PropTalk Magazine February 2023

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…

EVERYTHING IS BETTER ON THE WATER

Flip to page 18

18

Five Smart Tips for Wintry Boats and Piers

For boaters who are on the water (or even near it) all winter, we’ve compiled a few coldweather safety reminders. 30

Boat Notes: Bayliner T24CX

The T24CX offers up a family-friendlier design in the largest model of the Trophy lineup.

By Lenny Rudow

32

Guide to the Chesapeake Bay Boat Show

All the details you need to have a fun and successful show, including helpful boat-buying tips.

By Staff

See the Bay: A Chesapeake Bay Loop Full of crabs, cocktails, and… tornados?

By Sue Redmond

The Journey to Our New Boat

The right boat for some people isn’t necessarily the right boat for you. Finding one that fits your needs is both a journey and a destination.

By G. Steven

Martin 67 Word Search Can you spot the hidden words?

Editor Beth Crabtree took this month’s cover photo near the PropTalk headquarters in Eastport.

for winter safety tips for navigating snowy docks and piers.

# Photo courtesy of Bayliner

Coming in March PropTalk

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 M. Roderick , beatrice@proptalk.com

ART DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER Zach Ditmars, zach@proptalk.com

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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 Bay. Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute PropTalk should contact the PropTalk office at (410) 216-9309 or beatrice@proptalk.com.

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What Kind of Boat Are You?

I’ve seen a lot of jokes recently about how the week between Christmas and New Years is one of the weirdest weeks of the year. A week where many people get to be blissfully lazy and just disconnect, spending their time ensconced with friends and family in a cozy atmosphere until the Christmas tree comes down and the real world inevitably sucks them back in.

I spent much of my week in a similar state, filling my days with books and movies. And there was a line in one movie in particular that stuck out to me. In the 1998 hit “You’ve Got Mail,” Tom Hanks’s character Joe Fox says the below quote about coffee orders while in correspondence to Meg Ryan:

“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decisionmaking ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don’t know what the hell they’re doing, or who on earth they are can—for only $2.95—get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.”

Okay, so what does this have to do with boats? It got me thinking about how a boat is such an incredibly defining characteristic, so much more so than a coffee order. So, what kind of boat are you?

Center console with triple outboards? You are a hard-core fishing machine. You want to zip out to the offshore grounds fast, and while your boat has no shortage of creature comforts (cushy seats, a head…), you have no qualms about sling-

By Kaylie Jasinski

ing bloody fish over the gunwale. In fact, the more the better!

Bowrider? You’re a dock bar hopping, water toy pulling boater who wants to have fun on the water. You enjoy pulling the kids on a tube, heading to a waterfront restaurant at sunset, and soaking up those summer days on the Bay.

Trawler: You’re a hard-core cruiser. Perhaps you used to be a sailor… (it’s true, when many sailors make the move to powerboats, it’s often trawlers they gravitate toward for their larger accommodations and slower pace). You’ve either cruised down the ICW or Great Loop, or you have plans to. We’ll bet you even keep your boat in the water year-round.

Classic wooden boat: The argument could be made that no individual is more dedicated to their boat than the owner of a classic wooden vessel. But then again, you have to be in order to own one. All that wood requires a lot of upkeep. These are the real history aficionados who enjoy trailering their boat to classic boat shows around the Bay (and even the country) and love nothing more than discussing their pride and joy with fellow classic boat lovers. The next time you attend a classic boat show, make sure to chat up the owners—they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, and you will learn a lot.

PWC: You crave speed. We’d wager you also have a motorcycle, or wish you did. You want to zip across the waves with the wind in your ears and the spray in your face. You enjoy after-work spins to let off steam and maybe you even pull a tube on the weekend. You like the

maneuverability and flexibility of a smaller watercraft that can live on a trailer in your driveway or a lift on your pier without taking up too much space.

SUP: Similar to a PWC, you enjoy having a smaller watercraft that doesn’t take up too much space, can be strapped to the roof of your car, and can be enjoyed for both long weekend paddles and short after-work jaunts when you just want to get out on the water quickly. We’d wager you chose a SUP for the health benefits. Perhaps you’re a yogi, too.

There are so many more types of watercrafts to choose from, but these are a few that the movie got me thinking about. Choosing a boat is a big decision. Maybe it doesn’t completely define your sense of self, but it should complement you—your likes and dislikes, the type of boating you intend to do. So, with that in mind, make sure to take the decision-making process seriously if you’re in the market. Winter is a great time to do research and attend boat shows. Speaking of which, you won’t want to miss the Chesapeake Bay Boat Show January 20-22. This is a great opportunity to board a variety of boat models and talk to dealers—take notes, ask questions, and try to have fun, too. Find our full guide to the show on page 32, along with a section on boat-buying tips.

When all is said and done and you have that new boat in your driveway, you should be able to say with confidence, not tall, decaf, cappuccino but: center console, twin outboards, deep-V. And know you made the right decision.

Photo of the Year

Joe Borrison shares his favorite photo of 2022, heading from Ocean City out to Poor Man’s Canyon in early August.

Kaylie, I loved your editor’s note in the new issue! Knowing how awesome each person on the SPF team is makes it so much better. Everyone works so hard and puts out a fantastic product each and every month. I am glad you were able to highlight every person on the team because I know every person is pivotal in the well-oiled machine that is SPF.

~Lauren Mahoney

January Double Take

Congratulations to Tom Surles, the winner of our January Double Take!

Meet Louie

Jay Eichberg shares this photo of his dog, Louie. Jay says, “I love PropTalk, I love our Sabre 36, and most of all I love this good boy, Louie, and his boat dog sister Rosie. Lou and Rosie love cruising from our home port of Shady Oaks on the West River.”

Meet Cruz

Cruz is a one-year-old golden doodle. Owners Frank and Kayla Kopeski say, “His favorite thing is summer days on the boat and fishing for the big one. His theme song is ‘Summer Breeze.’ If you see us out, wave hi to our Captain Cruz!”

Want to see your boat dog featured in PropTalk? Email one to three photos and a short description to kaylie@proptalk.com.

Five Smart Tips for Wintry Boats and Piers

For boaters who are on the water (or even near it) all winter, we’ve compiled a few cold-weather safety reminders. I know you’re not planning to slip, or lose your balance, or fall in the water, or have engine trouble. But… it’s just that none of us ever plan on that stuff happening. During the summer such mishaps might simply be irritating, but in the cold a similar accident can be deadly.

1. Use caution on slippery docks and decks.

Docks don’t have to be covered in ice and snow to be slippery. A nearly invisible layer of frost is all it takes. Before you leave home, consider your footwear. You’ll want boots with good traction. Don your lifejacket before stepping onto the pier, and for gosh sakes, before you step from pier to boat.

2. Where’s the ladder?

Whether at a marina or private residence, any pier should have a ladder into the water for year-round safety in case someone falls off the dock. Have you taken notice of it recently?

What condition is that ladder in? Is it stuck in the “up” position? Covered in barnacles? Close to your boat? Sure, in the summer you could swim to it, but during the winter if you become submerged in cold water, its effects will make swimming nearly impossible. Make sure a ladder is close to your boat.

3.

Enemy number one: cold water

This is where the real danger lies. Cold water is never to be taken lightly because its effects will be immediate, starting with the shock factor that causes gasping, even underwater. Submersed in really cold water, your window of opportunity to keep your wits and maintain some semblance of coordination may be extremely small. Expect to be swiftly limited in your ability to tread water or swim. See “keep dock ladder close” above.

4.

File a float plan

Even experienced sailors and boaters sometimes wonder, “what exactly is a

float plan?” At minimum you want to send a text or leave a message or note with your destination, planned route, and expected timing. A description of your vessel and the number of people onboard is also important. You can find a very thorough fill-in-the-blank float plan form at floatplancentral.cgaux.org

5. Provision differently

In the heat of summer we’re concerned about sun protection and dehydration. In the winter you’ll want items to keep you and your crew warm and dry. In addition, it’s smart to stow emergency supplies in case the worst happens— someone falls in the cold water (see “enemy number one” above). Warm drinks, hand and foot warmers, good hats, water-resistant outer layers, and gloves are all key. Keep a VHF radio close at hand to hail help, and stow below a dry change of clothes, socks, blankets, and an extra coat and hat.

Find more cold-water safety tips at boatus.org

# Photo by David Ostwind

PropTalk Announces the Volunteer of the Year 2022

Following a reader nomination period over the fall, the PropTalk staff voted Craig Ligibel as its volunteer of the year 2022 for his “Hands Across the Transom” effort at the U.S. Powerboat and Sailboat Shows to raise funds for hurricane relief following the devastation wrought by Ian.

“I am humbled by the honor,” says Ligibel, who is a regular contributor to PropTalk and SpinSheet as well as an active boater and volunteer in our waterfront community.

“I used to live a half mile from where Ian made landfall. I know the waters and the people. Pictures of the devastation can’t begin to convey the feeling of utter hopelessness after a hurricane takes everything you have. Many thanks to the thousands of boat show attendees who dug deep to donate to Hurricane Ian relief.”

Not only was the fundraiser Ligibel’s idea, but he led the charge in collecting funds at the show gates.

“It was hard work greeting thousands of attendees with my pitch,” he says. “Most people stopped to listen. Many gave generously. Raising $60,000 in 10 days with a very narrow window of preparation was a minor miracle. Our partner charities raised that much and more. I was very satisfied with the campaign. A lot of people helped me along the way.”

He thanks the Annapolis Boat Shows for their help and says, “This marks the second time I have enlisted hurricane relief from boat show attendees. Each time, they have answered the call and made a difference by bringing hope to thousands.”

Nominations Wanted!

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission are seeking nominations for the annual Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award, a celebration of conservation, education, and sportsmanship. This prestigious honor recognizes an individual who has provided sustained efforts in habitat management, conservation, education, research, or other meaningful contributions that benefit fish and recreational fishing in Maryland.

Nominations for the Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award are being accepted now through January 31. Recipients will receive a proclamation signed by the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and the chair of the Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission.

Nominations can be made by completing an online form (available at news.maryland.gov/dnr) which includes submitting a detailed essay describing the nominee’s contributions to Maryland recreational fisheries. More information is available by contacting Paul Genovese at paul.genovese@maryland.gov or (443) 534-3627.

What drives Ligibel’s volunteerism?

“Giving back is part of my DNA,” he says. “I’m always looking for ways to multiply my creative instincts by energizing others… My reward paid out many times over by the outpouring of thanks from the people we helped.”

As words of encouragement for boaters seeking to find meaningful volunteer work, Ligibel says, “Anybody contemplating an effort like this needs a worthy cause and a great team.”

# Nominations wanted for the Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award! (Keith Carew helped catch and release a few fish this past fall for CCA MD’s new Tag Chesapeake striped bass study.)

# PropTalk Volunteer of the Year 2022, Craig Ligibel, with PropTalk publisher and Annapolis Boat Shows president, Mary Ewenson.

New “Glowline” Opens on the Elizabeth River Trail

The Elizabeth River Trail (ERT) is a 10.5-mile walking, running, and biking trail that runs through downtown Norfolk, VA, and is accessible from the Waterside District. The full trail takes you through historic neighborhoods and past local attractions including the Battleship Wisconsin, Nauticus, the Pagoda, the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Hermitage Museum and Gardens, and others. As of this past fall, it also includes the Glowline, an approximately 800-foot-long section of the trail that runs through Jeff Robertson Park in the West Ghent neighborhood.

The Glowline is made of lightsensitive aggregate stones embedded into the freshly poured concrete path. During the day, the stones absorb sunlight. After dark, they glow a vivid green and blue, revealing a pattern inspired by the fiddlehead ferns at the nearby bird sanctuary. The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and enhancing the ERT for the betterment of the community, reported that this section of the trail needed to be better lit to improve safety. However, they wanted a project that was more creative than regular streetlights, and that wouldn’t spill over into the neighboring sanctuary and affect the ecosystem with excess light pollution.

After much consideration, they settled on the glowing stones, which are nearly invisible during the day, can charge fully with only 10 minutes of sunlight, glow for up to 15 hours on a full charge, and are expected to last for at least 20 years. The foundation and its corporate sponsors hope that this new addition will further their mission to create “an inclusive and resilient urban riverfront,” and so far reviews from trail users have been highly complimentary.

