In 2002 the Dorchester Skipjack Committee produced a 55-minute VHS video on the building of the last skipjack built in the 20th century. These historic Chesapeake Bay oyster dredge boats, built of wood, have almost disappeared from the Maryland scene. In the early 1900s there were well over a thousand sailing skipjacks. Today there are fewer than twenty still sailing.

In 1991 the all-volunteer Dorchester Skipjack Committee took on the job of building an authentic skipjack using local building materials and the knowledge and skill of county waterman and boat builders. Their work has been carefully recorded and now will be available through this new video to all interested parties.

"Building the Last Skipjack" was funded in part through a Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network grant from the National Park Service.

The video has received two awards: The "Crystal Award of Excellence" from the Communicator Awards and the "Silver Telly" award from the 24th Annual Telly Awards.

The video and DVD are available locally at the Richardson Maritime Museum, 401 High Street, Cambridge or through the Dorchester Skipjack Committee.  VHS - $10.00, DVD $15.00, both plus MD tax and S&H.

Contact us for ordering details.