39' Watts Chesapeake Ketch (1954)- SEA CLOUD

Sea Cloud is a Chesapeake workboat inspired ketch designed by J Murray Watts and (we think) built by Salisbury Shipyard in Maryland. Plans of a VERY similar boat were published in The Rudder in 1951 just before J Murray Watts death, and we feel that she was modified from the Bugeye rig in the plans to the gaff main/marconi mizzen rig she currently sports, as well as the removal of the doghouse.

She was owned by Dr Peter Briggs Myers for several decades, and she was based in Crab Alley Creek, on Kent Island MD. I have heard from those who knew him that Sea Cloud was his pride and joy, and in the last three years of his life he had thousands of hours of work done to keep her afloat and useable. When he passed away in 2018 she was donated to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and obtained by a pair of their shipwrights who replaced the coach roof in it’s entirety as well as most of the rigging.

I bought her from them in July 2023 and we replaced a lot of the electrical, did a fair bit of engine work and were in the process of painting topsides…almost got them done before rain and snow and cold halted paint. Currently we’re stripping the interior and waiting for haul out in March or April to tackle the rest of the exterior.

We’ve only sailed her on the Choptank River in light winds thus far, but are very much looking forward to spending time on her after haul out.

If anyone knows any further history on this boat, her builder, or previous owners we’d love to hear from you!!!