The next time you’re passing through Norfolk, check out the Glowline on the Elizabeth River Trail—it’s a great way to get out into nature, explore the city, and see a brand new one-of-a-kind local attraction.

# The Glowline on the Elizabeth River Trail. Photo by Keith Lanpher

Boaters Reach Their 100-Day Goals

How many days did you log on the water last year? More than 100 boaters in Chesapeake country logged 100 on-water days in 2022 to qualify for the Century Club. It’s true that many of them were sailors, but there were a bunch who were powerboaters, anglers, and paddlers, too. Below you’ll find some snippets about our members’ journeys in their words. Find out more about our club and how you can join the fun in 2023 at spinsheet.com/century-club

Becky and Doug Firth: 203 Days

Encouraged by their daughter Casey, who is a Century Club member, this is the first year that Becky and Doug Firth rose to the challenge!

Do you have three top days that stand out in memory?

Every day is amazing. Top experiences included traveling on the Atlantic ICW from Norfolk to Jupiter, FL on our Wilbur 34; crossing Lake Okeechobee and traversing the six locks and exploring the west coast of Florida. Top finds on the west coast: Cayo Costa (anchorage, beach and walking trails), Cabbage Key (Hamburger in Paradise), Ding Darling (anchorage), Boca Grande (beach, walking, restaurants), and Fishermen’s Village (best showers, laundry, docktails with fellow travelers). We enjoy the lifestyle—meeting boaters from all over the world who live and travel on their boats.

Favorite wildlife sightings? We love dolphins, manatees, pelicans, and egrets.

What are the rewards of logging your days for the club?

I keep a daily journal which helps us process all that we see and experience and helps us keep track of where we were and when we were there.

What would you recommend to an aspiring Century Club member?

Life is definitely better on a boat, no matter what kind of boat. It doesn’t matter if it is a dinghy, kayak, sail/ power, or 10 feet or 80 feet long. Life is just simply better on a boat. Find your boat and get out on it.

# The Firths have found that life is better on a boat, no matter what kind of boat. The couple’s Wilbur 34 is pictured here.

Mike and Sue Pitchford: 151 Days

This is my third year posting my days as part of the Century Club Challenge. I started logging my days as I retired from my day job as a not-for-profit CEO in January 2020.

Three days that stand out in memory for 2022.

1. Passing Lady Liberty aboard our Back Cove 42 (and slowing for a photo op) in New York Harbor. It never gets old. 2. The first day out of Myrtle Beach, headed to Wilmington, on the new-to-us boat. The smile would not leave my face. 3. Crossing into Florida on the way south on the ICW a couple of months ago. This crossing was like an exclamation point, punctuating our decision to sell the condo and buy a bigger boat to cruise more and live on in Florida in the winter.

Favorite wildlife sightings?

Humpback whales off Barnegat Light, dolphins along the ICW, and colorful birds of all kinds along the Florida ICW.

What do you get out of the Century Club?

The rewards of logging your days are a combination of personal satisfaction and fond remembrance. When I finish a boat trip or maybe just a boat project, there is a certain satisfaction. Logging it allows for a certain historical record of the effort and adds to the satisfaction, or maybe just allows you to relish it, after the fact.

The fond remembrance comes when I occasionally scan back over my club entries. It is not unlike a

log except that my boat log is more business-like and hardly readable, done in pen on a page in my block printing scrawl. My century club log is fun, readable, and has pictures!

Do you have advice for those who’d like to join the challenge in 2023?

Boating is its own motivation— have fun, relax, enjoy friends, etc. Logging your days is also motivational (get to 100, get to top 10). Prospective members should know that the two work together to squeeze more fun out of a boating year. Going boating regularly and being a member of the Century Club, actively logging days, could allow 1+1 to actually equal three!

#

The Pitchford’s Back Cove 37 slows for a photo op while passing Lady Liberty.

Chesapeake Biological Laboratory Scientists Reach the North Pole

Scientists Lee Cooper and Jackie Grebmeier have been visiting the Arctic on research expeditions for more than 30 years, but they have never visited the North Pole. Until now.

Last fall, five University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) researchers from the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, MD, reached the North Pole on an Arctic oceanographic cruise aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy. The two-month long cruise was part of the internationally coordinated Synoptic Arctic Survey. Through this research program, scientists are assessing the present state of the Arctic Ocean as climate change continues to reduce the extent of sea ice and warm the waters of the most northern ocean on earth.

Grebmeier and Cooper, both faculty members, as well as postdoctoral associate Christina Goethel, graduate student Brian Marx, and research scientist Cedric Magen sampled Arctic Ocean waters and sediments at a series of preselected “stations” that will promote collaboration and data consistency among

international stakeholders. On this research cruise, funded by the National Science Foundation, 89 Coast Guard crew worked alongside 35 scientists from universities and oceanographic research institutes across the nation to support scientific sampling.

Temperatures were not extremely cold—a few degrees below zero degrees Fahrenheit was the coldest temperature recorded during the trip—and the Healy, an icebreaker designed for scientific work, did not have much difficulty breaking through the thin ice, which has declined significantly over the last several decades. This was only the third time the Healy had reached the North Pole, its most recent visit being in 2015. Only one other U.S. flagged surface vessel, the Coast Guard icebreaker the Polar Sea, has sailed to the North Pole.

Grebmeier, a specialist on Arctic seafloor animals for more than 35 years, performed shipboard experiments to assess how these organisms may respond to warming temperatures. Goethel, a newly minted Ph.D. who already has a decade of Arctic research experience,

collected microbes as part of a newly developing collaboration with Icelandic scientists, whom she met during her recently completed Fulbright Fellowship in Iceland. She will be teaching marine science classes at St. Mary’s College of Maryland this coming spring. Magen was responsible for methane measurements onboard.

Scientists also collected water samples that will be analyzed for chlorophyll, nutrients, and carbon content at the lab in Solomons in the coming months. These measurements will help confirm the current conditions in the remote Arctic, so when follow up measurements are made in the future, valid comparisons can be made to see how much the ecosystem has changed, and if as expected, sea ice continues to retreat.

Whale Skull Found at Matoaka Beach

While combing Matoaka Beach in St. Leonard, MD, for fossils and shark’s teeth, Pennsylvania resident Cody Goddard made a fascinating discovery. A large, hardened block of sediment lying on the beach had an unusual fossil protruding from one end. After further investigation, Goddard realized that he had stumbled upon a Miocene fossil whale skull.

Goddard reached out to Dr. Stephen Godfrey, curator of paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum (CMM), who confirmed by way of a video text that the

fossil encased in the sediment was indeed a whale skull and quickly made the trip to visit the fossil’s location in person.

Moving the 650-pound block of sediment safely from the beach to the museum was no small task. Godfrey and his team devised a plan to extract the sediment from the beach first by small pontoon boat, then by truck to CMM’s fossil preparation lab, which is located in the Paleontology Hall inside the museum. The extraction took place on December 19 with a team of paleontology enthusiasts, including Goddard, who traveled down to share in the excitement.

Godfrey said, “It felt like we had won the World Cup of Paleontology! We are so blessed to have locally so many avocational and professional paleontologists.

“We don’t yet know what species of Miocene baleen whale

this is,” says Godfrey, “that we will only know once it has been prepared. It might even prove to be our greatest preparation challenge, depending on how indurated the entombing sediments are.”

The skull affectionately christened “Cody,” is the most complete fossil whale skull ever recovered from that section of Calvert Cliffs. The unprepared “raw” fossil skull can be seen on a blue hydraulic cart in the museum’s fossil preparation lab. Air scribe-like tools (like miniature jackhammers) will be used to delicately remove the very hardened sediments that encase most of the skull. That process, undertaken by CMM volunteers, will take many months.

To explore how the prehistoric past, natural environment, and maritime heritage come to life and tell a unique story of the Chesapeake Bay, visit CMM in Solomons, MD. Learn more at calvertmarinemuseum.com

# Lifting the skull into a truck. Photo courtesy of Calvert Marine Museum.

# Scientists Lee Cooper and Jackie Grebmeier have been visiting the Arctic on research expeditions for more than 30 years, but they had never visited the North Pole until this fall. Photo courtesy of UMCES

USCG Releases Report on Ever Forward Grounding

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capitol Region completed its marine casualty investigation into the March 13, 2022, grounding of the container ship Ever Forward in the Craighill Channel.

The Report of the Investigation determined the incident’s causal factors to be the pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness and attention while navigating, and inadequate bridge resource management.

Immediately following the grounding, Coast Guard marine investigators began the investigation to determine the factors that led to the Ever Forward grounding and develop recommendations to prevent similar marine incidents from happening in the future.

Based on the finding of facts, the Coast Guard is recommending that marine operators develop and implement effective policies outlining when the use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices is appropriate or prohibited, and that vessel owners and operators ensure and promote crew awareness of policies regarding the duties and obligations of officers on watch for the safety of the ship, even when a pilot is embarked.

A redacted copy of the Report of the Investigation is available to the public and posted on Marine Casualty Reports for easy accessibility, while complying with the provisions of the Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and associated federal regulations. Access to the full investigation and evidence will be available through the FOIA process.

The Coast Guard has published two Findings of Concern (Distracted Operations and Bridge Resource Management) and has made them publicly available at the Coast Guard’s Inspections and Compliance Findings of Concern webpage. The purpose of Findings of Concern is to share information related to unsafe conditions with the public, state, or local agencies.

HERRINGTON NORTH 389 Deale Road

Tracey’s Landing, MD 410.656.1518

HERRINGTON SOUTH

7149 Lake Shore Drive North Beach, MD 301.265.2122

Boating Made Easy

Discover it all at Herringtonharbour.com

# Photo by Mark Hergan/DeadriseMarinePhoto.com

January

Happy Hour Mon–Thurs 3–6 pm Weekend Brunch

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

Through Feb 28

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

13-15 48th east coast commercial Fisherman’s & aquaculture trade exposition

At the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, MD. $15 a day, $25 for two days, $30 for three days.

19 Stronger than Steel: civil War Voices of eastern Shore Women Mothers, daughters, sweethearts, and wives on Virginia’s Eastern Shore had a remarkable Civil War adventure vastly different from their mainland sisters. The Chesapeake Bay was a major player in their story and defined their experience of war. From the doyenne of Onancock Harbor to an enslaved child living on the waterfront, leadership, loss, and complicated loyalties pepper their extant narratives and anchor historian Kellee Blake’s lecture. 7 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum: $10.

20

20 year evolution of royal Navy Ironclads

12 to 1 p.m. in-person (free to museum members, $1 for guests) and virtual (free) lecture at The Mariner’s Museum and Park in Newport News, VA. Civil war lecture series: new technologies enabled the development of armored warships. Advance registration required at marinersmuseum.org

20-22 richmond Fishing expo

Featuring a large array of fishing tackle combined with some of the finest professional anglers around. At Meadow Event Park in Doswell, VA. Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $9, Seniors 60+ and military $8, junior anglers (6-12) $5, children 5 and under free.

20-22 the chesapeake bay boat Show

At the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. Presented by the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County. Featuring over 30 Maryland boat dealers showcasing new boats and marine equipment, as well as entertainment, food and beverages, free educational seminars, and plenty of free parking. thechesapeakebayboatshow.com

21

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. Speaker: Joe Bruce “A Host of Fly Tying Techniques and Tips from a Commercial Fly Tyer.” Please contact Ryan Harvey at  rybeer@gmail.com for any questions.

21

Haven Harbour Seminar Series 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Inn at Haven Harbour’s Manor House Great Room (20950 Rock Hall Ave, Rock Hall, MD). Free and open to the public (roughly 35 attendees per class). Coffee and pastries will be provided. Session I will focus on the lubricating of folding props, running gear, thru-hulls, seacocks, and bilge pumps. Seminars led by Haven Harbour Yacht Services’ very own Erik Lostrom.

