nav screen, Balmar Battery monitor, and much more. Call John Osborne at 410.490.6250 or john@pocket-yacht.com www.pocketyachtco.com

26’ Bluefin Custom Sportfish CC ‘07 S Diesel, tower, Mint Cond. $59,900 Upper Chesapeake Yacht Sales 610.299.3598 www.UpperChesapeakeYachtSales.com

27’ Cherubini ‘13 $195,000 Jack Kelly 609.517.2822 jack@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

28’ Boston Whaler Conquest

2022 PropTalk.com

26’ Hacker-Craft Triple Cockpit Hull no “7” recently restored by the manufacturer, and a true head-turner. $76,900 Call Matt Weimer for details; 410.212.2628 or email matt@annapolisyachtsales.com www.annapolisyachtsales.com

27’ GRAND G850 L ‘21 One owner, lift kept, low hours, enclosed head. This is the ultimate RIB and provides comfort, speed and safety. 12V fridge, freshwater shower & amp; cockpit sink, extended platforms and extra storage lockers. A real sexy boat with a 350Hp Suzuki! Inquire today and grab a deal on a fully warrantied vessel! $120,000 make an offer! Call Charles Herbert for details and demo; 443.995.4800 or cherbert@annapolisyachtsales.com www.annapolisyachtsales.com

27’ Nimbus T8 ‘22 Hull # 185 - Walk Around Dayboat w/ Euro Modern Styling. Single 250Hp Marc, Bow Thruster and more.. Swedish design and quality build. Call Seattle Yachts 410.397.7323 or www.seattleyachts.com

‘99 Great angler boat. 30-gallon livewell (complete with raw-water wash-down and internal light); two insole fish boxes, built-in tackle drawers, cockpit shower, self-bailing design, non-skid interior, and more! $89,009 S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com Albin 28 TE ‘98 Well equipped, toprated hardtop cruiser w/reputation for rugged construction & excellent sea tracking abilities. Powered by single Beast - Peninsular Diesel w/Garmin Electronics, a Si-Tex bottom finder, vhf radio, mini galley, head & shower, sleeps 4 comfortably. $72,000 S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com (Spirit)

30’ ocean Sport 30 ‘23 Brand New Arrival, hull #123 of this offshore fishing designed hull. Offshore capable - Twin 350 Mercury outboards. Quality build, fish or cruise! Ready to sea trial! Call Seattle Yachts 410.397.7323 or www.seattleyachts.com

33’ Sea Ray 330 Sundancer ‘12 Axius and Joystick, upgraded Mag 377 Mercruisers, lightly used and in great condition. $153,500 Call Matt Weimer for details; 410.212.2628 or email matt@annapolisyachtsales.com www.annapolisyachtsales.com

33’ Sea Ray Sundancer ‘92 T5.7 V Drives, Gen, AC. $25,900 Upper Chesapeake Yacht Sales 610.299.3598 www.UpperChesapeakeYachtSales.com

36’ IP Packet Craft Express 360 Downeast look. Luxurious interior w/ centerline forward. Outstanding seakeeping ability. Attention to safety & comfort. Twin Yanmar dsls. $239,900 S&J Yachts 410.571.3605 www.sjyachts.com

39’ Legacy 12 ‘23 Spring Delivery, brand new model - Twin Outboard 350s, Air Con, Genset, Thrusters, Loaded and ready for cruising 2023 season! Call Seattle Yachts 410.397.7323 or www.seattleyachts.com

Cutwater Boats C-32CB 2021 $349,987 This is a GREAT opportunity to own this 32 Command Bridge Cutwater like new with only 50 Hours on the Yamahas. The boat is Very clean and ready to cruise. Call John Osborne at 410.490.6250 or john@pocket-yacht.com www.pocketyachtco.com

33’-55’ Bavaria New and Brokerage Boats Thinking of selling your Bavaria? Talk to S&J Yachts! As East Coast dealers, we talk to many customers looking for a Bavaria. Contact S&J now to sell your boat or talk to us about a new boat! S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

37’ Makai Power Catamaran New Boat Available for 2023 Delivery! Exhilarating Performance. Breathtaking looks. Unprecedented driving experience. Remarkable space & comfort w/ 2 large cabins. Call now for more details. S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

39’

34’ Mainship 34 Trawler ‘80 Fly Bridge Trawler Model. Perkins 160Hp Engine. Cruising or live aboard on a budget! PRICE REDUCED $43,000 Call Rob Summers 443.771.4467 or www.seattleyachts.com

37’ Pursuit 3370 Express ‘06 Wonderful fishing and entertaining boat, well taken care of. Asking $150,000 Call Brenden Tillman for details; 410.941.4849 or btillman@annapolisyachtsales.com www.annapolisyachtsales.com

