The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Model Guild is offering a beginner’s model boatbuilding workshop from 9am-5pm on March 3 and 4, with limited participation and advanced registration needed.
The weekend workshop includes instruction on carving a solid half-hull model of the historic Chesapeake Bay tugboat Delaware. This model is band-sawed from a two-tone wood block and carved to the rounded shape of the Delaware’s hull. The cabin and pilot house are cut from the same pieces. The pieces are then shaped and sanded to a fine finish and then mounted on a baseboard to form a wall display piece.
The workshop is taught by the skilled craftsmen of CBMM’s Model Guild, who enjoy sharing their knowledge and techniques with CBMM members, visitors, and students.
Built in Bethel, Del. by William H. Smith, 1912 tug Delaware once hauled scows on Broad Creek—often laden with lumber—and towed ram schooners to and from Laurel, Del. Occasionally, she carried parties of young people to Sandy Hill for day trips on the Nanticoke River. Donated to CBMM by Bailey Marine Construction in 1991, Delaware is now a floating exhibition along CBMM’s waterfront campus.
Adults and children 12 years of age and older can participate in the workshop, with all tools and materials supplied, as well as some use of the Model Guild’s power tools. The two-day workshop takes place in CBMM’s Bay History building and is $80 for CBMM members or $110 for non-members, with participants taking home their half-hull model at the end of the workshop.
Registration is required to cbmm.org/delawarehalfhull, with more information about CBMM’s Maritime Model Guild and Sailing Club at bit.ly/CBMMModelGuild, or by contacting Bob Mason at 410-745-3266 or at [email protected].