21-22

online maryland boating Safety course Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Presented by the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum. This course satisfies the requirements for operating a vessel on Maryland waters and a Certificate of Boating Safety Education is issued upon satisfactory completion. Instructors teach two sessions. Attendance at both online sessions is required, followed by an online test taken at your convenience. Cost: $20 per student donation to support USCG Auxiliary and HDG Maritime Museum Education Programs. Always free to first responders, active military, sea scouts, and all medical/ hospital staff. Questions: (443) 504-3880. Register: hdgmaritimemuseum.org

26

bosun’s Get Hooked Fishing Seminar

6 to 8 p.m. at Bosun’s Marine Maryland. “Jigging and Trolling Tips for Catching Middle Bay Rockfish” with Lenny Rudow. Free.

28

tri-State marine’s annual ‘early Spring’ open House 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Tri-State Marine in Deale, MD.

28-29

kent Island Fisherman’s 12th annual Fishing Flea market

At the Kent Island American Legion Post #278 in Stevensville, MD. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission: $4 (ages 16 and under are free). Fishing rods, reels, lures and other fishing accessories, fishing charters, crabbing supplies, food, and more.

2

31 anglers ladies Night

Ladies happy hour with CCA MD at Boatyard Bar and Grill. 6 p.m.

1From the Ground up: an archaeologist’s Perspective on Native chesapeake Foods

Join local archaeologist, TimeChef, and food historian Henry Ward for a culinary exploration of recipes that celebrate indigenous foods and native cuisine of the Chesapeake Bay region. 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD: $8.

annapolis: 1942

The first full year of World War II brings a rush of productivity to the previously sleepy Annapolis waterfront, from seaplane production to the ArmyNavy Game, to warships being built. Annapolis historian and author David Gendell will share his extensive research into this period, including interviews with those on the scene, unique images, and original maps. 7 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum: $10.

February3-5

the mid-atlantic Sports and boat Show

At the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, VA. Tickets cost $10, children under 12 are free.

8

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.

9 Pirates

bay: the oyster Wars

of the chesapeake

It has been over 150 years since the establishment of Maryland’s “Oyster Navy,” a forerunner of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police. It was a necessary establishment for dealing with a lucrative, competitive, and sometimes deadly industry. Lecture by Dr. Jamie L.H. Goodall, historian and author. 7 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum: $10.

11-25 america’s boating course

Two Saturday sessions, February 11 and February 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bosun’s Marine in Grasonville, MD. Must attend both days. Presented by America’s Boating Club Kent Narrows. Cost: $25 non-member adults. Free to members and ages 17 and under. Register: tinyurl. com/4exwpvjm (reservations required).

For more info, contact Patti Eney at (773) 351-2403 or  abckn.edu@gmail.com

16 bear me Into Freedom: the World and Writings of Frederick Douglass

Honor the 205th birthday of Frederick Douglass with this unique program, which will pair excerpts from Frederick Douglass’ writing and speeches with images from Jeff McGuiness’s new book, Bear Me Into Freedom. 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels: $8.

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cartoonist at Sea: two years Sailing the World through Photographs and cartoons

For over 20 years, Jim Toomey has been bringing the sea into the homes of millions of newspaper readers through his comic strip Sherman’s Lagoon. Jim will do a live-drawing demonstration as well as discuss his experiences living on a sailboat for two years with his family and how he managed to continue publishing a daily comic strip about the ocean while living on the ocean. 7 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum: $10.

17-19

40th annual oc Seaside boat

Show At the Ocean City Convention Center in Ocean City, MD. Admission $10, children under 14 cost $1.

17-19 Philadelphia Fishing Show

At the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. Free seminars, saltwater, freshwater, fly, trout pond, lodges and guides, charter boats, apparel and gear, boats, RVs, art, marine electronics, and more. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages six to 12, and free for kids five and under.

18-19

30th annual Pasadena

Sportfishing expo 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. at Kurtz’s Beach (2070 Kurtz Ave.) in Pasadena, MD.

23

25

annapolis Saltwater Fishing expo

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.at the Annapolis Elks Lodge. Presented by the Annapolis Anglers Club. Seminars on Bay fishing techniques along with a panel discussion on light tackle fishing will help anglers hone their skills for the upcoming season. Dozens of local tackle vendors will be on hand to offer their tackle innovations at show prices for the Chesapeake Bay and the DelMarVa coast. Admission is $5 at the door. saltwaterfishingexpo.com

25 Fishing, Hunting, and boating Flea market

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Post 91 in Cambridge, MD. $5 entrance fee, children 12 and under are free. Held by the Mid-Shore Fishing Club.

28

angler Night Boatyard Bar and Grill 6 p.m. Talk and Dinner

For more info and links to event websites, visit proptalk.com/calendar

bosun’s

Get Hooked Fishing Seminar

“Fishing Kent Island” and “Rod/Reel winter maintenance” with Bill O’Brien and Captain Mark Galasso. Free. 6 to 8 p.m. at Bosun’s Marine in Grasonville, MD.

23 Deadly Gamble: the Wreck of the Levin J. Marvel

The 128-foot schooner Levin J. Marvel foundered in Herring Bay in southern Anne Arundel County on August 12, 1955. The three-masted ship was a carrier converted to a passenger cruiser. The captain was returning to Annapolis from an Eastern Shore cruise with 23 passengers and four crew aboard when he encountered the wind field of Hurricane Connie. With no auxiliary power and no canvas aloft, the captain made the decision to run before the wind to anchor off Fairhaven. Author and photojournalist Kathy Bergren Smith tells this tragic tale and its aftermath. 7 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum: $10.

24-25 77th National outdoor Show

At 3485 Golden Hill Road in Church Creek, MD. Admission: $8 adults, $4 children.

Thunderstorms on The Chesapeake Bay

Back by popular demand! An in-depth, threepart webinar with meteorologist and sailor Mark Thornton of LakeErieWX Marine Weather about how to recognize and avoid Chesapeake thunderstorms. The series will examine: • Various types of thunderstorms • Ingredients that lead to their formation • Timing and lifespans of storms • Resources for forecasting and monitoring storms

Haven Harbour Seminar Series 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Inn at Haven Harbour’s Manor House Great Room (20950 Rock Hall Ave, Rock Hall, MD). Free and open to the public (roughly 35 attendees per class). Coffee and pastries will be provided. Session II will focus on air conditioning, refrigeration, ice markers, generators, and shore power. Seminars led by Haven Harbour Yacht Services’ very own Erik Lostrom.

25

all registrants will have access to the recordings for future reference

Te ST i M onial S f ro M The S T uden TS

Thanks for the great Chesapeake seminar, I’m sure this will be very useful for our sailing. - Michael

presented By:

This past week I sailed for a week on the Chesapeake and knew how to spot cold fronts, monitor their timing from various data sources and avoided all sorts of bad storms! - laura

Bayliner T24CX: Fishing for Compliments

By Lenny Rudow

You say you’re looking for a reasonably priced new boat, 22 feet isn’t quite big enough for the adventures you envision, and you’re intrigued by Bayliners’s Trophy CX models? Up to now you’d have been out of luck—last year Bayliner expanded its line of center consoles to include the Trophy

T24CC, the largest model in its current fishing boat lineup, but it didn’t offer up a CX version. For 2023, however, that’s changing.

The CX line swaps out the transom design of the CC models with a pair of flanking jump seats and a livewell centered in the stern for a much larger

single transom seat with a livewell and/ or stowage compartment plus battery access underneath. In some cases, locating a livewell here can make for tough access, but Bayliner wisely splits the flip-up seat-bottom so that you don’t have to fight with a big, heavy chunk of fiberglass every time you want to get in there. And remember, you can also get a livewell under the leaning post, so you’ve got the potential capacity to keep an awful lot of baits wet, an awful lot of drinks chilled, or an awful lot of gear stowed.

Having that big aft cruising bench seat is great, but the CX convenience package is even better, particularly for family anglers. It brings with it those goodies and gadgets that turn a fishing boat into a comfortable family day-boat, like a head in the console compartment, an anchor roller and windlass, foam cockpit decking, a freshwater shower system, and an upgraded Rockford Fosgate stereo system. Electronics get upgraded, too, with a

# Photos courtesy of Bayliner

nine-inch Simrad Digital Dash with Mercury VesselView Link. We say add in the optional ski-tow pylon, so those adventurous kids will have big smiles plastered across their faces even when the fish aren’t biting.

Wait a sec—just how big a difference will it make stepping from the 22-footer to the 24-foot model?

Two feet might not sound like a lot, but the bigger boat also has five more degrees of deadrise in the hull and about 500 more pounds of heft. That’ll make a huge difference in smoothing out the waves when the Bay gets choppy. It’s also critically important to consider the Trophy’s beam-forward design, which carries the full eightfoot, six-inch beam as far forward as possible to maximize bow cockpit space. To get a feel for just how much this boosts interior space you really have to climb into the boat, walk up

forward, and kick back with the bow filler cushions and seatbacks in place. The sheer volume of space up there beats out the vast majority of the boats in this size range. And when it’s time for casting rather than cruising, just yank all those cushions, stow ‘em away, and you have a huge forward casting deck.

Speaking of casting: the T24CX comes ready to fish right out of the box, with perks including four gunwalemounted rodholders, four rocket launchers on the T-top and/or leaning post, under-gunwale rodracks, and a pair of

insulated fishboxes in the deck. Added bonus: with the extra heft underfoot, you won’t hesitate to load the boat onto the standard tandem-axel trailer and head for the beach when the flounder are biting or mahi-mahi invade along the Mid-Atlantic coast. That’ll be a serious adventure every member of the family will enjoy. And isn’t the ability to deliver experiences like this to the entire family why you wanted a bigger boat in the first place? #

The Chesapeake Bay Boat Show

Ja N uary 20-22

The Chesapeake Bay Boat Show returns for a second year to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, MD, January 20-22. Presented by the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County (MTABC), the show will feature over 30 Maryland boat dealers showcasing new boats and marine equipment, including sport fishing boats, performance boats, ski boats, cruisers, and more. Boats of every size and for every budget will be on display. The show will also feature over 100 vendors, live music, free educational seminars, a food court (including fresh, local oysters), and plenty of free parking. Don’t know about you, but the only thing that can make winter more bearable is to head inside and ogle pretty boats and dream about the summer season with fellow Bay lovers. We hope to see you there!

Map Of The Show

Details

Dates: January 20-22

Times: Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, MD

Directions: From I-83 north, take exit 17, Padonia Road, east to York Road, continue south on York Road to the Fairgrounds entrance on the right. Or take exit 16A, Timonium Road, east toward Fairgrounds. Cross over the light rail tracks to the fairgrounds entrance on the left.

Tickets: General admission - $10 (ages 13 and up), Military$7 at door with ID, Ages 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online at thechesapeakebayboatshow. com or at the door. Your ticket is good for any one day of the show.

Show Highlights

Fishing and Boating Seminars:

On Friday through Sunday of the show, seminars will be held at the Fishing Seminar Pavilion (sponsored by FishTalk and PropTalk), organized by FishTalk Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow. The pavilion is located in the far back left of Exhibit Hall A, next to the North Point Yacht Sales booth. From the entrance, head to the left hall or walk straight back to the food court and then turn left.

Friday, January 20

4-5 p.m. Lenny Rudow, Fishing for Rockfish in the Shallows Saturday, January 21 10-11 a.m. Scott Lennox, Fishing the OC Inlet, Jetties, and Bridges

12-1 p.m. David Sikorski, Chesapeake Bay Fisheries in 2023: The Outlook for Stripers, Invasives, and Others 2-3 p.m. Wayne Young, Finding and Fishing Artificial Reefs in the Chesapeake 4-5 p.m. Lenny Rudow, How to Catch Speckled Trout in the Chesapeake

Sunday, January 22

10-11 a.m. Capt. Tom Weaver, Spin and Fly Fishing for Winter Pickerel 12-1 p.m. Eric Packard, Fishing for Snakeheads in Chesapeake Tributaries

2-3 p.m. Capt. Chris Dollar, Fishing the Lower Western Shore Tribs 4-5 p.m. Lenny Simmons, Trolling for Rockfish on the Chesapeake Bay

Live Music:

Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.—Rob Fahey Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.—John Luskey Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.—New South Band

Fishing Pier:

Located in the back right corner of Exhibit Hall B (the hall to the right of the entrance or walk straight back to the food court and then turn right), the Fishing Pier offers the best selection of fishing gear and fishing supplies including fishing rods, reels, lures, and other fishing equipment, along with a fun, interactive fishing simulator. At print time, exhibitors included: Capt. John Spoonbrellas, Edgemere Bait & Tackle, Imperium Outfitters, Fish with Weaver, Ro Sham Bo Sportfishing (also the Fishing Pier sponsor), Fish In OC, Groundhog Bait & Tackle, Shore Tackle & Custom Rods, Jawbreaker, and Tackle Cove.