34’ Nordic Tug 34 ‘14 Beautifully equipped and maintained. One owner, shed kept, shows like a 3-year-old! Cruise ready - low hours, Perfect Looper! Asking $375,000 Call Dan Bacot 703.813.0460 or www.seattleyachts.com

(Lady Lookout) 2004 39’ Silverton 39 Motor Yacht Extremely clean boat, 2 cabin 2 head, galley up, low hour 370Hp Volvo diesels, generator, fully enclosed flybridge and sundeck! Urbanna, VA. Call Bob Hoefer 804.241.8924 or bob@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

2022 Contender 39FA LOADED! Triple 300 Yamaha’s. NOW $719,000 Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

40’ Menorquin 120 ‘04 Solid constructions. Semi-displacement trawler designed for comfortable cruising. Excellent LOOP boat! Twin VOLVO 285hp Diesel Direct Drives. Raymarine Instruments - Lithium Battery Bank. Asking $270,000 Call Rob Summers 443.771.4467 or www.seattleyachts.com

(Sea Cloud) 41’ Mainship ‘90 $54,900 Jason Hinsch 410.507.1259 jason@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

40’ Nimbus T11 ‘23 New Arrival - T11 #167 - Twin 300 Mercs. Joystick, Thruster, Open day boat layout with yacht construction quality. 2 Cabins and enclosed head. $455,000 Well equipped! Call Seattle Yachts 410.397.7323 or www.seattleyachts.com

2022

Winner! Lightly Used. Owners moving up to larger yacht. Upgraded Twin 380Hp Volvo Penta’s. Large retractable GRP sunroof. Spacious cockpit w/wet bar. Convertible aft table/sunbed. Large bathing platform. Sun pad fwd. Spacious interior w/galley, 2 large cabins, 2 heads. $720,000 S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

43’ Tiara 4300 Sovern ‘09 High quality workmanship and performance & hard to find. Meticulously maintained w/ all service records are available to a serious buyer. IPS-600 Volvo, Joystick controls make her a joy for shorthanded yachtsman. Inquire for price. S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com 2022 Contender 44ST Tower w/ Triple 425 Yamaha, Dealer demo. SeaKeeper, Excellent Electronics, MAJOR Price Drop to $849,000 Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

52’ Monte Carlo 52 ‘20 Rare & nearly new. Fully loaded, ready-to-cruise, engine has fewer than 100 hours. Attractive options: upgrade to the IPS 650 propulsion, SeaKeeper stabilizer, joystick controls, transom windlass, hydraulic bathing platform, and two galleys on deck. $1,300,000 S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

40’ Nordic Tug ‘23 New Build - Just starting production - opportunity to tweak specs. Cummins Engine & Genset specs. Air, Thrusters and more! Call Seattle Yachts for more info at 410.397.7323 or www.seattleyachts.com

(Stars & Stripes) 1984 42’ Grand Banks 42 Classic, mechanically sound and ready to cruise, 2 cabin 2 head, galley up, twin Leyland 200Hp diesels, Onan 8KW generator, newer electronics. Lancaster, VA. $99,950 Call Bob Hoefer 804-241-8924 or bob@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

47’ Monte Carlo ‘11 NEW LISTING Luxurious, Performance Top of the line Power Cruiser. Twin Volvo Penta Turbo IPS 600 Diesels 435Hp. Electric dinghy garage. Beautifully appointed salon and staterooms. Numerous areas indoors and out for gracious entertaining. Table converts to a lg sunbed. Contact S&J Yachts for more details 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

(Cygnus) 56’ Jakobson & Peterson ‘30 $195,500 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Fuels

804-241-8924 or bob@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

43’ Post Sportfish ‘84 Classic S/F Lines - Twin 450 Hp Detroit Diesels - 994 Hours. Westerbeke Genset, Air, etc. Well-maintained and ready to fish / cruise. Call Rob Summers 443.771.4467 or www.seattleyachts.com

(Pokie Hokie) 2006 Seahorse 52 Pilot House Trawler One owner. Twin John Deere 135Hp Diesel Engines - 2500 hours on each. 2 stateroom, 2 head. All systems serviced, full of fuel and ready to cruise! $469,000 Burgess, VA. Call Bob Hoefer 804.241.8924 or bob@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

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Read boat reviews and find more used boats online at proptalk.com

2022 PropTalk.com

Rush In) 2004 Silverton 410 Sport Bridge Two Owner, Twin Low Hour Cummins 450Hp Diesel Engines, Two Stateroom, Head with Sink and Vanity in Separate Room than Shower Stall, Complete Electronics Refit 2020, New Purasan Hold-N-Treat System 2022. $189,950 Urbanna, VA. Call Bob Hoefer

