Patuxent Small Craft Center

Located next to the Small Craft Building and adjacent to the boat basin, the Patuxent Small Craft Center serves as the headquarters for the small craft program. Here, volunteers of the Patuxent Small Craft Guild, under the direction of the museum's boatwright, maintain the museum's fleet of historic boats, and preserve the art and skills of wooden boatbuilding. Boatbuilding classes are held year-round for those interested in building a canoe or rowing skiff.

The Patuxent Small Craft Center is also the home for members of the Solomons Island Model Boat Club. Model boat races are held in the adjacent boat basin.

Join the Patuxent Small Craft Guild

Patuxent Small Craft Guild Facebook Page

Build a Canoe

Have you ever wanted to build your own canoe? Calvert Marine Museum is now offering the chance to build a 16-foot wooden canoe to fit your schedule. With the “Build a Canoe by Appointment” program, you provide us with two consecutive days and we will put you on the calendar.

Invite your family or friends to join in the fun of building your very own 16-foot wooden canoe. With simple hand tools and guidance from experienced instructors, your canoe and paddles will be assembled and ready to paint at the end of your second Saturday.

A fee of $600 for CMM members and $650 for non-members includes all materials necessary to complete one canoe and paddles, except paint. No experience necessary! Children ten years and up are welcome in the company of an adult. Hours of the class are 9 a.m. to 5p.m. both Saturdays.

Calvert Marine Museum also offers a similar class in building a 12-foot rowing skiff. The cost for the skiff is $950 for members and $1,000 for non-members. For an additional $800 you can have a sailing version, including sail, spars, daggerboard, and rudder.

Financial assistance is available to qualified applicants from the Melvin Conant Memorial Youth Fund. The Fund was established in 2004 to encourage young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to participate in programs offered by the Calvert Marine Museum’s Patuxent Small Craft Center.

For details and scheduling contact George Surgent at 410-586-2700 or gsurgent@comcast.net.

Early Chesapeake Single-Log Canoes: A Brief History and Introduction to Building Techniques. By Alexander Lavish and George Surgent of the Patuxent Small Craft Guild. Out of print. Click here to download a copy.

Boats for Sale

Check back for upcoming items.

Call George Surgent at 410-586-2700 or email gsurgent@comcast.net.