Apprentice-for-a-Day: Build a Traditional Rushton Rowboat

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, Maryland, is offering its winter–spring session of the popular Apprentice-for-a-Day program. On Saturdays and Sundays from January 8 through May 29, participants will work with a museum shipwright and learn traditional Chesapeake boatbuilding techniques while constructing a 16-foot Rushton double-ended rowboat, the classic “Florida model.”

The course runs over a 17-week build schedule. Participants may join for the entire project to experience every stage of construction, or register for individual dates to focus on particular skills. For those wanting a sampling, the “Journeyman Special” package lets you attend any four days at a reduced rate and gain exposure to several different techniques.

Registration and fees: individual sessions are $35 for museum members and $45 for non-members. The Journeyman Special is $125 for members and $170 for non-members. Participants should be at least 16 years old, or younger if accompanied by an adult.

To register or get further information, call the museum at (410) 745-2916. You can also email Dan Sutherland at [email protected] or Richard Scofield at [email protected]. The full schedule is available on the museum’s website.

Model Guild Weekend: Craft a Half-Hull of the Pride of Baltimore II

The CBMM Model Guild will hold a weekend model-building workshop on March 26–27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will be guided step-by-step by skilled volunteer modelers to produce a half-hull model of the Pride of Baltimore II. Each half-hull is bandsawn from a block of wood and carved to reflect the rounded lines of the original vessel, then mounted on a baseboard as an attractive wall display.

These workshops are open to anyone aged 12 and up, and all skill levels are welcome. Classes are intentionally small—limited to six students—to ensure personalized instruction. A parent-child option is available at a special rate to accommodate younger builders.

The workshop fee is $80 for museum members and $90 for non-members. All tools and materials are provided. To register, call (410) 745-2916; for additional information call (410) 745-3266. Pre-registration is required by March 21.

Model Guild Weekend: Build a 10-inch Chesapeake Bay Crabbing Skiff

The Model Guild will also host a weekend workshop focused on a 10-inch Chesapeake Bay crabbing skiff. Sessions run the evenings of Feb. 25 from 6–9 p.m., and full days on Feb. 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers will lead participants through construction using two-toned flat stock built over a frame—mirroring the methods used to build full-size skiffs.

Open to participants aged 12 and older, this class is limited to six students. A parent-child rate accommodates younger children. The cost is $80 for members and $90 for non-members; tools and materials are supplied. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 21; call (410) 745-2916 to sign up.

Changes to Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Regulations (Effective January 1)

Beginning January 1, Maryland anglers encountered significant updates to saltwater sportfishing licensing requirements implemented by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. These revisions align state regulations with federal requirements, including participation in a national database of saltwater anglers.

Key changes include:

• The introduction of the Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License, a single comprehensive saltwater license replacing the previous structure in place since 1985. The new license covers Maryland waters off the Atlantic coast—including coastal bays—as well as the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries.
• The NOAA National Saltwater Angler Registration is no longer valid for fishing in Maryland waters. Instead, the Department of Natural Resources will provide angler contact information to NOAA using data gathered through state licensing and registration.
• A revised fee structure for recreational sport fishing licenses, including changes to several non-resident license categories and an extension of short-term licenses from five days to seven days. Registration requirements were also updated for certain previously unlicensed anglers.

For detailed information on fees, exemptions and specific licensing rules, consult the Maryland DNR’s licensing page or contact customer service at [email protected] or (410) 656-9526.

Visitor Survey: CBMM Earns High Marks

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum once again received outstanding survey results in a visitor study conducted during OysterFest ’09 and in the spring and summer of 2010. Administered by the Center for Nonprofit Management through the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), the Visitors Count! survey measured visitor attitudes about exhibits, programs, customer service, museum communications and facilities.

Compared with 114 peer institutions, CBMM earned top ratings and “gold standard” recognition for its positive impact on community quality of life and for the trustworthiness of exhibit and program information. Visitors also reported that the museum provides an engaging environment for exploring complex historical topics and for creating memorable shared experiences.

Cleanup Work After Marina Fire

Contractors from Eastern Environmental Management responded to a fuel release at McCotters Marina in Washington, North Carolina, following a fire on January 7. On January 8 they collected absorbent pads saturated with diesel and gasoline from Broad Creek. Containment boom helped limit the light sheen, and cleanup teams worked through the weekend to remove petroleum-contaminated materials. In total, crews recovered 63 barrels of oiled absorbent pads.