Bavaria SR41 Coupe Award

FINANCE

H ELP WANTED

S&J Yachts Looking for an experienced Full-time Yacht Broker. Great opportunity to work with a large, professional company - 5 offices from the mid-Atlantic to Florida. S&J Yachts are Dealers for: Bavaria Yachts Sail & Power and Makai Power Catamarans, specializing in quality Brokerage yachts. Boating experience and team player a must! Friendly, professional working environment. Inquiries confidential. Contact Jack at 410.971.1071 or info@ sjyachts.com www.sjyachts.com

Yacht Sales - Curtis Stokes and Associates, Inc. is hiring new salespeople for our Chesapeake area operation. Candidates must be honest, ethical and have boating experience. This is a commission only position. Contact Curtis Stokes at 410.919.4900 or curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

INSURANCE M ARINE ENGINES

H ELP WANTED

Are you on a search for a full-time sales position that requires you to get out and enjoy the water, where all your co-workers are super cool, and where flip-flops and shorts are considered business casual? SpinSheet, PropTalk, FishTalk, Start Sailing Now, and PortBook magazines are in growth mode, and we are looking for that special advertising sales rep who understands the marine industry and knows how to work and play hard. If you think you will excel in creating sales and marketing solutions for advertisers, then we would love to chat with you. Send your resume, a description of your boating experience and interests, and a cover letter telling us why you’d be a great fit for our team today! info@spinsheet.com

TWo P/T Delivery Drivers Wanted for three-day-amonth magazine distribution route in Baltimore City and Annapolis (one per area). Compensation based upon quantity of stops. Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing, reliable vehicle, and be able to lift up to 25 lbs. Contact Beatrice at 410.216.9309 or beatrice@spf-360.com

M ARINE S ERVICES

30’-50’ Deepwater Slips for Sale & Rent Flag Harbor

Condo Marina on western shore of Chesapeake in St. Leonard, MD. Slip sales & rentals 410.586.0070/ fhca@flagharbor.com Storage & Repairs 410.586.1915/ flagboatyard@gmail.com www.flagharbor.com

For Rent or Sale: Magothy River Boat Slip Boat slip for sale or rent in beautiful condo marina in Severna Park on Magothy River. Gated, pool, complete bathroom, laundry facilities, fuel dock. 26’ x 12’ deep water. Call Holly 301.325.7247

S URVEY o RS

Giving Thanks for the Bountiful Chesapeake Bay

As this issue of PropTalk hits the docks, Thanksgiving Day will be a mere 10 days off on the horizon. While we always try to be grateful for our blessings, on Thanksgiving Day and the following day, Blue Friday (see page 20), Team PropTalk will take a special pause to spend time with friends and family, give thanks, and enjoy the unique rejuvenating effect of spending time on or near the water. If your crew is celebrating Thanksgiving aboard, send us your best photos of galley cooking and dining aboard. Drop us a line at editor@proptalk.com

This year, PropTalk staffers give thanks for these Chesapeake blessings.

Kaylie: I’m thankful for my dog, Bodhi, who loves to go paddleboarding and canoeing (we’ll have to try surfing next to see if he lives up to his namesake) and for spontaneous fishing trips with coworkers (Smith Island and Kiptopeke especially!).

Mary: I am thankful for my awesome coworkers at SpinSheet, PropTalk and FishTalk, and the boating community we are so fortunate to serve. I am thankful for all the clubs that get us out fishing, paddling, racing, and messing about in boats on the Chesapeake. Life is Better on the Bay.

Beatrice: I am grateful for my family and our tradition of camping on Assateague Island National Seashore during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Molly: I’m grateful for spontaneous sunset cruises with my besties on their powerboat Big Red on Lake Ogleton.

Lenny: I am thankful for my new boat!

Beth: I am thankful for dogs that frolic and swim in the Bay and crab feasts with my family.

Chris: I am thankful for the sounds of the Bay in the morning. One long, three short blasts from Annapolis Harbor, the bugle, and National Anthem from USNA Morning Colors, and the hum of engines from watermen picking up crab pots.

Eric: I am thankful to be able to work at SpinSheet Publishing, such an awesome group of professionals.

Lucy: I’m thankful for the view of the Severn River from my house, the boats gliding up and down it, and the eagles, ospreys, blue herons, sea gulls, and black vultures flying above.

Royal: I am thankful for the time I’ve spent fishing with my friends, family, and co-workers. I am also thankful for completing my safe boating course online.

Kelsey: I’m grateful for sailing, peak farmer’s market season, and a new phase of life after graduating from college.

Zach: Thankful to have a cool job working in the marine industry that enables me to share my love for the Chesapeake Bay... and other people’s fishing boats!

Solara Boats S-310 CW Walkaround

Lenny Rudow steps aboard the brand-new Solara S-310 CW. This unique boat design is loaded with standard features and combines the styling of both a center console and a walkaround.

Tiara Yachts 48 LS

A luxury yacht like this that is equipped with ample seating, an enclosed helm, full galley, stand up head compartment, and two cabins is sure to keep your family and friends comfortable on all of your boating adventures.