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Bay Buyboats Come To Chesapeake Bay Museum

Eight Chesapeake Bay buyboats will rendezvous at the Museum from August 7-9. CBMM members and visitors can board the boats on Friday, August 8, and Saturday, August 9.

Chesapeake Bay buyboats were primarily used to go out on the fishing grounds to purchase crabs, fish or oysters from watermen, so the watermen could continue to fish and the catch could get to market more quickly.

According to writer Larry Chowning, author of the book "Chesapeake Bay Buyboats," there were around 1,000 of these boats on the Bay in the 1920s and 1930s, but there are fewer than two dozen left on the Chesapeake today.

The boats, all meticulously restored, are part of the annual reunion of buyboat owners who tour the Bay each summer. This is the fleet's first visit to St. Michaels.

Tying up at CBMM and welcoming visitors to board throughout the weekend will be the 60-foot P.E. Pruitt, captained by Kevin Flynn; the 60-foot East Hampton, captained by Dave Rollins; the 70-foot Nellie Crockett, captained by Ted Parrish; the 60-foot Muriel Eileen, captained by Dave Cantera; the 50-foot Bessie L, captained by Andy Newman; the 55-foot Samuel M. Bailey, captained by Steve Bailey; the 50-foot Thomas J, captained by Tom Parker; and the 60-foot Prop Wash, captained by David Wright. -- www.cbmm.org

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