Historical Ships Article

The Chesapeake Bay has long been a staple of American life. From
the earliest days of colonization, the Bay has been used to
harvest seafood, transport cargo, and have fun. Indeed, the
variety of water moods and uses of the Chesapeake Bay have given
rise to many modifications to boats that are unique to the area.
Model boats of the Chesapeake Bay reflect this fact, and it is
possible to purchase or build from kits model boats of the
Chesapeake Bay that serve as little history displays.

Available model boats of the Chesapeake Bay

The sailing canoe. Dugout canoes were in common use by Native
Americans before the arrival of the Europeans. However, as
oystermen needed boats that could hold a great deal of their
catch and still get quickly to market for the best prices. These
model boats of the Chesapeake Bay then evolved into the more
colorful bugeyes and skipjacks to dredge for oysters.
Eventually, buyboats emerged (though really cut-down versions of
pungy schooners) to purchase the catch from the dredgers and
then take to market.

Pungy Schooners. These make much more impressive displays of
model boats of the Chesapeake Bay than do those that evolved
from the sailing canoe. These are modified schooners with wide,
flat decks designed to quickly carry perishable cargo. However,
they were traditionally painted pink and green, unusual colors
for schooners. Lady Maryland is a replica of a pungy schooner,
and the only pungy currently in existence.

Hooper Island Draketail. Of the model boats of the Chesapeake
Bay, this is one that is probably one of the most distinctive.
It is known as one of the “Bay-built” boats, and its stern looks
like the tail of the cock mallard (hence the name of the boat).
This type of boat, originating in the 1920s, is said to be the
first of the Chesapeake Bay boats built for power.

Potomac River Dory. This type of boat was especially meant to
work the Potomac River. It was especially good as a fishing
boat, catching bass. Because the dory is a sail boat, it looks
nice in any collection, and especially amongst other model boats
of the Chesapeake Bay.

There are, of course, other model boats of the Chesapeake Bay.
Indeed, the variations on boats that the Bay gave rise to would
make an impressive collection if one wished to devote a display
of model boats to those that worked the Chesapeake Bay area
throughout history.