Boat Dealers

• All Star Marine: Stingray, Clearwater, Power Play, Bentley Pontoons

• AM/PM Marine: Regal

• Annapolis Boat Sales: Everglades, Key West, Blackfin, Steiger Craft, Monterey

• Beacon Light Marina: Yamaha, May-Craft, Defiance, TAKACAT

• Bosun’s Marine: Chris-Craft, Cobalt, Edgewater, Pursuit, Sōlace, World Cat, Cobia

• Chesapeake Whalertowne: Boston Whaler

• Chessie Marine: Axis, Malibu, Cobalt, Starcraft, Carolina Skiff

• Clarks Landing Yacht Sales: Wellcraft, Beneteau Powerboats, Roughneck Ribs, Sea Ray

• DiMillos Yacht Sales: Sabre Yachts, Back Cove Yachts, Limestone

• East Coast Yacht Sales: Axopar

• Fawcett Boat Supplies

• Galahad Marine Sales: Sailfish, Sylvan Pontoons, Starcraft, Suzuki, Yamaha

• Jim’s Marine: Tidewater, Chaparral

• Honda Powersports of Crofton: Sea Born, Starcraft, Sundance, Sylvan Pontoons, Nucanoe, Sundance Boats, Suzuki Outboards

• Pasadena Boat Works: Bulls Bay, Suzuki, Pioneer Boats, Tidewater

• Maryland Boat Sales: Finseeker, Release

• North Point Yacht Sales: Caymas Boats, MJM Yachts, Tiara Yachts, Pursuit Boats

• Pete’s Cycle: Seadoo, Kawasaki, Yamaha

• Pocket Yacht Company: Solara, Cutwater, Ranger Tug

• Port Annapolis Marina: NauticStar, Carolina Skiff

• PYY Marine: Cape Horn, Jupiter, Yellowfin

• Rhode River Boat Sales: Seafox, Crownline

• Riverside Marine: Bayliner, Sportsman, Mercury Marine

• Rudy Marine: Jeanneau Boats, Bentley Pontoons, SunChaser Pontoons, War Eagle, Misty Harbor

• Seattle Yachts: Ocean Sport, Nimbus

• Taylor Marine Center: Grady-White, Boston Whaler

• Total Marine: Donzi, Fountain, TwinVee

• Tradewinds Marina: Aquasport, Crevalle

• Tri-State Marine: Grady-White, Parker Offshore, Sea Pro

• Waterfront Marine: Bennington Pontoons, Chaparral, Robalo, Contender, May-Craft

For more information, a full exhibitor list, and to purchase tickets, visit thechesapeakebayboatshow.com

# Fishing seminars will be held each day of the show in Exhibit Hall A.

# Don’t miss the interactive fishing simulator!

Boat Buying Tips

If you’re in the market for a new boat, make sure to keep these considerations in mind before you get to the show and get blinded by all those shiny, beautiful vessels.

Find the right boat for you. The right boat is different for every person depending on how they want to use it. You can shorten your search significantly by narrowing your focus to boats that are designed specifically for your intended type of boating. Where will you be boating? Will you stay on the Chesapeake, or do you plan to trailer the vessel to interior lakes, the Atlantic coast, or beyond?

When will you be boating? Year round or just three seasons? How will you use it? Do you plan to cruise overnight, pull tubes and wakeboards, or zip to your favorite fishing spot? Finally, with whom will you be boating? Friends, family, kids? Big groups, small groups, just the two of you, or singlehanded?

You need to ask yourself all of these questions and write down your thoughts before looking at boats. Do research online for which models offer the kind of amenities you are looking for and ask boating friends about what works and doesn’t work for them on their particular boats.

Be realistic about your budget. Take time to do the real math, not just the purchase price for the boat. You must factor in fuel costs, slip and storage fees, travel expenses, maintenance fees, insurance, and membership to an emergency service such as TowBoatUS. Keep revising your list to make sure it’s as accurate as possible.

# Before going boat shopping, be sure to narrow your focus to boats that are designed specifically for your intended type of boating.

When they’re so focused on buying a boat, many new boat owners underestimate the other fees that come with boat ownership. If you have friends with boats, ask them questions about their boat budgets, listen carefully, and include incidentals in your overall budget.

At boat shows, board as many boats as possible.

There’s nothing like in-person comparison shopping, so attend boat shows and crawl all over as many models as possible.

Once you’ve narrowed down the type of boat you want, make sure to check out a few models from a few manufacturers in that size and price range. The more boats you evaluate, the more knowledge you gain, and the better your decision making

becomes. Don’t just look at one boat. If possible, you might also want to ask dealers about demo rides to see how a particular model works for you. The more you test boats, the more knowledge you’ll glean about what you want and don’t want.

After you’ve made a boat budget, get pre-approved for a loan. Talk to lenders and get pre-approved for your maximum loan. Shop boat finance companies and banks (you may meet several at boat shows and find more in the pages of PropTalk). Expect to be offered better rates and options on newer boats. While at boat shows, also investigate marine insurance.

For more boat buying tips, visit proptalk.com

Come see us!

Team PropTalk FishTalk will be located at C22, just inside the main entrance, behind the MTABC door prizes table. Be sure to stop by and say hello, and grab the latest copies of PropTalk, FishTalk, SpinSheet, and Portbook. We love meeting our readers!

A Chesapeake Bay Loop— Crabs, Cocktails, and… Tornados?

After completing our inaugural journey from Portsmouth, RI, earlier last year to our home port of North East, MD (read the full story at proptalk.com/our-inauguraleast-coast-journey-jeanneau-nc-895), we wanted to spend as much time as we could getting to know our new Jeanneau NC895. To achieve that, our plan was to list our home on Airbnb for the summer. If someone expressed interest in our rental, we would then move to the boat.

Little did we know how much interest it would bring. We ended up renting our home pretty much June to September, prime boating season. This not only gave us time on the boat but helped to cover fuel costs and slip fees.

By Sue Redmond

We enjoyed marina life at Bay Boat Works, but really wanted to get out and explore. Using Dockwa, we were able to secure slips relatively close by to our home port in places such as Annapolis, St. Michaels, and Rock Hall. Utilizing the marina’s WiFi, I was able to work remotely from the boat. My Teams calls were always the envy of my co-workers (and for some, even made them a little seasick).

When I had some time off from work, we decided to head south on a longer journey exploring smaller southern Chesapeake Bay ports we hadn’t been able to visit in our older, smaller boat (a 24-foot Four Winns). Our first adventure took us to Oxford, Solomon Island, Smith Island, and Deale, MD.

Oxford—One of our Favorite Ports

First stop was Oxford, which quickly became one of our favorite stopovers. It’s a great town for walking and biking, with a few great restaurants nearby. We stayed at the Safe Harbor Oxford Marina— complete with floating docks, pool, bike rentals, and newly renovated laundry and shower facilities, all in close proximity to the town center.

Arriving on a Monday limited our restaurant options. We settled on Pope’s Tavern and couldn’t have been happier; one of the best meals of our trip. Located at the head of Town Creek, it is a little Italian restaurant within the Oxford Inn which offers nine quaint rooms. The menu features homemade pasta and other specialties from the owner’s grandmother’s recipes. A favorite of the locals, it should not be missed. For dessert, don’t miss the Scottish Highland Creamery, a short walk from our marina.

The small town of Oxford has a quaint, treelined, unspoiled feel to it. The end of many of the streets offers endless public accessible water views. South Morris Street, one of the main thoroughfares, is one of the oldest streets in America.

Boating is a part of life here—it’s a paradise for vessels big and small. We took a walk through the shipyard of Cutts and Case where beautiful classic wooden boat restorations were being undertaken. Oxford also has many historic homes, picket fences, cute shops, and inns as

# Boating is a way of life in Oxford.

# After completing our inaugural journey, we wanted to spend as much time as we could getting to know our new Jeanneau NC895.

well as the Oxford-Bellevue ferry which has been carrying passengers since 1683.

We spent one night in town before heading further south but did return for one additional night. It will remain one of our favorite ports.

Solomons Island

Our next port, Solomon Island, took us across the Bay from Oxford. We tried out another Safe Harbor Marina, Zahnisers, located on Back Creek. This is a good size marina going through some upgrades. Complimentary bikes made exploring the town fun and easy to conquer in a day. We enjoyed the pool, a great dinner at CD Café, and happy hour cocktails at the Tiki Bar.

Solomons is home to the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory which works on keeping the Chesapeake healthy. The town was a bit spread out, quiet midweek, and very warm during our twonight stay. There is still so much more to explore in Solomons, so we’ll look forward to returning. On our list are the Calvert Marine Museum, a lot of great restaurants, the Annmarie Sculpture Garden, and more great biking opportunities.

A Tornado in Smith Island

The next leg of our journey took us south down the Bay to the tiny town of Ewell on Smith Island. Our first stop was Smith Island Oil, one of the only gas docks available in Ewell. We were met by one of the locals who not only worked at the gas dock but also moonlighted with her husband at one of a few restaurants in town, the Bayside Inn located at the ferry dock. She let us know all about the offerings on the island, including golf cart rentals, a museum, the bakery, and other food options and hours available.

We tied up our boat on a pier at Three Knots Marine, which was undergoing extensive renovations. Since our marina did not have electricity, we chose to stay at a quaint air-conditioned B&B, The Smith Island Inn. To gain access to our room, you were instructed to pick up the keys from the local Smith Island Bakery which is home to the famous Smith Island Cake.

Before settling into our room at the Smith Island Inn, we jumped on a golf cart to explore the island. The Smith Island Cultural Center, a must stop if you’re visiting the island, gave us a

# On Smith Island, we had all our meals at the Bayside Inn; the best steamed crabs I’ve had in years!

# My husband is still reeling from the experience of the Smith Island tornado and hopes to never encounter anything like it again…

# Complimentary bikes at our marina made exploring Solomons fun and easy to conquer in a day.

glimpse into the history of the village and its locals. Smith Island has two other towns to explore so we look forward to going back for another visit.

We had all our meals at the Bayside Inn; the best steamed crabs I’ve had in years along with other Maryland seafood specialties and the famous delicious eight-layered Smith Island Cake. So good! A must have… I have vowed to order one for my birthday every year from now on.

From Rhode Island to Smith Island and many ports in between.

We headed to the bakery to get our key to settle into our room at the inn. I took the opportunity to take a luxurious bath and enjoy the air-conditioning and other room amenities. With a storm approaching, my husband Mark decided to return to the marina to check on the boat.

While on the boat adjusting our lines, the winds began to kick up and the sky continued to get darker. As he was about to head back to the inn, he looked up and to his surprise was face to face with an approaching funnel cloud. Having never experienced anything like that before, he quickly contemplated all his options. At that time of day, after the last ferry leaves, the entire island and businesses shut down which left him with few options for cover. My husband then decided the best thing to do was make his way back to the inn to check on me, who was totally unaware that a tornado was approaching. His walk quickly turned into a panicked run, which was a feat for someone that hasn’t run in more than 20 years, losing his hat and flip flops along the way.

The funnel intercepted his path with swirling shingles, branches, and debris. Unable to outrun the tornado’s wrath, he took cover behind a small cottage. After

the tornado had passed, he was finally able to make his way back to safety at the inn, sharing his harrowing tale with me. The tornado had cut a path between the inn and the marina only feet from the Smith Island Bakery, damaging homes and outbuildings. After the weather settled, my husband made his way through the debris to check on our boat, not knowing what to expect. Surprisingly our boat was untouched, but overturned boats were found only a few hundred feet away. The marina, with stacks of building supplies, luckily escaped the tornado’s path preventing further damage. We lost power until after midnight. All the residents, including the owners of our marina and inn, worked together through the night clearing debris and restoring power. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.

