Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

What’s a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise?

— Watermen’s Museum —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. What’s a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise? Marker

Inscription. The Chesapeake Bay deadrise is a boat built specifically to work the shallow. choppy waters of the Bay and its rivers. "Deadrise" refers to the V-shaped bottom that grows progressively sharper as the "V” moves from the stern toward the bow. The deadrise design was developed around the 1880s

Deadrises are used for oystering; clamming: catching crabs, eels and horseshoe crabs in pots; and netting fish. Designs vary in different regions of the Chesapeake Bay.

Designed for workspace, the deadrise has a large, open cockpit. The low freeboard (boat-sides) makes a shorter stretch for a watermen lifting in heavy crab pots or manipulating oyster tongs.
(captions)
Engine Compartment Deadrise are usually powered with single diesel engines adapted for salt water.

Deadrise only need 2 to 3 feet of water between the bottom of the Bay and its rivers. <

Erected by Watermen's Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 37° 14.366′ N, 76° 30.618′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It can be reached from Water Street 0.3 miles west of Buckner Street

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, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located on the grounds of the Watermen’s Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 Water St, Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pale Moon (here, next to this marker); Virginia Chesapeake Bay Patent Tong Work Boats (a few steps from this marker); Oysters and the Chesapeake Bay (a few steps from this marker); York Spit Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Yorktown's Windmill (within shouting distance of this marker); Bells Rock Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); The Watermen's Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Tue Marshes Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Aviation Field Yorktown (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. The Quintessential Chesapeake Boat. (Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Workboats of the Chesapeake Bay. (Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. The Watermen’s Museum - A must “Sea” in Historic Yorktown. (Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
4. Watermen's Museum. (Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. What’s a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise? Marker

Dreadrise boat <i> Nancy </i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Dreadrise boat Nancy

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 226 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.