Specializing in Nautical Items Relevant to the Chesapeake Bay Region
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Barcat Skipper by Larry S. Chowning

Barcat Skipper by Larry S. Chowning

A gem of a book about the life of a select group of watermen from Tangier Island, Virginia. Tangier is a small island in Chesapeake Bay, about 10 miles below the Maryland state line that was settled over 300 years ago by a rather independent, somewhat eccentric group of people-many descended from Revolutionary War loyalists. The focus of the book, Larry Chowning’s first, is on Elmer Crockett, the Barcat skipper of the title. Born on Tangier in 1903, Mr. Crockett shared the reminiscences of his lifelong occupation as a waterman. Sometimes two or more events have been woven together, sometimes names have been changed, a poetic license taken, but-all in all- the tales are a true mirror of life on Tangier. This is the real stuff, told by a natural-born storyteller, recorded by a sensitive reporter with an ear for the turn of phrase and the rhythm of the island speech. Re-issued and autographed by the author. A great gift.

19.95

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Chesapeake Bay Buyboats by Larry S. Chowning

Chesapeake Bay Buyboats by Larry S. Chowning

Buyboats are part of the Chesapeake's maritime heritage. They evolved from the sailing schooners, bugeyes, pungies, and log canoes so familiar in the Bay's background. One of the most amazing features of all these boats - sail, conversions, or new - is the way they were built or modified. Chowning has written the definitive work on the history of these boats. By including the personal narratives of the people who were involved with them, the author has presented a generous slice of life on the Bay, spanning many decades. Tidewater Publishers, 2003. Hardcover. 260 pages. 8 x 11. Autographed by the author.

34.95

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Chesapeake Legacy: Tools & Traditions By Larry S. Chowning

Chesapeake Legacy: Tools & Traditions By Larry S. Chowning

BACK IN PRINT. A second volume, expanding the scope of Harvesting the Chesapeake, Legacy is a treasure trove of little-known gems about life in the Chesapeake region: tales from the days of fishing under sail, reminiscences from women who survived in the waterman's world, recipes for salting herring and cooking muskrat, descriptions of distinctive fishing vessels from bygone eras and their modern equivalents, and even an account of a very special tradition-the harvesting of human souls through baptism by immersion! Autographed by the author.

29.95

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Deadrise and Cross-Planked by Larry S. Chowning

Deadrise and Cross-Planked by Larry S. Chowning

“In Deadrise and Cross-planked, author Larry Chowning takes readers on a journey into the history of twentieth-century wooden deadrise boat building, highlighting its role in Chesapeake Bay culture, providing deeper insight into the builders who created these works of nautical ingenuity. Chowning uses research spanning more than a quarter of a century to explore a traditional maritime culture on the brink of extinction, through the eyes of the boat builders and watermen who worked and played on them. More than 150 photographs complement this insider’s view of the watermen’s lifestyle and offer a glimpse of the history that spans the thousands of nautical miles of the Chesapeake Bay.” From the back cover. Autographed by the author. Tidewater Publishers, Nov. 2007.Paperback. 178 pages

34.95

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Harvesting the Chesapeake: Tools & Traditions by Larry S. Chowning

Harvesting the Chesapeake: Tools & Traditions by Larry S. Chowning

Many of the implements and skills used by Chesapeake Bay watermen had their origins in the 1600s. Some of these tools and traditions are likely to disappear by the twenty-first century. With this in mind, writer Larry Chowning began to document the harvesting of the Bay, gathering much of his information from elderly practitioners of the trade, making sure that the crafts and the lore of the Bay’s harvesters are preserved in words and pictures. His talent foe getting people to trust him with their reminiscences and their trade secrets is evident in the book’s sparkling dialogue and outstanding photographs. OUT OF PRINT. CALL FOR USED COPIES

29.95

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Our First 20 Years

Our First 20 Years

A history of the Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park in pictures-2002-2022

25.00

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The Bay by Gilbert C. Klingel

The Bay by Gilbert C. Klingel

Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, Oct. 1984. Awarded the John Burroughs Medal of the American Museum of Natural History. Paperback. 288 pages. 8.4" x 5.5"

27.00

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