The next morning, we were treated to breakfast by a local elder who arrived by bicycle at the inn to prepare our meal. She was a descendant of one of the founding families on the island. In her 87 years of growing up and living there, she had never experienced anything like that storm. My husband is still reeling from this experience and hopes to never encounter anything like it again… A crazy adventure for sure followed by a great breakfast and local conversation at the inn.

Deale

Saying goodbye to Smith Island, we headed northwest across the Bay to Deale to stay at the expansive Herrington Harbour Marina, a beautiful marina with many amenities and services (while it lacked a fuel dock, fuel is available at their nearby southern location). We spent a lot of our time at the pool just relaxing and getting over our Smith Island experience while making new friends and sampling many of their great

# Herrington Harbour North is a beautiful marina with many amenities and services.

# New friends Leigh Gifford and Orlando Davis.

local specialty cocktails (fresh squeezed fruit crushes, cold beer, and amazing bloody Mary’s to name a few) and poolside hotdogs that quickly became our go-to lunch favorite.

Deale does not have much of a main town, so the local restaurants and shopping amenities are limited and not easily accessible by foot. Onsite at the marina, we spent most of our time at The Dockside Restaurant, pool, café, and bar. They also have a cute little ice cream shop in a vintage travel trailer that we enjoyed each night.

Planning for Next Season

With the cruising buddies we met at Herrington Harbour, we headed back to Oxford for another night since we had had such a great initial visit. We had lunch at Capsize Restaurant located dockside next to the Scottish Highland Creamery and returned to Pope’s Tavern for another delicious dinner with new friends. Restaurant options are limited, particularly early in the week, so make sure to check on hours. Another great visit to Oxford— we’ll be back again for sure.

Our first season on the new boat has been a total success; fun filled adventures with a lifetime of memories and some challenging yet memorable moments. From Rhode Island to Smith Island and

many ports in between, we feel we chose the perfect boat to continue our adventures in 2023. It’s compact enough to be affordable to explore but large enough to be comfortable with all the needed amenities for any length of trip. Sadly, our boat came out for the season on November 1.

We plan to make a few upgrades to get ready for next season, including a custom-made mattress for the main state room, roof rack to carry my SUP and kayak, custom shelves in the closets for more storage, additional

#

USB and electrical outlets, and perhaps another air conditioning vent in the pilot house.

Our goal for next season is to explore smaller ports of call in the Bay that are generally less visited, and plan longer trips outside of the Bay, perhaps heading north again to ports we didn’t have time to visit. We feel this loop was just the beginning of many more adventures to come.

We’ve already listed our home on Airbnb for next summer to help make some of these goals possible. #

# The end of many of the streets in Oxford offer endless public accessible water views.

We enjoyed this cute ice cream shop at Herrington Harbour each night of our stay.

The JourneyTo Our New Boat

By G. Steven

The Sea Hunt 255 Ultra is our third boat. We purchased our first boat, a 1997 21-foot center console Trophy, around 2002. Our daughters were young kids and for 10 years, Maggie, Emma, and our border collie Skye enjoyed time with us on the boat exploring the ICW in North Carolina, ICW on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Lake Anna in Virginia, and the Potomac River. Sometimes launching at Sandy Point State Park or Truxton Park in Eastport, we would motor around Annapolis and the Severn River.

Both girls, young women now, are certified scuba divers and love the beach, boating, and all things sun and sand. Emma is completing a master’s program in coral reef restoration at James Cook University in Australia. Our earlier years boating may have influenced their current interests.

We named the Trophy Jesters Pearl. It was our first family boat, was a big part of the Martin summer vacations, and the family developed a heartfelt attachment to her. After 10 fantastic years playing with Jesters Pearl, our boating days were becoming progressively limited and our lives were changing with other priorities—our kids were going off to college, out of state.

We decided to sell the boat in 2012. When I called to tell my wife that I had just sold Jesters Pearl, she and Emma cried. I felt a little guilty too; the Martin family was not quite done with this boating thing.

Later, as empty nesters, we thought a smaller boat would be a good fit for Neile, a dog, and me. I fell in love with old wooden boats when I lived in New England and in the 1980s spent a couple of summers crewing (scraping, painting, and varnishing) on an old 147-foot wooden Gloucester Pilot schooner named Pilot out of Boston, MA (see movie “Captains Courageous” for a similar ship). I wanted an old boat with some brightwork that I could tinker with.

the mahogany brightwork… it’s therapeutic, as we all know! We made several trips trailering the Whaler to Florida, the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, Lake Anna, and Lake Norman in North Carolina. On most trips it was Neile, me, and our dog, Cap. However, when our family of four adults and two adult dogs with a couple of bags of gear would get together, we quickly realized that a bigger boat was needed.

In the summer of 2017, I purchased a 1968 17-foot Boston Whaler Eastport from a fella who lived just south of the Bay Bridge in Stevensville, MD. It had a mahogany center console, wooded pilot seat, and wooden aft bench. The boat was powered by a 2001 90-hp oil injected two-stroke Mercury motor. She had been well taken care of and overall, was in pretty good shape. I would need to put a new trailer under her before we left for Florida.

We loved cruising around in that little boat. She was a bit of a head turner too, and the Whaler kept me busy maintaining

The Decision is Made

I had been tracking the Sea Hunt boats as far back as our Trophy days. Sea Hunt was producing good-looking, well-designed boats with high freeboards and that pretty Carolina flare bow. I came close to buying a used one once, but the reality of two college tuitions at the time squashed that idea…

In 2021 we were very fortunate to sell some real estate, so I looked at my wife and almost jokingly asked, “Do you want a new kitchen? Or can we get a new boat?” Neile is a red-haired Irish lass,

I looked at my wife and almost jokingly asked, “Do you want a new kitchen? Or can we get a new boat?”

Martin

The right boat for some people isn’t necessarily the right boat for you . Finding one that fits your needs is both a journey and a destination.

# We purchased our first boat, a 1997 21-foot center console Trophy, around 2002.

The JourneyTo Our New Boat

continued

surprisingly even tempered, who loves to cook and has the skills of a chef. A new kitchen had been part of the discussion for years. With her short cut red hair and the whimsical smile of the wee fairy people, she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye and said, “Let’s get a new boat!”

This family has never bought a new car and yet we made the leap to purchase a brand-new boat. The pandemic has made us all crazy. We also made the decision to sell the Whaler.

In December 2021 we ordered a 2022 Sea Hunt 239 Ultra SE with a slate blue hull and a 300-hp Yamaha four stroke. By the time Emma and I drove the two hours home to Winchester from Wye River Marine in Chester, MD, that day I already had buyer’s remorse. I really wanted a 25-foot boat. I called AJ Bowden at Wye River and asked him to change my order spec to the 255 Ultra.

After a customary trial run on the Chester River, we took delivery of the Sea Hunt 255 Ultra SE on Monday July 18, 2022. The next day Maggie read our ceremonial boat christening and we christened the boat Blue Pearl. Then went for a boat ride! And took the boat out again on July 21 and July 22 as well (it rained on the 20th).

Three weeks later we invited our friends and neighbors Meg and Frank (Sub) Sublett to join us for a boat ride on our new Sea Hunt 255 Ultra. This would be our fifth day out on the boat since my wife Neile and I purchased it. We agreed to leave Winchester, VA, by 8:30 a.m.

for the two-hour drive to Bert Jabin Yacht Yard in Eastport, MD.

I scheduled the boat launch for 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning. These days we don’t need to call the yacht yard because we have a launch app, Speedy Dock, on our cell phones. Yes, you simply pull up the app, select the date and time for the requested launch, and hit send.

Arriving around 11 a.m., we touched base with Ryan, who seems to be the crew leader and “Lift Master” for the guys who drive the boat lifts. Our new boat Blue Pearl was in the water waiting for us. After loading our gear on board, icing the cooler, and stocking it with sandwiches and drinks we pulled away from the dock around 11:45.

Shakedown Cruise With Friends

We didn’t have a definitive destination for the day, but I had mentioned going to the South River to locate a protected anchorage, Harris Creek, and beach I had read about in William H. Shellenberger’s “Cruising the Chesapeake” guide.

The forecast was clear and sunny, no rain, with the wind out of the north at 10 knots. High tide was around 7 a.m. and low tide about 1:30 p.m. Wave action was forecast to be one to two feet, less in the afternoon. Good day for a boat ride.

My friend Sub, a retired American Airlines pilot and avid boater, has boated around this area a number of times, so I was very happy he and his wife Meg could join us that day.

When I asked Ryan about the weather, he said things should flatten out by the afternoon. In my review of the weather, I figured that with the wind behind us and the incoming tide, the Bay would be a little lumpy on our outbound leg and that was indeed the case. The boat performed well but given the tide, 10-knot wind, and the weekend boat traffic, we had a few wet moments but cruised comfortably at 15-20 knots.

We cruised the five-plus miles to Thomas Point Light and took a hard righthand turn to enter the South River. My hard right was not quite hard enough though and put us on a course for the West River not the South River.

I was following an enlarged scale view on the 12-inch Garmin, and at a glance it looked right… Lesson learned. Sub caught the problem, and we made a course correction to the #2 and #4 buoys at the South River. My objective was to pass buoy #8 and find the entrance to Harris Creek a little further to starboard and then anchor for lunch and let the dog play.

Exploring Idyllic Creeks

As we entered Harris Creek, Sub took over the wheel and I went forward to prepare the anchor. Boats were already anchoring there, some for the day, and the sailboats were on mooring balls so I’m guessing they had been there longer. We motored a little further up the creek and found a spot to anchor about 25 yards off the north edge of the creek in six feet of water.

As I looked around at Harris Creek, I was somewhat amazed at how peaceful

# We loved cruising around in that little Whaler. She was a bit of a head turner too.

# In the summer of 2017, I purchased a 1968 17-foot Boston Whaler Eastport.

and pretty this creek is with nicely kept modest homes, and every home had a dock, a boat, and kayaks. It seemed so idyllic and except for a couple of trips up the Severn River, it was my first time exploring a creek off the Chesapeake Bay. I’m thinking that the Bay is peppered with these little hideaways, so this boating around the Bay is going to be a very long-time venture.

This is a great place to kayak and hang out for the day. After confirming that the anchor had set properly, we broke out the sandwiches, cold drinks (seltzers this trip), and sat back and relaxed watching the kayakers and paddleboarders and spent some time checking out our new boat. Harris Creek is narrow but shows about 10 feet of water in the middle. We could

see larger boats further up the creek and watched a couple of 36-42-foot trawler design boats carefully inch their way past us.

From there we decided to head down to the West River and check on our friends’ 55-foot Defever (docked there at the time and awaiting a haul out for some planned work).

Sub continued to drive the boat out of Harris Creek, the South River, and south to the West River. The Bay waters had flattened out some, as Ryan predicted, so we decided to “ring it out” experimenting with speed and trim tabs control. This was new for us because none of the boats we have owned in the past had trim control independent of the motor control.

Even though we were in a center console with a shallow draft, we stayed within the marked channel because the West River has shoals that extend out from both sides of the shores.

Another pretty harbor with nicely kept properties on both shores. The two restaurants, Pirates Cove and Stan and Joe’s Riverside, were hopping on this beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon with boats docked at all the slips and the patio decks packed with sunkissed patrons.

We continued motoring to Hartge Yacht Yard and discovered that our buddy’s Defever was missing from the slip. We surmised that the boat was out of the water and inside getting painted. Probably a good guess because our friend was in Ocean City that weekend at the White Marlin Fishing Tournament and the Defever was not quite ready for an offshore trip.

As we turned to head back to Eastport, we briefly discussed stopping at one of the dockside bars for a beer. Sub knows me well enough that I could spend a few hours there sipping cold spirits and enjoying the view.

The time was 4:15 p.m. I reminded him that we still had a two hour-plus drive home after we returned to Back Creek, unloaded the boat, washed her down, and flushed the motor. The return trip offered up some calmer waters, so we continued to experiment with speed and trim tabs.

The Bay was rolling at about one foot, and the wind was lighter, still out of the north. We cruised with the incoming tide, comfortably getting the boat up to 35 knots, so it only took about 30 minutes to make the run from the West River to the entrance of Back Creek. After the washdown and flushing the motor, we headed inland and arrived in Winchester around 8 p.m.

