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.

NEW AT SKIPJACK- THE MARINER NAUTICAL BRACELET FOR MEN AND WOMEN

The Mariner Nautical bracelet in navy blue nylon and stainless steel shackle clasp.

Looking for a new attractive accessory to dress up your nautical attire? Look no farther-  the new Skipjack MARINER nautical rope bracelet  for men, women or children is the perfect accoutrement for your coastal lifestyle!  This affordable nautical bracelet features a reef knot tied with navy nylon cord and uses a stainless steel shackle, making it easy to get on and off. The Mariner bracelet is perfect for boaters, surfers, beach goers or anyone that enjoys being in or around the water- quick drying nylon and stainless steel shackle won't rust! Bracelets are available with small (7/8" long) or large (1-1/8" long) shackles

Skipjack's MARINER nautical bracelet for men and women

Bracelets are sold by their actual length to the half inch. For best fit measure the diameter of your wrist with a cloth measuring tape or wrap a piece of string around your wrist and then measure the length of the string against a ruler. We have found most people select a bracelet 1" - 1-1/2" larger than their wrist size. Please call or email for sizes smaller or larger than listed.




The Mariner bracelet is perfect for boaters, surfers, beach goers or anyone that enjoys being in or around the water

The Mariner nautical rope bracelet will easily ship in a Small Flat Rate box by USPS Priority Mail in the USA for approximately $5.00! You may also want to preview our complete collection of nautical themed and island inspired jewelry at Skipjack's nautical jewelry.

Modeling the Skipjack "Virgil G. Dean"

Skipjack model by Garry Cerrone

Garry Cerrone loves the patina of use. Tools whose handles are worn to reflect the users hand. Banjo heads with a pattern of how the player strummed the strings. Door sills and stair treads worn to reflect the thousands of footfalls that have crossed them. To Garry these are visual poetry. In his models, he tries to capture that same essence. Boats that are respected and cared for but well used. Boats that show the patina of use, the effects of the weather and time but still convey to you that they are loved by their users. Garry's models all reflect this poesy of use. With stains of rust, peeling paint, graying sun bleached wood. They are loaded with detail, most created in his studio by scratch building, casting or other techniques. All model boats are fabricated from scale lumber also made in his studio.

The modeling of  the Skipjack "Virgil G. Dean" is now a work in progress in Garry Cerrone's Maryland studio.  Preview with us the techniques used by Garry in constructing the handcrafted model of the "Virgil G. Dean" from beginning to end in three separate blogs. Section one: the hull, decking, rudder and rails.

ABOUT THIS MODEL: Garry's model of the Virgil G. Dean is being constructed from measurements taken originally by H.I.Chapelle in 1942. The Skipjack was built in Cambridge Maryland in 1897.

This vessel carried the bugeye rig of three sails on the dead-rise skipjack type hull. Originally the Dean had her cabin trunk forward and a sunken platform aft. The cabin trunk was moved aft when she had her freeboard raised by 6".

According to Chapelle many early oyster boats had unstayed masts until the advent of the powered dredge winders.

This boat in 1942 only had stay on her foremast. This model is made in the true style of the original deadrise boats. The style is called box construction and being hard chined with cross planked bottom does not require the framing of a round bilged vessel such as the Pungy. This made dead rise boats much more economical to build and maintain.

Planking...A view of the hull receiving her deck planking of scale lumber made in my studio of Basswood. Photo by G. Cerrone

In making Garry's art models, he starts with larger pieces of wood which are planed and sawn to the scale dimensions. When using a conifer such as sugar pine or spruce, he looks for tight grained slow growth stock. A few years ago,  Garry found several pieces of just such sugar pine that had aged in his father’s garage for years. This is perfect for planking. His favorite wood, however, is Bass wood. Garry often starts with 5/4 rough dressed bass wood then milled to size. In some models he has used both pine and bass.

