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M. M. Davis & Son, Solomons MD

Most recent update: February 14, 2011.

Marcellus Mitchell Davis started this shipyard in about 1883 and ran it until 1924, when he turned it over to his son, Clarence E. Davis, who ran it until his death in 1936, when it was bought by George Townsend, of Greenwich, Connecticut.  In 1946, it switched to building plywood Cruis-Along boats, pausing only to build two minesweepers in the 1950s.  In 1954, Townsend sold the yard to its employees and in 1957, they changed the name to Cruis Along Boats.  In 1962 it was acquired by Century Boats and became the Century Cruiser Division.  Century closed it in 1965 and the yard was leased to Ventnor Boats. until 1970.  It was briefly revived again in 1971 but closed for good in 1975.  The shipyard was located at the foot of Florence Avenue, near Ship Point, and is now used as a tugboat terminal by Dominion LNG: see it from the air on Google here.  Read more about this interesting small yard here and here and here.  If anyone can add to the table below, please e-mail timcolton@aol.com

Hull # Original Name Original Owner Type GT Feet Built Disposition
Willie H. White   Bugeye 34 66 1883 Later Agnes C. Leonard, North State, to USCG as CGR 2007, scrapped 1994
Freddie Hayward Thomas Moore Bugeye 25 60 1883  
Carrie P. Gambrill Thomas Moore et al. Sloop 9 43 1884  
Col. R. Johnson Colton John H. Long Bugeye 23 56 1886 Burned 1973
Elenora Russell J. Steward Russell Bugeye 60 60 1889 Abandoned 1935
Florence Northam James W. Northam Bugeye 26 65 1890 Scrapped 1959
William H. Berry   Bugeye 27 60 1892 Later John Reed
Edith Marcy William L. Marcy Bugeye 67 69 1895 Foundered 1969
  James O. Carter A J Taylor & Bro Tug     1897  
  M. Mitchell Davis A J Taylor & Bro Tug     1897  
Clytie   Bugeye 40 81 1901 Later Albemarle
  Alpha J Frank Thompson Tug     1901  
  William H. Yerkes, Jr. A J Taylor & Bro Tug 59 73  1901  
  M. Mitchell Davis   Tug 116   1902  
  Humphrey Toomey   Schooner 167   1902  
  Cecil W. Smithers Tug     1904  
  Marion Cameron Angus Cameron Tug     1904  
  Agnes Miller J Miller Tug     1904  
  Edward G. Gummel Gummel Construction Tug 59 70  1906 Later Fortuna
  Louisa Robert Murphy Lighter 182   1906  
  Captain Toby A J Taylor & Bro Tug 20 47  1906 Abandoned 1947
  Mary P. Riehl Atlantic Transpt Co Tug     1908  
  Esther Phillips Atlantic Transpt Co Tug     1908  
  William Blundon Hinton Toulson Guano Fishing Vessel 240 127  1909 Sank 1973 
  Aloha H W Steele Yacht     1910  
Dispatch Chesapeake Lighterage Tug 46 58 1910  
  Advance   Tug 157   1911 To USN 1918 as YT 28, sold 1934
  M. M. Davis   Fishing Vessel 298   1911  
Catherine Webster & Bro. Bugeye 51 65 1911 Abandoned 1956
Clew   Motor Yacht 22 60 1912  
  Philip K. Bauman Douglas Co. Fishing Vessel 304   1912  
  Wilbert A. Edwards W. A. Edwards Co. Fishing Vessel 343 143  1912 To USN as SP 315,  
  Winford S. Cahill Eubank, Pankard Co. Fishing Vessel 299 137  1912 To USN as SP 493, later Eraclea 
  Kenneth L. McNeal McNeal-Dodson Co. Fishing Vessel 331   1913  
  T. G. Herbert L E Smoot Tug     1914  
  Takana   Tug     1915  
C. W. Hand   Oyster Sloop 35 61 1915  
  J. H. Steele   Freighter 106   1916  
  Sarah Weems Balto & Carolina SS CGI 1,521   1917  
  Progress Bethlehem Steel Co Tug 345   1918  
 1206 Workman U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 1207 Artisan U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 1919  
 1208 Craftsman U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 1919 Abandoned 1944
 1209 Marksman U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 1210 Watchman U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled Completed and sold as Julia Howard
 1211 Guardsman U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 1919  
 1211 Custodian U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 1919  
 1212 Woodman U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 1919 Abandoned 1941
 2456 Ringleader U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2457 Cavalier U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2458 Dictator U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2459 Outrider U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2460 Proprietor U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2461 Convoyer U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2462 Courtier U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2463 Herder U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2464 Wayfarer U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2465 Wanderer U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2466 Forerunner U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
 2467 Manager U S Shipping Board Harbor Tug 358 126 Cancelled  
  William T. Covington, Jr. McNeal Dodson Co Fishing Vessel  250 130  1923 To USCG 1943
  Thomas C. McNeal McNeal Edwards Co. Fishing Vessel  219 127 1923 To USN 1942 as YP 404, later YDG 1, sold 1945
William J W. H. Gahagan Tug 15 39 1923  
Donald M. McNeale Smoot Sand & Gravel Tug 37 56 1925 Scrapped 1965
Bonhomie Robert C. Roebling Power Yacht 84 80 1927 To US Army 1941 as Q 103, scrapped 1968
Corthell W. H. Gahagan Tug 22 42 1929 Later Chester A. Crosby, C. A. Crosby, now Tenacious
  Lord Jim Paul Nevin Schooner  