Sub was impressed with the boat’s performance, the control console, and overall design of the Sea Hunt 255 Ultra.

An enjoyable day on the water with good friends and a comfortable and stable boat! #

# The Sea Hunt is our third boat.

# We christened our Sea Hunt 255 Ultra SE “Blue Pearl.”

# When our family of four adults and two adult dogs with a couple of bags of gear would get together, we quickly realized that a bigger boat was needed.

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 If your club has had a change of watch or appointed a new communications person for 2023, please let us know. 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!

Making a Splash

The Southern Maryland Boat Club (SMBC) made a very large splash in 2022. The club hosted two events in the American Power Boat Association’s (APBA) Region 4 Vintage and Historic (V&H) division.

The first weekend in June we hosted the annual Rumble on the River at Piney Point Landing. This location was home to Swann’s Pier, which hosted numerous boat races in the 1960s and ’70s. Saturday was blessed with great weather providing flat water with a lot of fun and excitement as engines roared back to life after a long winter’s nap. A new D Class made its debut comprised of small boats running two-cylinder engines.

Eight heats were run in the morning session and then repeated in the afternoon. Sunday heats were unfortunately cancelled due to safety concerns as the wind blew stronger than expected. Dinner Saturday evening was hosted by the Goddard and Gardiner families.

Historic Leonardtown Wharf saw the return of the annual Bash on the

Bay the last weekend in July. Owners/ drivers from Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, and Canada joined local members to put on a great show. More than 35 V&H outboards of various sizes and horsepower excited the crowd. Two beautiful days provided excellent conditions for heat exhibitions. Saturday night’s dinner catered by Bailey’s Catering is always a favorite with many a tall tale spun from the day’s activities.

In the fall of 2022, SMBC lost a legend to racing heaven with the passing of Mr. William (Bill) Edwards. He was a past regional and national

champion, and no one will ever forget the sound of his E&T Chrysler-powered tunnel boat (competition number 1937). He will be greatly missed.

This year, SMBC will once again host two V&H events: The Rumble on the River returns to Piney Point Landing the weekend of June 10 and 11, along with The Bash on the Bay at Leonardtown Wharf July 29 and 30. Anticipation is already building as several new to vintage boats are planned to be unveiled this year. If you’d like further information about SMBC, check out SMBC on Facebook or southernmarylandboatclub.com. Come out and join the fun!

# SMBC members mourn the passing of racing legend Bill Edwards. Photo by Ruth Hammett

Still Exploring New Waters

Meet Tom Bucklin, Chesapeake Sailor Turned Motor Yacht Cruiser and MTOA Board Member

After 30 years of exploring the Chesapeake Bay by sailboat, in 2018 Tom Bucklin and his wife, Tammi, made the jump to powerboating. In semi-retirement and with their four children grown, the couple desired to cruise to warmer climes, with a little more onboard space for themselves and their dog, Clara Belle, a Yorkie-poo. In 2019 the couple joined the Marine Trawler Owners Association (MTOA), and Tom now serves on its board of directors. With more than 2400 active members and 177 port captains around the country, it has proven to be a valuable resource and a source of great boating comradery.

Tom grew up sailing with his father on the Great Lakes and Pugent Sound in the Northwest. After a stop in Nebraska with the Air Force, Tom, a pilot, took an assignment at Langley Air Force Base and the family launched into several decades of sailing on the Chesapeake.

“I’ve boated all over the country,” says Tom, and there’s nothing like the Chesapeake Bay. For some boaters in other parts of the country, it’s an unknown gem. I especially encourage southern boaters to try heading north. Maybe the Chesapeake water isn’t as clear or blue, but there are so many spots to explore with many quaint towns full of history and restaurants that serve great seafood.

“We cruised all over the Bay as our children were growing up. There are plenty of coves and marinas for overnights or protection from a storm, and you’re never far from a boatyard if you need a repair. The variety of wildlife is impressive, too: dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays, blue herons, and more; and the sunsets are beautiful.”

Now Tom and Tammi enjoy life aboard their new-to-them 55-foot Fleming, Our Eden. The boat was located in the middle Chesapeake when Tom and his son took possession and delivered it home to the Southern Bay.

Heading to their homeport, the father-son duo stopped for the night, and the younger Bucklin jumped in for a swim. In short measure he became entangled with a sea nettle, and his screams immediately brought up Tom from belowdecks. New to this situation, he called across the water to several boaters from his club anchored nearby asking for suggestions on how to treat the stings, which covered a good portion of his son’s body. Multiple good Samaritan boaters launched dinghies, and soon medical professionals armed with supplies arrived, boarded Bucklin’s boat, and rendered aid, stretching the “patient” out on the galley table for treatment! Tom was sold on the value of the boat club and befriending other recreational boaters

who would look out for one another on the water (as well as share system maintenance tips). Hence, his volunteerism with MTOA.

“After we purchased the Fleming, we spent the first year and a half familiarizing ourselves with the world of trawlers and power boats. There was much to learn,” explains Tom. “Although we had many years of boating experience, we were coming from a simple 38-foot, single engine sailboat to a much larger boat with many systems. To help us enjoy the boat while exploring new destinations beyond the Chesapeake, it was essential for us to find a good club with members who had more powerboat experience than we did.

“In a single sentence, my MTOA membership has been a rewarding and most enjoyable experience,” says Tom. “My wife and I have met members up and down the East Coast and offshore in the Bahamas. MTOA has a lot to offer its members, and as a member of its board of directors, I hope to work with others in continuing its legacy of helping boaters be safe and to get the most out of their boating adventures.”

For the last few winters, Tom and Tammi have taken Our Eden to Florida for the winter. Using MTOA port captains in Florida as a resource, they identified Legacy Harbor in the Fort Meyers area, where the other slip holders have become like family. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ian scuttled plans for a return this season, but they found a good alternative in Stuart, FL, and have plans to head to the Bahamas later this season before returning to the Chesapeake in May.

Cruising Club Notes presented by Navigate, Explore, Connect.

Antique and Classic Boat Society - Chesapeake Bay Chapter

In November, 90 members attended the annual meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Chapter (CBC) of the Antique & Classic Boat Society held at Carroll’s Creek restaurant in Annapolis.

Now that most members have their boats put away for the season, it was a welcome get-together with fellow boaters. However, you do not have to own a boat to be a member, and we have found that those members without boats also very much enjoy the club’s events and cruises.

Chapter President Bob Hamilton got down to business as dessert arrived. Exemplary club members received awards for going above and beyond on behalf of the chapter during 2022. CBC’s annual gifts were presented to non-profits, such as the Sea Scouts, and votes were taken to elect the 2023 board. Other club news included highlights of CBC’s participation at the U.S. Powerboat Show in

Annapolis and the Sultana Downrigging Festival in Chestertown, MD.

On a cold but sunny day in early December, chapter members enjoyed a full day of holiday festivities at “Christmas in St. Michaels” weekend. A parade kicked off the day with a huge turnout of people lining the route to see an assortment of floats and displays. Several classic boats were featured and applauded as their CBC owners towed them on trailers. After dark, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum offered free admission to watch the welldecorated and lighted boats parade around St. Michaels Harbor.

The inspiration for launching the CB chapter of the ACBS came in 1982 from Herb Zorn (deceased) and Paul Warner of Annapolis. In addition to Paul, two other founding members, Chuck Warner and Jim Duffy,

are still active in the chapter today. CBC is one of the 57 U.S. and Canadian chapters that comprise ACBS, and one of the largest chapters in the Mid-Atlantic region. CBC’s 200-plus members are spread across more than six states.

Love boating but don’t have a boat? CBC encourages boaters without boats to ride with its members and enjoy this fellowship at a variety of events throughout the year.

Learn more at chesapeakebayacbs.org

Anchorage Marina hosted the 34th Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats on Saturday, December 3. This was a great event because it was more than just a boat parade.

More Than Just a Boat Parade

By Chris “Seabuddy” Brown

Temperatures were in the 50s, but the wind was brisk. Perfect timing to be greeted with “Holiday Cheer,” in the form of either hot chocolate (with whipped cream!) or spiced apple cider. Soon after, a tree lighting ceremony was underway fol-

lowed by carols sung by a children’s choir. Meanwhile the skippers were putting the finishing touches on their respective boat’s light displays.

Best of all was the proximity of the parade boats, tied along the entire length of the T-pier just a few feet away. Rarely do you get the chance to appreciate these carefully decorated masterpieces up close. Ample seating at the pier’s head allowed attendees to take in everything at the same time while they also enjoyed the complimentary food—hot chili, croissant sandwiches, and chocolate chip cookies.

The boats departed the marina around 5:15 p.m. and paraded past Fells Point, Harbor East, and the Inner Harbor before returning to Baltimore’s Canton area. You could also see these boats from multiple vantage points along the waterfront. Kudos to Anchorage Marina and its staff for a signature experience!

# The CBC entry in the St. Michaels parade.

CCWBRA Bids Farewell to a Friend

By Todd Steffes

Many members of the Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association (CCWBRA) family have been aware of the long struggle with cancer that TK Walker has gracefully borne. In December, TK passed away quietly in the presence of his loving son, Cameron, and wife, Angie.

Many of us got to enjoy conversations with TK and his close friend, Sam Wearly, at many racing events from Maryland to Florida to Tennessee. A true outboard motor expert, but an even better friend to share a beer with after racing, TK will be missed by all that knew him.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral or celebration of life at this time. When the time is right, Cameron, Angie, and family will celebrate TK and his lovely wife, Lawanna, along the Caney Fork River where they shared many wonderful times.

Looking to see Team PropTalk in action?

# Photos courtesy of CCWBRA

Calvert Marine Museum Celebrates Marine, Sail, and Power Boats

By Chris “Seabuddy” Brown

If you’re one of those Chesapeake Bay boaters already looking ahead to spring, you’ll want to mark your calendar for Saturday, May 6. It’s a special, one-day event hosted by the Calvert Marine Museum that celebrates old engines, outboards, raceboats, and raceboat drivers—all on display with free admission. Here you can explore how the unique combination of classic boats, natural history, and maritime heritage

tell the story of the Chesapeake Bay. Before we get deep into all this history, let’s talk about the museum’s newest masterpiece.

Her name is Witchcraft.

She was the terror of Lake Champlain competitions from 1903 to 1920 where she was raced by her original owner, William Bowditch Rogers. The next owner added an engine and competed in races around the Long Island Sound until the 1940s and then sold her

to Ken and Dorothy Saffer. They sailed her to Baltimore, MD, in the early part of the 1940s.

Witchcraft has been on the Chesapeake Bay since then. She’s a grand lady and a great addition to the museum’s collection of boats that have contributed to the Chesapeake’s sailing tradition. Dave Butler Jr. purchased her in 2008. He enjoyed the boat for years and did a full restoration. Donated in 2022, you’ll now find this beauty in her slip dockside under the Drum Point Lighthouse at the Calvert Marine Museum.

Built in 1903 by the well-known George Lawley & Son Boat Yard in Boston, Rogers launched her as Witch-

Making YOUR BOaT New Again!

craft II, a racing yacht. She eventually made her way down to the Chesapeake Bay on a treacherous journey during World War II. In 1970, a 30year restoration project was started to amend for all those years of sailing the Chesapeake. In 2007, Butler reconnected with Witchcraft after searching for her design plans. Butler and his brother, Bryan, had enjoyed spending summers on the Chesapeake sailing with their father and were elated to find that she still existed.

Butler has shown her at the Annapolis Boat Show as well as in the June 2022 Antique and Classic Boat Festival in St. Michaels. This magnificent sailing yacht always draws a crowd.

While you’re at the museum, you’ll also want to check out “Oystering in the Late 19th Century.” Local packinghouses processed and moved oysters from Bay to table and across the country. Most workers started early in the morning and worked as much as 12 hours a day, six days a week. The packinghouse was also a source of community and opportunity where shuckers were paid based on their productivity.

In the Discovery Room you can search for real fossils that range between eight to 20 million years old. The maritime gallery travels the Patuxent River through time, starting with the “Pawtuxunt” Indians during the time when they came in contact with Captain John Smith. Here you’ll learn more about the English settlers during the colonial period who grew tobacco and shipped it from the Patuxent River’s wharves to British ports.