In the Virgil G. Dean bass wood is used extensively. One advantage of bass is that it can be made to look like rough weathered wood or a very smooth newly finished surface. If staining is required it takes color well because it does not contain a pitchy sap. The consistency of the wood also makes bass good for the lay up. In assembling his models, Garry often uses wood glue but this requires holding the pieces in place while the glue dries and cures. With such small pieces clamping is often the least efficient holding method so he uses small model railroad spikes to pin lumber in place while the glue works. When the glue has set the spike are removed. The grain consistency of bass makes spiking the mini-timbers less difficult.

Wood being a natural material is subject to changes in humidity. It swells when damp and shrinks when dry. To help keep this atmospheric variation from causing the planking to move a lot, Garry coats the inside of the hull with a marine epoxy which acts as a moisture stabilizer helping to keep checking to a minimum.

The keel from the stern/upside down.

The two pictures above show the planking and the keel installed. Garry uses model railroad spikes for temporary holding until the glue dries. These models average about 300-400 pieces of scale framing and planking just in the basic hull. In the shot of the keel, the deck and all other planking has been sanded to a uniform surface.

Here's a shot of the bow starting to take shape.

Forward log rail being set in place. To attach the rail three types of glue are necessary. I use wood glue, epoxy and Acc depending on the requirements.



View of the unshipped rudder.

Shown above is a view of the unshipped rudder. Counting all of the nut, bolt washer castings , planks and gudgeons etc. There are over thirty pieces making up this detail.



First shot of the Dean without most of the coming details.

The aft rail and rudder in place.

Shot of the Dean bow without most of the coming details.

The pictures above show the Dean without most of the coming details. In these photos her planking is on, sealed with epoxy (inside) and primed. Her masts are set temporarily just to see the proportions. Her jib boom and rudder are on. As on a 1 X 1 version, Garry has worked his way up from the keel.

 In section two, Garry will focus on the application of the scale hardware such as windless, deadeyes,anchor, chain plates, dredging gear and the over a dozen blocks needed to complete the model of the Skipjack "Virgil C. Dean".

2011 Marine Folk Art Show- Featuring Traditional American Folk Art by Jac & Patricia Johnson



Exceptional sternboard carving titled "Mermaid & Sailor" by Jac & Patricia Johnson.

Jac & Patricia Johnson's work is essentially an outgrowth of their lifestyle – grounded in American tradition but thoroughly infused with modern nods to technology and progress. A piece of their work may start with a hand sketch, reworked digitally for scale or size, but will finish under careful consideration of where each knife and chisel mark will make the most impact. Hand working, with traditional tools and techniques proven by time, ensure a true melding of the old with the new.



A weathervane directional in the form of a jellyfish with tentacles by Jac & Patricia Johnson.



The Johnson's have over time shifted their work from period reproductions of antiques to pushing the boundaries of traditional American folk art forms, seeking to explore the association of universal human themes as they relate to traditional folk art and modern 21^st century life. Employing symbolism, and observing the human tendency to dwell on boundaries they use creative manipulation of natural, traditional materials; be it a block of white cedar or a stack of salvaged iron to fashion evocative works that challenge their creativity.



"Lobster" a large wall carving by Jac & Patricia Johnson.



Public and Private collections hold varied works from different periods of their production. From 1991-1996 their focus was creating the best reproduction Southern style working decoys possible. From 1996-2002 they transitioned their work to pure American Folk Art, inspired by classical folk art forms and techniques, heavily influenced by primitives. 2002 saw a change to more one-of-a-kind and limited edition designs and commissions as a response to market changes from the excess of import art, which remains their focus to the present day. This low output, high quality design process has been the most rewarding period of their careers.

"Redfish" Hand carved with great detail and finished by Jac & Patricia Johnson.

The Johnson's studio setting influences their design choices. Their rural community provides inspiration from its wildlife and waterfowl plentiful in the area. The forest and fields around their 100 year old farmhouse in southeastern Virginia provide not only inspiration, but acquired items of yesteryear that can be recycled and repurposed into modern masterpieces of American folk art. Old tin barn roofs become wings for eagles and crows, or a roof and porch for a birdhouse. Vintage porch railing spindles become bases for carved white doves. Old pennies transform into eyes for folk art fish. This wonderful process of rebirth allows for self expression through their art.



“Swimming Mermaid with Starfish and Shells” by Jac & Patricia Johnson.

