BUILDING THE EASTERN SHORE STICK-UP A

摘要

The Chesapeake Bay region has probably spawned the most diverse collection of boat types of any single region on Earth. In the bay's comparatively short history, its many aquatic riches and the diverse needs of its many inhabitants have instigated the creation of all manner of working craft from skiffs to ships. But the largest and most diverse category of all has evolved to meet the needs of the fishing industry. As the bay oyster fisheries developed, the "sharpie" type of craft was borrowed from the Connecticut shore. Sharpies evolved from Native American log canoes. Hence they were narrow for their length and shallow of draft. By the time the huge trees required for log canoes were depleted from convenient locations (near the waterfront), sawmills had arrived on the scene and plank stock became available, enabling the construction of plank-on-frame hulls. As round-bilged hulls required skill and many tools (having curved frames and spiled planks), an alternative shape was sought utilizing less demanding techniques. The sharpie fit the bill, having straight, flaring topsides, straight frames and floors, and a flat bottom. The whole boat could be built from lumberyard plank stock, with minimal labor. As a result, sharpies were often built by the fishermen themselves, or came out of small shops employing a man and a boy, who could knock out a finished boat in a little over two weeks.