We are volunteers who meet weekly at CBMM to work on preservation and conservation of the boats in the Small Boat Shed. We work under the direction of CBMM’s Conservation Manager Sam Hilgartner.
Some of us came to the SBC volunteer team with boatbuilding and maintenance skills and experience. Others started with no experience. All of us have gained new skill and experience in marine survey and metrics, hull repair, finish painting and varnishing, rigging, leatherwork, and tool selection and maintenance.
Contact Sam to learn more about our work and how you can join us: shilgartner@cbmm.org
Projects Under Way
“Ghost” – Ed Leatherbury Skiff Replica
Description and work plan are here.
More photos are here.
Seaside Bateau, Bessie Lee
More photos here.
Smith Island Powered Crabbing Skiff
Description and work plan are here.
More photos are here.
Good Little Skiff
Pete Culler design. Built by CBMM shipwrights and apprentices in 2025.
We are sanding and applying hull finish to this boat.
More photos are here.
Lady Katie, Rowing Skiff
Early planning phase.
More photos are here.
2026 Completed Projects
Two-Sail Crabbing Bateau, Cinnamon Girl
Read the Cinnamon Girl profile here.
We performed this work:
- Scraped, sanded, painted bottom, topsides, interior, rudder, centerboard.
- Sanded and varnished spars.
- Replaced upper plank of transom.
- Replaced plank on port side.
- Replaced 4 rotted knees.
- Repaired and replaced risers and mainmast partner (mizzen position)
- Replaced sprit snotters and cleats.
More photos are here.
Delaware Ducker
Description and history are here.
We sanded and refinished hull, interior, daggerboard and rudder, tiller and spars.
More photos are here.
2025 Completed Projects
Log Canoe, Merry Widow
We built astructure for safe shipment to CBMM warehouse.
More photos are here.
Pushboat for Skipjack Rosie Parks
Description is here.
We completed this work:
- paint all around
- varnish
- paint and oil interior
- clean and paint engine where needed
- minor repairs
More photos are here.
Smith Island Skiff, 1920
Description and history are here.
Work completed:
- Scrape and sand
- Paint interior and exterior
- Repair/replace fasteners
- Replace plank sections affected by “iron sickness”
- Replace rotted floor frames
More photos are here.
Smith Island Skiff, 1925
Description and history are here.
Work completed:
- Scrape and sand
- Paint interior and exterior
- Repair/replace fasteners
- Replace rotted floor frames
More photos are here.
2024 Completed Projects
Sharptown Barge
Description and history are here.
The Sharptown barge was thoroughly brushed and vacuumed to remove dirt buildup from interior surfaces and grit from bottom plank edge joints. The exterior was scraped to remove unsound paint, and the exterior was sanded smooth. Bottom planks and side planks to the water were painted with dark red oil-based marine paint (not anti-fouling bottom paint). Topsides were painted with gloss white oil-based marine paint. The interior was treated with 50% boiled linseed oil and 50% Penetrol. The cradle was scraped, sanded, and repainted with flat black oil-based marine paint.
More photos here.
