Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum's Charity Boat Auction: What's for Sale?

This weekend, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum holds its 20th annual Charity Boat Auction.

It’s a great time to get a bargain on a fixer-upper, or find something unusual, and support the Maritime Museum’s programs in the process.

The Charity Boat Auction gets underway Saturday, September 2, with gates opening at 8 a.m., and the live auction starting at 11 a.m.

As of Tuesday, more than 100 craft were up for auction, including rowboats, dinghies, kayaks and jet skis, a 42-foot trawler, various fishing boats, a Chris-Craft replica, and one of the museum’s old hunting “sneak boxes.” For the full list of inventory, click here.

The event also includes a flea market-style tag sale from 9 a.m. till 11 a.m. in which guests are able to purchase a variety of used boating gear, including ground tackle, electrical equipment, hardware, rope or chain, ladders, fishing tackle, motors, and more. CASH ONLY at the tag sale.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m., beer and barbecue will be available for purchase. Boat sales are ongoing throughout the year, with all auction boats subject to sale prior to the auction. Auction boats will be available for inspection at the museum, several days prior to the auction.

Advance bids will be accepted, and can be called in at 410-745-4942 until noon on Friday, September 1.

The auction happens rain or shine, and CBMM members and children under 5 get in free. Non-members who arrive before 11 a.m. can get in for just $5.

CBMM’s Charity Boat Donation Program accepts and sells all manner of craft year-round, and offers long-standing boat sales and lease/charter operations, with 100 percent of the proceeds supporting the children and adults served by its education, curatorial and boatbuilding programs. To find more about CBMM’s Charity Boat Donation Program, click here.