New Nautical Belts at Skipjack

Made in the USA for the seafarer's lifestyle, the new additions to our nautical-inspired leather tab belts are designed for days aboard your boat, evenings socializing at the yacht club, and is the perfect belt for everyday wear.

Skipjack's new Yachting Burgee's nautical inspired belt.

Our new yachting burgees nautical belt is the perfect accompaniment to wear out for an evening at your yacht club. I personally love this belt to be worn with my favorite khaki pants, traditional dark blue blazer and white Skipjack polo shirt! Click here to order your yachting burgee nautical belt at Skipjack.

ABOUT YACHT CLUB BURGEES: Members belonging to a yacht club or sailing organization may fly their club's unique burgee both while underway and at anchor (however, not while racing). Sailing vessels may fly the burgee from the main masthead or from a lanyard under the starboard spreader on the mast. Power boats fly the burgee off a short staff on the bow.

Traditionally, the first time a member of one club visits another, there is an exchange of burgees. Exchanged burgees are then often displayed on the premises of each, such as in a club office or bar. Anyone want to exchange belts?

The sailing regatta nautical belt at Skipjack.

Each June, Alison and I race our vintage 1962, 26' Pearson Arial in the Cock Island Race, one of the largest sailboat races held on the east coast annually here in Portsmouth, Virginia.  This sailing-inspired belt reminds us of the numerous sailboats with colorful hulls and sails as the boats maneuver for top position before the beginning of the race. You can purchase our nautical-inspired Regatta belt by following the link here to Skipjack's webstore.

Skipjack's nautical international signal flag belt now available in three colors.

Due to customer demand, we now offer our most popular nautical belt, the international signal flag, in three color web grounds. Choose between red, white or blue for your belt's web backing.  And like all of Skipjack's nautical belts, they're the perfect accoutrement for khakis, jeans, or corduroys and of course to wear with your favorite worn cargo shorts too! This cotton web ribbon belt for has full grain drum-dyed leather billet and buckle ends accentuated by the solid brass buckle. MADE IN THE USA! You can order a Skipjack signal flag belt by following the link here to our webstore.

Choose between red, white and now blue web grounds.

 Preview our collection of casual sportswear for men and women including shirts, hats, caps, belts, and other specifically designed nautical and boating accessories at Skipjack's Nautical Apparel on our website or come and visit us at our store located on the riverfront in historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.

Modeling the Skipjack "Virgil G. Dean" With Garry Cerrone: Part Two

The full sweep of the shear with the gentle curve of the jib boom can be seen here.

At this point, the superstructure of the Virgil G. Dean model by Garry Cerrone is complete. As can be seen the main hatch is in place as is the cabin trunk. The masts are set and aligned with the use of wedges called partners. The centerboard and rudder are also installed. It is at this point of building that Garry draw the greatest pleasure from just viewing the sculptural aspects of the form. Being able to hold the form is an added experiential plus.

In this view the hard chine of the deadrise hull melds into the stem near the water line. This unique part of the skipjack is often fabricated using large blocks of wood chiseled to graceful confirmation. This model of the Dean is made in that traditional fashion.

 As in most work boats, the form and function of the skipjacks are very closely intertwined. They must be fast and strong under sail to haul the "drudges" full of oysters yet be capable of carrying a full load of product without floundering. Much of the beauty clearly rests in the grace of the sweeping sheer enhanced by the jib boom which is traditionally slightly arched on the top to continue the visual line all the way forward.

Looking aft we see the cabin trunk in all of its utilitarian functionality. This is a no nonsense , low headroom compartment that can used to cook in , sleep and get a crew man out of a blow but not much else.

  Although the traditional skippy employed a somewhat standard method of fabrication there was much room for individuality from boat to boat. Width of beam, width of transom and entry all were choices faced by the builder. But perhaps the most important influence on the construction of any wooden boat such as a skipjack was the length of the available keel, as that always determined the length of the hull. For Garry, the ultimate aesthetic aspect of the skipjack design was that it grew from a need, used native materials, was locally built and was thus totally organic from concept to operation.

This port side view gives one an overall sense of proportion and the rack of the masts. The two masted or three sail bateau's as they were called were popular in the early years of skipjacks but went out of fashion later. In many cases three-sail boats were converted to single mast rigs.

With the hull complete, begins a whole new phase of construction. As an artist, this is the most creative and downright fun. This is the detail creating part. That part that makes it quite clear what these boats did to pay their way. In this phase all of the machinery of oystering, dredges, dredge winders, pusher boats, davits and sails get designed fabricated and installed. There will be more on that in the coming weeks.

You can visit part one of this blog by following the link here "Modeling the Skipjack "Virgil G. Dean". You can also visit Garry Cerrone's page on Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery website by following the link here Garry Cerrone at Skipjack.