Mathews Maritime Foundation
The Mathews Maritime Gwynn’s Island Boat Shop, also known as GIBS, is operated by the Mathews Maritime Foundation. GIBS includes a rented shop building, marina, storage lot, and eight water slips. This waterfront facility allows us to expand our offering of hands-on learning and vocational programs such as family boatbuilding, maritime restoration, boating safety and navigation, and boat yard operations.
The location of GIBS was once home to Gilbert Klingel’s Gwynn’s Island Boat Yard where he built steel hulled boats such as the 75’ ketch the Clementine (on left) and the 62’ yacht Manteo (on right). The smaller boat is the 31’ intrepid design sloop the Pleiades shown with Klingel working on it. Photo 1967.
And Pulley’s Marine, as in this photo from 2003. Currently, the Maritime Foundation leases a portion of the property for its Boat Shop operation.
The Foundation’s antique boat collection includes the Peggy of New Point, Freya, and Green Heron. Peggy of New Point (above), an historic Mathews deck boat, was renovated at the Gwynn’s Island Boat Shop in 2013, and serves as a floating exhibit and teaching resource.
Click here to visit our Peggy of New Point blog.
Want to help with restorations? Give us a call at (804) 725-4444.
Freya (shown above sailing home to Gwynn's Island), is a 30’ full keel sloop built in 1953. She was the 1st boat built at Gilbert Klingel's Gwynn's Island Boat Yard, and returned there in 2017. For more about Freya, follow this link to gilbertklingel.org.
Green Heron is a 30’ Klingel design built in 1977, and was the last boat built at the Gwynn's Island Boat Yard. Nicknamed “Creek Crawler”, the Green Heron was used for exploring the upper reaches of local waterways. For more on Green Heron, follow this link to gilbertklingel.org.