Modern Boat Building

As you may know, Caroline County is the only completely “landlocked” county on the Eastern Shore - not counting rivers - meaning we do not touch the Chesapeake Bay or the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, the craft of ship and boatbuilding in Caroline goes back to before European settlers set foot in Maryland. Though our little slice of the world has undergone many changes in the hundreds of years humans have inhabited it, present-day companies like Mathews Brothers, Judge Yachts, and the Caroline Boating Center continue to keep the tradition of boating and boat-building alive.

Chesapeake-area Native Americans first built one of their primary methods of transportation, canoes, out of meticulously hollowed trees. During the Colonial and Revolutionary War eras and up until the late 1800s, ship manufacturing was a booming business. The Choptank River was by far the quickest way to get around, and it functioned as our metaphorical tie to the rest of the world. Ships carried mail, visitors (returning or new), goods and materials, news, entertainment, you name it. The Choptank was so central to the functionality of Caroline County pre-mass land transportation that many historic homes along its banks have their front door facing the River rather than the road. Perhaps that puts into perspective why there were multiple shipyards in Denton and Greensboro, and at least one in Preston, Federalsburg, Williston, and Hillsboro. In addition to these companies, many individuals, like the Native Americans, were able to craft their own vessels for personal use. A fact which just might go to show how ingrained shipbuilding is in the roots of Caroline County: what is believed to be the first piece of land patented in the new county after it was founded in 1774 was owned by Thomas Skillington, who was a shipbuilder by trade.

Between 1771 and 1885, Caroline County shipbuilders produced 42 total vessels. The majority of these were schooners, sailing ships with more than two masts. It’s hard to imagine these beasts sailing up the Choptank River to Caroline County, let alone being built here. But the truth is that historically, Caroline’s shipbuilders attracted wealthy businessmen who commissioned their ships specifically. One of the most well-documented ship-building companies was Satterfield and Moore, which operated in Greensboro during the latter half of the 19th century. Satterfield and Moore built large, luxurious ships that carried a reputation for their stamina. The Olivia Davis, for example, was built in Greensboro in 1864 and became one of the only vessels of her kind to sail around the globe before meeting her untimely demise off the coast of Sydney, Australia. The George Churchman, also built by Satterfield and Moore, was built in 1874 and remained in use in international trade until 1921, proving to be a very enduring ship. Each was commissioned by folks who could have gone anywhere for their maritime needs, but decided that Caroline County’s craftsmen were the best ones for the job.

For the boatbuilding businesses in Caroline today, it’s the passion for the job that keeps the customers flowing. Judge Yachts in Denton was founded in 1988 by Bill Judge and has not changed hands since. “We are small, but we build an amazing product that is loved on the Chesapeake Bay,” representatives of the company said. They currently have about 15 to 20 employees. “We have a good crew, but it is dirty work some days. Our employees take pride in building Judge boats from the ground up. Each one has their own specialty and job in the process. The day ranges from laying fiberglass and rolling gelcoat, to the console electronics and installing rod holders. There is a lot in between. We also service our boats and help our customers with any concerns and needs they may have,” they said, “It isn't for everyone, that's for sure.”

Mathews Bros. is another Denton-based boat-building and servicing company. While their shop is located in the old industrial park near Crystal Avenue, Mathews Bros. also owns Mathews Bros. Landing on the Choptank River – land on which boats have been built and docked for centuries. Spencer Mathews is the current owner, having purchased the company from his dad, Pete, 18 months ago. Pete Mathews started the business with his brother, Bob, and business partner, Jeff, in 1994. Mathews Bros. also has that tiny but mighty workforce, with 16 total employees. “We do it all,” Spencer said, “and we all get our hands dirty. We all have things we’re really great at, but we all have to know pretty much everything about boat-building.” “I’m very, very strict with my quality control,” he added.

Kevin Barnes owns Caroline Boating Center in Ridgely, where he's been keeping customers' boats afloat since 2002.

Just like those old ships commissioned for out-of-towners, each company said they have done work for people all over the country. “For me, they’ve been as far as Maine and Florida, and a couple of places in between,” Mathews said. Barnes has had customers come from "as far as Rochester, New York." Judge Yachts said they have Judge boats “on the East and West coast from the North to the South.” But for all of them, most of their customers remain in the Chesapeake Bay area, where boating is a staple. The fact that Caroline County doesn’t touch the Bay or the Ocean does not deter Mathews from going big, “We work on 51-foot boats up here and they go straight down the Choptank out into the Bay and go down to Florida,” he said.

Having grown up in the business, Mathews said that while the materials and tools used to build the boats have greatly improved, the techniques have remained the same: “There’s a lot of fine carpentry involved.” One thing that hasn’t changed is his dad’s involvement in all aspects of the business, despite his purchasing it, “I couldn’t keep him away with a 10-foot pole,” he joked. But Mathews said he is grateful to have his dad around to butt heads with and learn from at the same time. "Technology has changed," Barnes said. He mentioned new built-in navigation tools like GPS and fishfinders have rocked the boat-maintenance industry. Judge takes pride in his business’s mantra, “Our passion is to build your dream.” His website reads, “Each Judge Yacht is built by hand on the Eastern Shore of Maryland,” carrying on a centuries-long craft that has been, and continues to be, so important to Caroline County’s heritage.

Mathews said that not only is Caroline County a great place to own a business, but it's also home. “Farm country is where I was born, it’s where I’ve always lived, and we just like the quietness of it. I think it’s good for industry when there aren’t a lot of people right around you,” he said. Centuries worth of boat craftsmen would agree.