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| Harbor Ice This charcoal and pencil sketch of skipjacks at Deal Island, MD depicts man versus nature in a non-classical "x" composition (note placement of the dominant lights and darks). Skipjacks are shallow-draft wooden sailboats (25-60 ft. long) favored by Chesapeake Bay oyster dredging and crab pot fishermen. The Chesapeake Bay skipjack fleet is the last commercial sailing powered fishing fleet in North America. Today, there are only about 30 left and many of these are in such poor condition that it is unlikely they can be restored. Skipjacks appeared around the mid-1800s and peaked by the end of the century. This line of hand-made shallow-draft wooden sailing vessels is sloop-rigged, with a sharply raked mast and a long boom, about the length of the deck. This sail plan affords the power needed to pull the dredge, particularly in light winds while minimizing the required crew. In order to provide a stable platform when dredging, skipjacks have very low freeboard and a wide beam (averaging one third the length of the deck). A centerboard is mounted instead of a keel. Due to state laws, the boat has no motor other than the windlass. Many have a beautiful hand-carved figurehead on the bow. The original sketch is in a private collection but limited edition prints and note cards are available. |
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