The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum (RFM) was recently gifted a 99-year-old traditional Chesapeake Deadrise Draketail with a Dolphin Nose Stern.
The beautiful boat, Fannie, is 36 feet in length, has a 6-foot beam and a 2-foot, 6-inch draft, reported executive director Shauna McCranie. The boat was built in 1924 by Charles Spencer who built two boats in his yard at Brick Inn on Main Street in St. Michaels, Md. One of the boats was named Fannie, after his daughter.
History has it that Spencer sold Fannie to the Charles Kilmon family who worked her during World War II from Oak Creek near Newcomb, Md. The Kilmon family sold Fannie to Thomas Melville, who kept her on Balls Creek near Neavitt, Md., with plans to restore her, although that restoration work was not carried out during his ownership. When Melville moved to Ohio he sold Fannie to Douglas Edwards, who restored her at his Lankford Bay Marina during the winter of 1979-80. He renamed Fannie after his daughter, Christina Lynn.
Edwards sold Christina Lynn to James Roddey, a customer of his at the marina, in 1992. Roddey, of Pittsburgh, Pa., had Edwards replace Christina Lynn’s 1920 Palmer Engine with a new 63B Westerbeke Diesel, he added a Cuddy Cabin with leaded glass windows, and bright work. He kept the boat at Lankford Bay Marina and renamed her, Old Coot.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Pickens purchased Old Coot at Lankford Bay Marina in 2006 and returned her registration to Fannie. They have maintained and enjoyed her since that time at her home port in Ware Neck on the North River of Mobjack Bay.
RFM is honored and overjoyed to receive her as a gift from the Pickenses, said McCranie. Fannie will be a pleasure craft which holds six passengers and two crew. She will be used by members and guests at Cocktails on the Creek. Much as the museum’s Elva-C, she is a beautiful addition to the dock at the museum for all to enjoy for many years to come.
Fannie will be captained on Cockrell Creek by Pat Darr and maintained by Brooklyn Ranson-Williams.
“Reedville will be celebrating 150 years as a town next summer of 2024 and the Fannie will be celebrated as turning a century old as well. 100 years of history in the Fannie is quite a gift to receive,” said McCranie.