You can preview the latest creations by the Johnson's at Skipjack Nautical Marine Galleries 2011 Marine Folk Art show (June 3rd through June 29, 2011). You can also see Jac & Patricia Johnson's marine folk art by visiting their page under Skipjack's Marine Art division.

It’s a folksy collection of whales, mermaids, fish, fowl, carvings, paintings, models, trade signs, weathervanes folk and sailor art. Some are whimsical, others memorable, but they are all simply delightful. The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery! The show runs through Wednesday, June 29, 2011. It’s the greatest folk show in town!


*The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show was featured in the summer edition of Sea History Magazine!

Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery is located in Olde Towne Portsmouth on the riverside of the historic Seaboard Railroad Building next to the High Street Basin and ferry landing. Our front doors face the Elizabeth river and are just a few steps away from the historic Hog Island Lighthouse Fresnel lens! Open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 5 PM. Sunday 1PM to 4 PM. Other times by appointment. (757) 399-5012

The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show

Folk-carved Humpback Whale by Southhampton artist Randy Kolhoff

It’s a folksy collection of whales, mermaids, fish, fowl, carvings, paintings, models, trade signs, weathervanes, folk and sailor art. Some are whimsical, others memorable, but they are all simply delightful. The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show opens this Friday at 5 PM at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery located at One High Street (on the riverfront) as part of Olde Towne Portsmouth’s First Friday Events.

Virginia decoy carver Gentry Childress

Featuring original folk carvings by Randy Kolhoff, Steve Hazlett and Jac & Patricia Johnson, decoy carvings by Gentry Childress, “folky fish” wall art and furnishings by Joe Marinelli, contemporary scrimshaw by Tony Perry as well as other marine artists works. A variety of vintage and antique folk carvings and marine folk items will also be on hand.

Mermaid weathervane by Jac & Patricia Johnson

Scrimshaw artist Tony Perry will also be at Skipjack during opening weekend and decoy carver Gentry Childress will be at Skipjack, Saturday, June 11 throughout the day to demonstrate his fine artwork. Go to Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery’s news/events page at http://www.skipjackmarinegallery.com/ for their complete schedule of artist demonstrations. The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show runs through Wednesday, June 29, 2011. It’s the greatest folk show in town!

Folk art carvings from a previous Skipjack Marine Folk Art Show

*The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show is featured in the summer edition of Sea History Magazine!

Anchor Recovered Believed to be from Blackbeard's 'Queen Anne's Revenge'

Anchor recovered believed to be from Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge.

An anchor from what's believed to be the wreck of the pirate Blackbeard's flagship has been raised from the ocean floor off the North Carolina coast.

Archaeologists believe the anchor recovered Friday is from the Queen Anne's Revenge, which sank in 1718. That was five months before Blackbeard was killed in a battle.

The artifact is the second-largest item at the shipwreck, outsized only by another anchor.

Researchers retrieved the anchor from the shipwreck about 20 feet under water and were bringing it to shore. The work to retrieve it began last week. The anchor is about 13 feet long and 8 feet across.

The anchor was located on top of other items that the Queen Anne's Revenge project hopes to recover from the central part of the ship. QAR project director Mark Wilde-Ramsing has said the only remaining parts of the ship -- the wooden hull structure, ribs and a plank -- are at the bottom of the pile, protected by ballast that was stored there to keep the ship upright. Six cannon and four anchors are also in the pile.

The Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, has already yielded more than 250,000 artifacts.

 The largest exhibit of artifacts from the shipwreck, which was discovered in 1996, will be shown starting June 11 at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Wilde-Ramsing has said the team hopes to recover all the artifacts by the end of 2012.

In 1717, Blackbeard captured a French slave ship and renamed it Queen Anne's Revenge. Blackbeard, whose real name was widely believed to be Edward Teach or Thatch, settled in Bath and received a governor's pardon. Some experts believe he returned to piracy after growing bored with land life.

Volunteers from the Royal Navy killed him in Ocracoke Inlet in November 1718, five months after the ship thought to be Queen Anne's Revenge sank.

The Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, has already yielded more than 250,000 artifacts.