63

 1930  
  Orithia      

 

 1930 To USN 1942 as YP 336, lost 1943
  Luna Boston Towboat Co Tug  165   1930  
  High Tide Eugene E duPont Yacht     1930  
Condorth II Clarence E. Davis Motor Yacht 19 43 1930  
Madeira   Motor Yacht 19 43 1930  
  James S. Whiteley Baker Whiteley Coal Co Tug  193   1931  
Columbia Smoot Sand & Gravel Tug 48 59 1931  
Dog Star William E. Baker Aux. Ketch   31 1931  
  State Port North Carolina Line CGI  328   1932  
Aweigh Lawrence M. Bailliere Cutter   47 1934  
    Passenger 14 40 1935 Now Lady Patty
Diana Langhorne Gibson Aux. Ketch 52 60 1936 Later Estelle Dunbar, Shearwater, Pinguino, Lady Gordon, now Varuna
    Passenger 24 53 1937 Now Manitou
Cygnet   Aux. Ketch 17 40 1938 Later Ariadne, Dominion, Polaris, Antares, now Phoenix
  T 19 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 8/42-9/42 Later Seven Dwarfs
  T 20 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 8/42-9/42 To USAF
  T 21 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 8/42-9/42 Now Sgt. Jones
  T 22 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 8/42-9/42 Later Howard
  T 39 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 9/42-12/42 Later J. Howard, Hemco I, scrapped 1975
  T 40 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 9/42-12/42  
  T 41 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 9/42-12/42 Later Diane-Louise, Jean Selma, scrapped 1976
  T 42 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 9/42-12/42 To Corps of Engineers
  T 56 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 3/43 Later Hammet
  T 57 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 3/43 Now Laura B
  T 84 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 4/43-5/43  
  T 85 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 4/43-5/43 Later Vega
  T 86 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 4/43-5/43 To DoJ
  T 87 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 4/43-5/43 To Corps of Engineers
  FS 42 US Army Coastal Freighter 270 114 6/43-7/43 Later Rowe
  FS 43 US Army Coastal Freighter 270 114 6/43-7/43  
  FS 44 US Army Coastal Freighter 270 114 6/43-7/43  
  FS 45 US Army Coastal Freighter 270 114 6/43-7/43  
  T 161 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Nancy Gale, Mary II, now Rex II
  T 162 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Now SES Propeller
  T 163 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Sank at Le Havre 1945
  T 164 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To France 1947
  T 165 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Linda Snow, now Little Joe
  T 166 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Esther Joy
  T 167 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Alanita
  T 168 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Gail Snow, Viking Star II, Capt. Bill Van, Viking Star, now Seven Seas
  T 169 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Wayzoff
  T 170 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44  
  T 171 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To USAF
  T 172 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44  
  T 173 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To France 1947
  T 174 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Gulf Researcher, Yankee Lady
  T 175 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To France 1947
  T 176 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To France 1947
  T 177 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To France 1947
  T 178 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To France 1947
  T 179 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To France 1947
  T 180 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Rex, Chappie IV
  T 181 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44  
  T 182 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Beverly Snow, Two Brothers
  T 183 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Tropic Star
  T 184 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Clay
  T 185 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To Corps of Engineers
  T 186 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44  
  T 187 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To USCG
  T 188 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44  
  T 189 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44  
  T 190 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44  
  T 191 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 Later Mary Lynn, Hackberry, Penny Lynne
  T 192 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44  
  T 193 US Army Boat, Psgr-Cargo 40 65 12/43-8/44 To USCG
Betty and David   Fishing Vessel 47 61 1943  
Elsie Jane W. H. Freeman Fishing Vessel 44 61 1943 Active
Bessie Ann   Fishing Vessel 33 45 1944 Stranded 1965
  J 2196 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2197 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2198 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2199 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2200 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2201 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2202 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2203 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2204 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2205 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2206 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2207 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2208 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2209 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2210 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2211 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2212 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2213 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2214 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
  J 2215 US Army Boat, Utility   27 11/44-3/45  
Den-E-Von Owens Yacht Co. Aux. Cutter     1946  
Jupiter Marshall Jones Jr. Yacht 50 52 1948 Now Double Eagle
  Vila do Porto (MSC 91) Portuguese Navy Minesweeper 390   20-Sep-53 M 408, scrapped 1976
  Santa Cruz (MSC 92) Portuguese Navy Minesweeper 390   13-Feb-54 M 409, scrapped 1973