Chesapeake Bay Skipjack

All Blog Posts (106)

9/18/10: New Helpers

Brice Stump's marvelous article in the Salisbury Daily Times alerted the Delmarva community that the two 70 year old owners of the Skipjack Ida May could really use some help to complete the restoration of the boat. And the community responded. After reading the article, Frank Antes of Tyaskin MD and called Elbert Gladden up and offered his expert boat carpentry services. He is literally an answer to a prayer. We cannot thank Frank enough. He is featured prominently in this week's video… Continue

Added by ida may on September 18, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Ida May Will Not Be In This Year's Deal Island Labor Day Skipjack Race

Sorry to report that the Ida May will not be in the 51st Annual Deal Island Labor Day Skipjack Race. Although we have made certain milestones, such as finishing the bottom, we are still many months away from completion of the boat. We have much work to do on topside now, but we vow to be in next year's race. For information about the 51st Annual Deal Island Labor Day Skipjack Race, click on link below.…

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Added by ida may on September 2, 2010 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Ida May Spotlighted in Salisbury Daily Times

Thanks to journalist Brice Stump for highlighting the Ida May in this week's "Shorelife" section of the Sunday Salisbury Daily Times.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20100829/LIFESTYLE/8290324/-1/NEWS17/Restoring-an-old-skipjack

Added by ida may on August 29, 2010 at 9:30am — No Comments

8/21/10: Underneath the Boat

Gordon, Elbert, and David Gladden and Tom Evans worked underneath the Ida May today, adding about six inches to the keelson. The work was hard on the knees and elbows. It certainly wasn't very comfortable crawling around underneath the skipjack, but it was especially hard for Elbert and Gordon, who are no spring… Continue

Added by ida may on August 21, 2010 at 10:00pm — No Comments

8/7/10: Tearing Out Rotten Boards From the Port Side

Gordon and David Gladden spent the day tearing out rotten boards and pulling stubborn nails. Elbert Gladden took the day off to watch, get this, 5 games of fast pitch softball!!! Elbert loves fast pitch and tries to watch it anytime he can. He still plays softball (modified) at 75 years of age.

Notice on the video segment of this week's work the Skipjack Fannie Daugherty, owned by Capt. Delmas Benton, in the background, on blocks at Scott's Cove…

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Added by ida may on August 7, 2010 at 10:30pm — No Comments

8/7/10: Tearing Out Rotten Boards From the Port Side

Gordon and David Gladden tear out rotten boards from the port side of the Skipjack Ida May. Elbert took the day off today to watch 5 games of fast pitch softball. Elbert loves his softball and at 75 years old, he still plays.… Continue

Added by ida may on August 7, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

7/16/10: More Stern Post

Gordon, Elbert, and David Gladden and Tom Evans worked on the stern post of the Ida May. We struggled all morning with trying to fit the board just right, planing a little here, and a little there, but West System will hide any imperfections. The rudder will fit onto the stern post once both are finished.

Added by ida may on July 16, 2010 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Ida May Oyster Dredging Footage: 12/14/1991

The Gladden family has recovered old VHS Tape Footage of the Ida May dredging oysters on the Tangier Sound on 12/14/1991. The footage is of Gordon Gladden as he escorts friends and family on a day of dredging. The Captain is Bobby Leath. Thanks to Dick Barr, who did the videotaping. The footage is significant in that it shows evidence of Dermo and MSX… Continue

Added by ida may on July 15, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

7/10/10: Stern Post

Elbert, Gordon, and David Gladden work on the new Stern Post for the Ida May while Wesley supervises.

Added by ida may on July 10, 2010 at 6:00pm — No Comments

7/3/10: Longitudinal Board

Elbert, Gordon, and David Gladden and Cody Donalds replace the longitudinal board of the port side of the Ida May. The longitudinal board runs parallel to the keelson on the inside of the boat and provides support and stability for the perpendicular running bottom boards.

Added by ida may on July 3, 2010 at 11:00pm — No Comments

6/19/10: Cutting Out Rotten Boards on Port Side of Ida May

Gordon and David Gladden and Tom Evans cut out rotten boards on the port side of the Ida May. Unfortunately, we ran out of tape for the video camera before we finished the job.

Added by ida may on June 19, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

6/12/10: Last Bottom Board on the Starboard Side

Elbert, Gordon, and Elbert replace the last bottom board on the starboard side. It was the last and toughest board to fit. We're going to need a lot of caulk to seal the gaps.

Added by ida may on June 12, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

6/5/10: Sanding and Grinding

Gordon and David get help on the Ida May from Salisbury resident, Tom Evans. Thank you so much, Tom, for your hard work. We sanded and grinded today in preparation for painting copper on the Ida May's bottom.

Added by ida may on June 5, 2010 at 7:30pm — No Comments

5/29/10: Tight Quarters

Elbert, Gordon, and David worked in cramped quarters in the starboard stern/cabin/sides area. We screwed in what we call the longitudinal board, which is the brace for the bottom boards. We had to bend the board quite a bit to match the shear of the boat, but we were very satisfied with the results. Now that we have finished so much of the bottom, it's becoming increasingly more difficult to get inside the boat. The work becomes that much harder in the cramped quarters; screwing boards,… Continue

Added by ida may on May 29, 2010 at 11:00pm — No Comments

5/22/10: Still Replacing Bottom Boards

Gordon, Elbert, and David worked on replacing the Ida May's bottom boards, starboard side. The weather was so pleasant that we didn't even have to erect our shade tarp. We're very close to finishing the bottom!

Added by ida may on May 22, 2010 at 11:00pm — No Comments

5/15/10: Replacing Bottom Boards

It was a beautiful day to work in Chance, MD. Breezy, not too humid, and sunny. The wind is keeping the bugs down, thankfully, but when the wind dies, the no-see-ums eat us alive. We're moving slowly but surely, replacing bottom boards on the port side. Fifteen more weeks until Labor Day! We are hoping to be in the Deal Island Skipjack Races this year.

Added by ida may on May 15, 2010 at 10:30pm — No Comments

5/4/10: At Cropper Brother's Lumber Choosing Mast and Boom

We visited Cropper Brother's Lumber in Willards, MD to choose a couple straight trees to make the mast and boom for the Ida May. Check out the many pictures we took of the process of stripping the bark from the trees to make bare poles.

Added by ida may on May 4, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

5/1/10: Worked Full Day and Wore Gordon Out

We worked a full day on the Ida May. The weather was perfect, especially once we erected our tarp to shield us from the sun. We put on 6 bottom boards and wore Gordon completely out. The morning was easy and fast work, but the afternoon proved slower and more difficult. Sometimes the boards just slide into place and other times it's a struggle to fit. We plane the board a little here and a little there, put the board into place, and then realize we have to shave off a little more. A few times… Continue

Added by ida may on May 2, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

4/10/10 and 4/24/10 Videos Posted

After a long winter, Gordon, Elbert, and David Gladden are back to working almost every week on the Ida May at Scott's Cove in Chance, MD. The videos of 4/10 and 4/24/10 are now posted and there will be more videos and pictures to follow.

Added by ida may on April 25, 2010 at 7:30am — No Comments

3/20/10: Sanding/Grinding and First Aid

Just Gordon and David today. Elbert not feeling well. More sanding, or is it grinding? Gordon cuts his finger open with the electric grinder tool. Ouch! The cut is broad but not too deep. We bandage Gordon up and he continues working. He is tough. We apply some West System to some particularly rough parts. Next week we will finish sanding and start painting.

Added by ida may on March 20, 2010 at 10:00pm — 2 Comments