Chesapeake Bay Sculling
Episode Summary
For many years, the watermen of Chesapeake Bay used a flat paddle resting on a short post to efficiently move their boats—without an oarlock, tholepin, or transom notch. The technique is unique to Chesapeake Bay, and it nearly passed from memory without documention. Albert Pollard, Jr., however, recalled his father using the technique, and made a study of it. In this video, he describes what he learned.
You can learn more about Chesapeake-style sculling in Albert C. Pollard, Jr.’s, article in WoodenBoat No. 313 (November/December 2026).