Located next to the Small Craft Building and adjacent to the boat basin, the Patuxent Small Craft Center serves as the headquarters for the small craft program. Here, volunteers of the Patuxent Small Craft Guild share insights about the museum’s fleet of historic boats and preserve the art and skills of wooden

boat building. Boat building classes are held year-round for those interested in building a traditional wooden boat.

The Paleontology Gallery displays fossils from the Miocene epoch. That block of earth’s history lasted from about 23 to 5.3 million years ago.

Last but not least, you can’t miss the Drum Point Lighthouse. This screwpile, cottage-type light is only one of three remaining from the original group of 45 that once served the Chesapeake Bay at the beginning of the 20th Century.

410.263.8980 annapolisgelcoat.com

After it was decommissioned in 1962, the lighthouse fell victim to vandals. Volunteer researchers worked on gathering information about the history of this historic lighthouse. In 1975 this rare lighthouse was rescued, giving it permanent placement at the Calvert Marine Museum. Today it’s beautifully restored with appropriate period furnishings and is recognized as this waterfront’s main attraction.

Be sure to plan for a chock-full day on May 6!

Marine Engine Sales, Parts & Service

By Capt. Rick Franke

Due to the vagaries of magazine production, our February report “hits the docks,” so to speak, in mid-January. That makes this report a good one for looking back on some of our favorite stories from 2022. As I think back over the last year, many stories come to mind. We did 12 monthly Boatshop Reports incorporating 79 separate stories. They are all interesting and it is hard to choose just a few, but these are some of the the ones that stand out. Let’s start with two long term projects that came to completion during the past year.

The first is the completion and delivery of the Composite Yacht 55foot custom christened Skinny Witch, already known as “the fastest deadrise on the Bay.” This project first came to my attention in June of 2018. In an interview about the process of custom boatbuilding, Rob Hardy of Composite Yacht in Trappe, MD, described a development well under way.

“The owner’s requirements included a traditional Chesapeake profile and a top-end speed of 50 knots minimum,” Rob explained. “We have several traditional Bay designs in our line-up, but the classic deadrise hull is just not up to that speed requirement.” Consultation with naval architect Lou Codega resulted in a design which required 4000 horsepower and a length of 55 feet to support that much power and

meet the speed requirement. The next step was model and tank testing. This was necessary, because as Rod explained, “We don’t usually do tank testing. With our existing moderate speed designs, we know what they can do… but this is a new situation. We are definitely pushing the envelope on a traditional design with a conventional drive train.”

# The completion of the hull is always an important step in any building process. Here is Skinny Witch, fresh out of the mold, with the Composite Yacht crew.

The 55 continued to push the envelope with new construction materials and new and unusual construction techniques. We reported on progress every two or three months until the CY55 was completed and delivered to her owner in July of 2022. She met her speed goal and went to the Annapolis Powerboat Show in October.

# The engine room on Skinny Witc h. The twin MTU diesels provide the 4000-hp to drive her at 50 knots plus.

# The CY55 Skinny Witch , the unique “Fastest Deadrise on the Bay” waits quietly for delivery to her owner at Composite Yacht in Trappe, MD.

# The first frame of the Maryland Dove is raised in the shipyard at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD.

# The newly launched Dove undergoing sea trials on the Miles River near St. Michaels, MD.

The second long term project that came to completion this past summer was the construction of the new replica Maryland Dove at the shipyard at the Chesapeake Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. The selection of the museum to do the construction was announced in the March 2019 Boatshop Reports and her keel was laid in June.

The Dove was the smaller of the two vessels that transported the first settlers to what became Maryland in 1634. In October of 2021, we published a feature article titled “A Sailor Looks at the New Dove” (in our sister publication SpinSheet). In that article, lead shipwright Joe Conner said, “This is the fourth Maryland Dove counting the

original. There was one built in the 30s as a reproduction, the current one built in the seventies by Jim Richardson as a reproduction, and we started this one in June 2019. Some of the modifications to the 1978 design of the current Dove, drawn by William Baker, a well-known naval architect and expert on colonial era vessels, may be surprising.”

“We consulted Dr. Fred Hocker at the VASA museum in Sweden. He’s had a whole career studying 17th century British vessels. We applied a lot of what he’s learned through studying shipwrecks and underwater archeology to our plan. Another source of modifications is that this is a modern vessel,” Joe continued. “We must meet the US Coast Guard

requirements to carry passengers, so some changes from purely historically accurate are necessary… This boat was a coastal trader and had a fore and aft rig and that’s the way we will equip her,” he concluded. Another Coast Guard required change was the addition of auxiliary power, provided by two cleverly disguised 100 horsepower John Deere diesels. Additional outside ballast amounting to 20,000 pounds was also required to give her more stability.

We reported almost monthly on the progress of construction. She was completed and delivered to her owners, Historic Saint Mary’s City, in August of 2022 and almost immediately set out on a tour of Chesapeake Bay ports.

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

# The Coast Guard requires the Dove to have auxiliary power. This is her port 100 horsepower John Deere Diesel, one of two, after installation at CBMM.

# The Maryland Dove’s auxiliary running gear includes variable pitch propellers, seen here just before she goes in the water for the first time.

Boatshop

As I was growing up, much of my messing about in boats took place on the South River, West River, and the adjacent waters of the Bay. I have always had a fondness for the small West River village of Galesville, MD, and especially for the historic Hartge Yacht Yard. Hartge’s, as the yard was universally known, was established shortly after the civil war by Captain Emile Alexander Hartge in Shady Side, moved to Galesville in 1878, and was always family run. Hartge’s built a solid reputation as a center of boat building and repair.

As the second half of the 20th century progressed, many boat yards gradually changed to what we now think of as marinas, with the emphasis on resort services and amenities becoming more important than building and repair. As these changes engulfed Hartge’s, tension developed between the family members who wanted to expand the marina side of the business and those who wanted to stick with the core business of service and repair. In 1978 the original boat yard was split into a marina side, Hartge Yacht Harbor, and the building and repair side, retaining the name Hartge Yacht Yard, headed up by Emile Alexander Schlegel (Alex), Captain Emile’s great grandson and namesake. The two operations shared the original Church Lane site until 2009 when Alex moved the Yacht Yard operation to the vacant Woodfield Seafood property on the other side of the Galesville peninsula.

Fast forward to July of 2022. The following excerpt is from a joint news release from Hamilton Chaney and Alex Schlegel

which appeared in that month’s column. “We are excited to announce that after 13 years, Hartge Yacht ‘Yard’ is returning to its original Church Lane location in Galesville, MD, at Hartge Yacht ‘Harbor.’

Beginning September 1, Hartge Yacht ‘Yard’ will operate the service operation while Hartge Yacht ‘Harbor’ will continue to operate the marina. After purchasing Hartge’s in June of 2021, we began extensive investment into the entire facility. The piers, bathrooms, buildings, grounds, Wi-Fi, dinghy racks, processes, and procedures have all been our focus. We believe that this is the next step in making Hartge’s the very best it can be. With our marina expertise and Hartge Yacht ‘Yard’s’ service excellence, Hartge’s will provide a high-quality full-service marina experience…”

In our December column, Alex Schlegel reported that the new location is up and running and they are so busy that they are continuing to use the Woodfield location as an annex.

Astory which really surprised me is the ongoing and long-standing relationship between American Cruise Lines and Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD, as reported in our December column. American Cruise Lines specializes in small ship coastal cruising. It seems that most of their ships were built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding, and the cruise line is expanding their fleet.

According to a recent news release, American has ordered 12 new 109 passenger coastal cruising catamarans, all to be built at the Salisbury shipyard. The fleet will have unprecedented near-shore operating versatility and will operate exclusively in the United States. According to Charles B. Robinson, president and CEO of the line, “These boats can run almost anywhere, and because there will be 12 of them they will be deployed all over the United States.” In addition, Robertson said, “Together with Chesapeake Shipbuilding we built the first modern riverboats in the country. 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.” Chesapeake Shipbuilding is located on 13 acres on the Wicomico River in Salisbury, MD. They specialize in designing and building vessels up to 450 feet long.

That’s only four of the many stories that we covered this year. Some that we don’t have space for: the donation

of the 65-foot, 120-year-old sailing yacht Witchcraft to the Calvert Marine Museum, the expansion of Chesapeake Light Craft in Annapolis, MD, the new owners of Chesapeake Boat Club in Annapolis, MD, the appearance of the last World War II Army Air Corps crash boat in her original configuration at the Antique and Classic Boat Show in St. Michaels, MD, and the list goes on and on. We hope you enjoyed this look back at the old year. 2022 was a very busy and exciting one. Let’s hope that 2023 has just as much to offer. #

Authorized

American Eagle

first of 12 coastal cruising catamarans

American Cruise lines by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD.

Fi SH N EWS

By Lenny Rudow

Join the AIC and Eric P.

Both Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow and FishTalk contributor Eric Packard will be on the scene at the Annapolis Angler’s Club Saltwater Fishing Expo, scheduled for Saturday, February 25. The expo runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Packard will deliver a seminar on snakehead and pickerel fishing at 8:30 a.m., and Rudow will take part in the Light Tackle Fishing Panel Discussion at 1 p.m. including Capt. Chris Dollar, Capt. Ritchie Gaines, and Shawn Kimbro.

That Dam Agreement (Again)

Remember how Maryland “negotiated” an agreement with Exelon which essentially released them from the 2018 permitting condition that the company either clean up the nutrients and

sediments trapped behind the dam or pay the state to do it, the one that environmental groups sued over? Well, this winter they won that lawsuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated

the license to operate the dam (now held by Constellation Energy, an Exelon spin-off). The ruling, resulting from a suit filed by Waterkeepers Chesapeake and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, represents a rare victory for environmentalists working to ensure that corporate players profiting off of the Bay actually pay to play and means Constellation will have to reapply for licensing or follow the conditions imposed in the 2018 permit. Chesapeake Bay Foundation vice president for environmental protection termed the ruling “a cause for celebration.” Strangely, even though the state of Maryland stands to benefit greatly as the federal judiciary upholds permitting requirements the state itself made in the interest of improving Chesapeake Bay water quality, a Maryland Department of the Environment spokesman called the ruling “disappointing.”

# Come see Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow and FishTalk contributor Eric Packard at the Annapolis Angler’s Club Saltwater Fishing Expo on Saturday, February 25.

# There’s an awful lot of sediment behind those gates, and cleaning it up needs to be a priority.

Photo by Will Parsons/Chesapeake Bay Program

Insult to Injury

For those of you who have been following the neverending bunker battles, here’s some salt to rub in your wounds: The Virginia Marine Resources Commission rejected the governor’s proposed purse seining buffer zones in the Chesapeake Bay. Instead, the commission voted five to four to accept Omega’s proposal, which included no restrictions or changes and merely created a Memorandum of Understanding between Omega and Virginia to explore the possibility of protecting shorelines and limiting user conflict.

“Considering Omega Protein has a history of blatantly violating actual regulations, such as the Chesapeake Bay cap in 2019, it is extremely difficult to believe how a memorandum of understanding is going to accomplish anything,” said Mike Leonard, vice president of government affairs for the American Sportfishing Association. “While the proposed regulation was not a panacea, it surely would have had a better chance of limiting net spills and user conflicts than this do-nothing memorandum of understanding.”

Shady Stocking

Virginia DWR fisheries staff members were befuddled during a recent sampling event at Lake Chesdin when they discovered a hybrid striped bass. Hybrids (also known as “wipers”) are a cross between stripers and white bass and have not been stocked by the DWR in Lake Chesdin, which feeds into the Appomattox River, the James, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay. There’s a fear among biologists that if wipers escape a stocking point and enter a tidal river, they could eventually cross with wild rockfish and change the genetic integrity of the stocks. DWR notes that spillovers do occur and fish in Lake Chesdin do end up in the river, and this is why wipers have not been stocked here. They ask that if you encounter a wiper in Lake Chesdin or in a tidal river that you report it to fisheries@dwr.virginia.gov

Tournament News

Well, it’s February people… as one might surmise that makes for some pretty thin fishing tournament news. The CCA Winter Pickerel Championship is still on and runs through the month (visit ccamd.org for more info). And in the recap department, congrats go out to the winners of the Winter Classic, with iFishMD winning the Under Armor three-fish stringer, Light Tackle Ladies taking second place, and Dirty Dave & the Boys coming in third. Jessica Saum not only landed the JLS Rods Top Lady Angler division, but also caught the largest fish of the tournament, a 29.5-incher.

