Reference: National Fisherman, March, 1979 While cruising the Bay in their deep-draft sailboat, Gilbert and Virginia Klingel were often intrigued by the creeks and shallows they could not access. As a retirement project, Klingel designed a flat-bottom sailing scow with the idea of accessing those remote spots. Drawing on his memories of Vietnamese sampans of …
May 22, 2025 – Gazette-Journal
An article was recently published in the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal, titled “Underwater scientists recreate Klingel’s exploration.” To read the online version, posted May 21, 2025, click here…
Hope for the Chesapeake Expedition
Inviting you to an event to meet the team of explorers who will be revisiting Gilbert Klingel’s study of the Chesapeake Bay off of Gwynn’s Island, as he did in the 1950’s. Event takes place Tues., May 13, from 6:30-8PM at the Williams Wharf Pavilion. To quote Bernadette La Casse, of the Mathews Land Conservancy, …
Restoring Gilbert Klingel’s Freya
Recently we hauled Freya to the “hard” at the Islander Marina. We had a great crew to help with the transport. Tom Edwards used his boat to transfer her to the marina and had Tony Bongarzone, Sue Bonner and Ted Broderick to help with the lines. The bottom was cleaned, tuff job for Preston and …
October 4, 2023 – Gazette-Journal
Photos in the Gloucester Mathews Gazette-Journal from this year’s Heritage Day. Go there
Sept. 27, 2023 – Gazette-Journal
Article in the Gloucester Mathews Gazette-Journal highlighting “Maritime Heritage Day Saturday” Go there
The Green Heron
The boat, Green Heron, that Gilbert Klingel built allowed him to continue his passion for observing the far ends of creeks and rivers, where wildlife and plant life were undisturbed. She draws only a foot of water and remains upright on the shore. She is a scow design which is flat-bottomed and her sail was Lateen, which is …
Heritage Day 2023
The Mathews Maritime Heritage Festival is back this year and will take place both at the Museum at 482 Main Street AND at the Gwynn’s Island Boat Shop on Old Ferry Rd. There will be music, food, activities and exhibits, storytelling, boats, and lots of rich maritime history. When: Saturday, 9/30/23Time: 10AM-4PMWhere: Mathews Maritime Museum …
UPDATE on Gilbert Klingel’s “Freya”
I recently returned from a trip to Maine, in part to visit with Mark Jackson on Green Island. Mark was the Maritime Technical Instructor at Vinalhaven High School and he was seeking a boat that needed restoration and would fulfill the need of his project; to provide a sailing experience and a challenge for the …
May 20, 2021 – Gazette-Journal
This week’s Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal remembers Gilbert Klingel in an article titled, “This year marks 70th anniversary of Klingel’s ‘The Bay’”. Follow this link to read the article on the Gazette’s website