What does the Buy Boat Elva C. ornament show?

Elva C., a 1922 Chesapeake Bay deck boat or buy boat at Reedville, Virginia: a long wooden hull with a pilothouse at the stern and a mast and boom forward.

What is a Chesapeake Bay buy boat?

A buy boat, or deck boat, is a wooden workboat with a pilothouse aft and a mast forward, used to buy oysters on the grounds and haul fish and freight. Elva C. was built in 1922 by Gilbert White, is 55 feet 6 inches long, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the ornament made of, and how is it packaged?

A three-inch round of faceted crystal glass with a red ribbon. The line-drawn art is printed so the open areas let the crystal show through. It comes in a white or gold gift box, is made to order in the USA and ships free in the U.S.

Is this ornament an official Reedville souvenir?

No. It is original art by Merlin Classics, an independent shop, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any town office, museum or organization.

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Reedville Virginia Holiday Ornament - Buy Boat Elva C.

$28.00 USD

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Shape Circle + White Gift Packaging Circle + Gold Gift Packaging

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Elva C. of Reedville, a 1922 Chesapeake deck boat, pilothouse aft and mast forward.

Bay people know the shape at once: a long low wooden hull, a small pilothouse right at the stern, and a mast and boom standing forward over a wide open deck. This ornament draws Elva C. under way.

For anyone raised on the Northern Neck she is family. It is a three-inch round of faceted crystal glass on a red ribbon, printed so the open areas of the drawing let the light through, in your choice of a white or gold gift box. Give this to a waterman, an oyster lover, a wooden-boat builder, or the friend who has ridden aboard her on Cockrell Creek, and to anyone who thinks workboats are the best-looking boats there are.

Quick Facts — Buy Boat Elva C. Ornament

› Subject: Elva C., the 1922 Chesapeake Bay deck boat at Reedville

› Town: Reedville, Virginia

› Size: 3 in (76 mm) round, faceted edge, red ribbon

› Material: crystal glass, line-drawn art printed to let the crystal show through

› Packaging: white or gold gift box

› Made to order in the USA

› Ships free in the U.S.

Gilbert White, one of Virginia's best-known deck boat builders, built her in 1922. She is 55 feet 6 inches long with a beam of 13 feet 6 inches. Boats of her kind did the Bay's hauling: buying oysters from the tongers on the grounds, tending fish traps, carrying freight. Elva C. once took watermelons from North Carolina to Baltimore. She has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005 and still carries passengers at Reedville.

Hundreds of these boats once worked the Chesapeake, and only a few dozen are left afloat. Elva C. passed her hundredth year still doing a day's work, which is the best preservation there is.

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Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Every item is made to order, so please check the size chart on this page before you buy. Women's fitted tees run small; size up for a looser fit. Caps are one size with an adjustable strap.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item to order using premium blanks, embroidery and soft-hand prints. Production takes 2-5 business days (weekends and holidays excluded), then 4-10 days in transit via USPS, UPS or FedEx to U.S. addresses; most orders arrive within 6-15 business days. You'll get a tracking link the moment it ships. Any current shipping offer is shown in the bar at the top of every page and applies automatically at checkout, no code needed.

How do I send a gift?

Enter the recipient's address as the shipping address and your own as the billing address at checkout. Nothing ships with a price; the package includes a plain packing slip. Tracking goes to your email, not theirs. For birthdays and holidays, order two weeks ahead to be safe.

What's the return policy?

Made-to-order items can't be returned or exchanged for size or color, so please use the size chart and photos before ordering. If anything arrives defective, misprinted or damaged, send a photo and your order number within 30 days and we'll replace it or refund you.

How do I care for my item?

Apparel: wash cold, inside out, with like colors; no bleach; tumble dry low or hang dry. Embroidered pieces: iron inside out to protect the stitching. Caps: spot clean. Printed glasses and water bottles: hand wash only, no dishwasher, so the artwork lasts. Mugs and engraved glasses are dishwasher safe. Any item-specific care notes are in the description above.

Who makes this?

Merlin Classics is a small Connecticut brand making original retro designs for the towns people love. Every piece is printed, embroidered or engraved to order in the USA, and the business supports hunger relief in the communities our collections celebrate.