#

The CCA Winter Pickerel Championship is still on and runs through the month. Eric Packard caught this chain pickerel on an eastern shore millpond with a minnow under a bobber.

Things We Do To Lose Fish

By Eric Burnley

Let’s start with the big one: fishing line. Monofilament was invented by DuPont back before most of us were born. It has developed into so many different styles that it is hard to keep up, but the properties remain the same. It is damaged by sunlight and saltwater, and it stretches. Doesn’t sound like something you would use to go fishing, does it? Well, it was and still is the choice for many fishing situations.

One reason mono remains popular is cost. It is far less expensive than braided line. Second, it has much better abrasion resistance than braid and the stretch factor is good when trolling. The damage caused by sunlight and saltwater means mono must be replaced on a regular basis.

Let’s begin with the reel. I see people fishing with half-full reels. This is bad.

A half-full reel means your casts won’t go as far, and when you retrieve line, every crank of the reel only brings in a small amount of line. Keep those reels full.

Select the correct pound-test for the task at hand. You don’t need 50-pound line to catch croaker and spot. Most fish in the Chesapeake Bay can be handled with 10- to 12-pound test line and a properly set drag. I have brought big cownose rays to the boat with 12-pound line. However, I did have to replace the line as it was stretched beyond its useful life.

Then we have knots. I have pulled up rigs with knots that I can’t identify. There is no doubt why they broke off. Learn how to tie the improved clinch knot, the Albright knot, the Doppler loop, the perfection loop, the uni knot,

and the surgeon’s loop. All of these are available online or in instruction books. This is a great winter project.

Braided line is not exactly new. I have my grandfather’s rods and reels hanging in my office and the reels are full of linen line. It was a braid. After each fishing trip, Pop had to pull the line off of each reel into a pan of fresh water. Then he had to crank the line onto a drying reel. Once the line was clean and dry, he cranked it back onto the Ocean City reel.

Today’s braided line is much easier to use than that. It is also much thinner, has very little stretch, is not very abrasion resistant, and is more expensive than monofilament.

I do a lot of bottom fishing and braid is perfect for that. I can feel the slightest tap, I can tell what type of bottom I am over, and due to the thin line, I can use less weight to hold bottom. Because the braid is so thin and cannot stand any abrasion, I tie on a shock leader of 30- to 40-pound Fluorocarbon to the braid using an Albright knot. The shock leader is at least three feet long.

To save money you can use mono backing on your reels and then put on the braid to fill them up.

Your fishing line is the connection between you and the fish. You must be certain it is of the finest quality available, and you must be sure your knots are well tied. I have no facts to back this up, but I strongly suspect that cheap line and bad knots result in more lost fish than any other factor.

Right behind that would be the wrong hook for the job. Using a hook that is too big or too small will either cause you to miss the bite or lose the fish because the hook couldn’t hold.

This year I pulled a rig out of the surf with those unknown knots and two hooks that could have held Moby Dick. Add to that a sinker that would have anchored the Queen Mary and you can see why that angler lost his rig.

By Eric Burnley

Every fisherman and woman needs certain tools to safely perform the tasks required during a day on the water. While it is possible to get away with thrown together land-based tools, they will soon deteriorate under the salty conditions where we fish.

Fishing pliers are the number one tool that I can’t do without. I think I have at least three pairs right now and one pair I have retired to the kitchen. I started out with a pair just like the ones I saw mates using back in the late 1960s because I wanted to look cool. Then I discovered just how handy those darn things were.

As the pliers got lighter, I got new ones. I never did go with the ultra-expensive ones made with some space-age material, but my current pair is bigger and lighter than any I have owned. It also has cutters that will cut everything from mono to braid to wire.

The next tool I find very handy is the lipgripper. This will help you hold a fish while

you remove the hook or otherwise handle one with sharp teeth or fins.

They tell me it is very handy when you must hold a big rockfish in the water while you remove the circle hook or lure. Since I am still looking for my 50-pounder, I will just have to take their word for it.

The release tool I do know about. This allows you to release fish without touching them. I have used this on numerous occasions when catching school-rock. The tool slides down the line to the hook and you flip the fish over the line and off he goes. They want us to believe that 10 percent of the fish we release die. I don’t believe any of the fish we release using the release tool die.

A good pair of scissors is another valuable tool for fishermen. I use the ones cast off by the local chicken plants. They are inexpensive and while their useful life in the chicken industry is over, they have a long life in my tackle bag.

Top 100 Dealer List

The Pocket Yacht Company has been named one of the top boat dealers in North America by Boating Industry, the leading trade publication for the marine industry. Boating Industry announced the Top 100 Dealers during a black-tie gala on November 16 in Orlando, FL. Entering the 18th year of the Top 100 in 2022, the program honors the best of the best across the entire boating industry. “This year’s Top Dealers program brought on a stack of new applicants and new competition to the program along with very strong returns from multi-year winners. And we’re very excited to highlight the accomplishments of all, as new dealers join the ranks and others join forces to become one,” Boating Industry editor-in-chief and Top 100 program director Adam Quandt said. “I am so proud of our team for earning the Top 100 Dealer Award for the third year in a row,” says Pocket Yacht managing director and owner, Mark Schulstad. “It’s been a fantastic year full of growth and we are thrilled to provide a positive ownership experience from start to finish.” pocketyachtco.com

Great Dealerships to Work For

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas earlier this month named its 2022 Great Dealerships to Work For. The dealers were honored on December 7 as part of the MRAA’s Dealer Week, the organization’s annual conference and expo in Austin, TX. “Our certified dealers work hard each year to continue to improve their employee experience by not only surveying their teams and learning more about their work culture, but also by working with their teams to create solutions to issues identified by the survey,” Liz Keener, MRAA certification manager, said in a statement.

Young Leader Award

Haven Harbour marketing manager Sawyer Cornelius attended the 2022 Docks Expo conference where he was presented a Young Leader Award. The three-day event, held in Nashville, TN, and sponsored by Marina Dock Age magazine, brought together industry leaders from across the country to discuss topics ranging from marine fire safety to advertising and more. The Young Leader Award recognizes professionals under age 40 who have made significant contributions to the marina and boatyard environments. This year’s award class consisted of 23 honorees from across the country—representing a broad range of employment opportunities throughout the industry. Maryland-based Allie Modica, of Oasis Marinas in Annapolis, was also honored with a Young Leader Award, in addition to the Baltimore Boating Center (located in Essex) winning Small Marina of the Year. For information on this year’s Young Leader Award recipients, visit docksexpo.com/young-leader-award havenharbour.com

Send your c hesapeake b ay business news and high-resolution photos to kaylie@proptalk.com

“Many dealers find the employee satisfaction survey is one of the most beneficial elements of the certification program, as their team is integral to their success.” A record 27 dealerships qualified for the award by earning an overall score of 90 percent or better on the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program’s annual Employee Satisfaction Survey. Administered anonymously through the MRAA, the survey asks employees of certified dealerships to answer 32 ranking questions about overall satisfaction regarding their unique dealership’s customer relations, employee satisfaction, leadership, management, and reputation. Congratulations to Tri-State Marine in Deale, MD, for being awarded one of the 2022 Great Dealerships to Work For! Keith Rhodes, owner of Tri-State Marine, says: “It’s always nice when employees are happy—it results in not only a better work environment, but greater profitability. I am a strong believer that the only long-term, sustainable competitive advantage that a company has is its culture, which comes down to its people and their happiness. We’re thrilled to have been able to accomplish this for yet another year.” tristatemarine.com

DONATIONS

BROKER SERVICES

POWER POWER

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, admin@planet-hope.org, www.planet-hope.org

BROKER SERVICES

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

18’ Sea Ray ‘98 $21,000

David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

Ranger Tug R-23 2018 $149,937 The Ranger 23 is one of Ranger’s most popular models. A great weekender or overnighter. An excellent boat for enjoying a day on the bay. Call John Osborne at 410.490.6250 or john@pocket-yacht.com www.pocketyachtco.com

2023 Contender 24 S Yamaha F300 with Digital Steering, T-Top, Fully Customizable. CALL For Price. Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

20’ Cobalt ‘00 $14,500 David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

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

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

(Anger Management) 21’ Wellcraft ‘00 $12,000 Dan Tisoskey 267.784.7229 dant@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

24’ Port Carling Seabird 24 ‘37 Classic boat, professionally maintained. Lift/ Shed stored and trailer/indoors out of season. 454 - Fresh everything. This boat is a LOOKER! Call Rob Summers 443.771.4467 or www.seattleyachts.com

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

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

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

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

2020 Robalo R230 Yamaha 250 V-Max, Custom Trailer, Loaded with Options. REDUCED to $83,500 Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

2022 Bennington Close Out SaleCALL FOR DETAILS. Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

2022 Chaparral 23 SSI 200Hp Yamaha, LIFT KEPT. SALE $71,500 Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

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

Brokerage & Classified

29’ Dyer Picnic Boat ‘84 S Volvo diesel, Very nice condition $64,900 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

Ranger Tug R-29 2010 $149,937

Equipped with everything you need to spend time on the water. Overnight, weekend, or spend a week, you can handle all on this well-kept R-29. Call John Osborne at 410.490.6250 or john@pocket-yacht.com www.pocketyachtco.com

(Summer Recess) 33’ Wellcraft ‘03 $60,000 Tristan Weiser 609.420.0469 tristan@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

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

27’ Grady White ‘18 $209,000 David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

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

2008 30’ Robalo R300 Center

Console Twin Yamaha 350Hp four strokes completely serviced (under 600 hrs), electrical system service recently completed, newer electronics, Taco outriggers. $109,950 Urbanna, VA. Call Bob Hoefer 804.241.8924 bob@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

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

39’ Mainship 390 ‘99 Aft Cockpit Trawler Twin Volvo Penta 200Hp Diesels. AC - Garmin - Island bunk forward/ Genset and more... Asking $85,000 Reduced. Contact Rod Rowan 703.593.7531 or www.seattleyachts.com

Ranger Tug R-27 2022 $249,937

“Messin About” is well-equipped and is ready to start the new spring season. AC/HT litho Battery package runs the AC unit in place of a generator. Bow thruster, autopilot, VHF radio, stereo, etc. Call John Osborne at 410.490.6250 or john@pocket-yacht.com www.pocketyachtco.com

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

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

(Game Hog) 40’ Robbins ‘99 $139,000 David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Spirit) 29’ Tiara ‘97 $44,500 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Lady Nicole) 33’ Bertram ‘80 $45,000

David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(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

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

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

(Fuels 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 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 2022 Contender 44ST Tower w/ Triple 425 Yamaha, Dealer demo. SeaKeeper, Excellent Electronics. REDUCED to $835,000 Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.com

2008 Sea Ray 52 Sedan Bridge Tw QSM 11’s Hydraulic Platform, Fully Equipped and in Very Good Cond. ASKING $536,900 (SALE PENDING) Waterfront Marine 443.949.9041 www.waterfrontmarine.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

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

(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

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

ART

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 - Annapolis & Baltimore for three-day-a-month magazine distribution route in Baltimore 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

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 S ERVICES

M ARINE S ERVICES

SLIPS

PropTalk Word Search

Can you spot the 20 boat/engine manufacturers in the puzzle below? Email your completed puzzle to kaylie@proptalk.com by February 1 for a chance to win a PropTalk hat! We will do a drawing of all the correct responses and announce the winner in our March issue.

zfpxtelvspiatns hwbkzfoalelfiwa diroroanruammxm jaebskermrbpoar yetdttxrcuaprrt seadooossyapeos awwnqfinorauaaq heeknrkrwlymmho aldkhektehayatc mlicngaranarept acthzftupcilajb yrikuzussfyleii iaouepursuityrg cffgutregnarsat wtsportsmanrprb