Volunteers at the Reedville Fishermen's Museum are at work building an exact replica of the boat Capt. John Smith used to explore the Chesapeake. Follow their progress below. Learn more about Capt. John Smith.

(7/14) SPIRIT OF 1608 - Carolee Day, representing the Pendleton Trust, swings a Champaign bottle against the bow of the Spirit of 1608, a replica of the barge used by Capt. John Smith to explore Chesapeake Bay. The boat was constructed by 63 Reedville Fishermen's Museum volunteers, who worked an estimated 4,000 hours since January to complete the vessel. The boat is being used in a PBS documentary and will travel to a limited number of venues to celebrate next year's 400th anniversary of Jamestown. It will remain a permanent exhibit at the Reedville Fishermen's Museum.

(6/24) ALMOST DONE - Volunteers Bill and Patricia Rogers work on the port bow, the final section of the boat to be completed. The long project is almost done! Launch is set for July 14.

(5/23) NEARING COMPLETION - Reedville Fishermen’s Museum volunteer Phillip Brannon works on the replica of the boat John Smith used to explore Chesapeake Bay. The craft, under construction at the museum since January, is expected to be finished by late June, according to Wendell Haynie, who is coordinating the volunteer effort. The boat will be used in a number of events to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. It is being consider for use by Lone Wolf Productions, a documentary producer planning a program on the exploration of the bay.

(4/25) Volunteers begin placing the oak planking on the sides of the boat.

SMOOTH OPERATOR - Reedville Fishermen's Museum volunteer David Abbott smooths the ribs of the boat in preparation for the application of the planking. By late March volunteers had cut the transom from solid oak and put it in place. Volunteers work on the boat each Tuesday and Thursday. (3/28/06)

MAKING PROGRESS – Work continued throughout February on the Capt. John Smith Boat at the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum. A month after the keel dedication, volunteers had cut and placed 16 ribs for the boat, which is an exact replica of the craft Capt. Smith used to explore Chesapeake Bay. From left to right, Bill Rogers, Cliff Ames, Jay Rohman and David Abbott work on the boat. Once completed, the craft will be used in various events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement. (2/21/06)

January 11, 2006 - Reedville Fishermen's Museum Director Chuck Backus, left, speaks at a keel-laying ceremony for a wooden boat under construction by museum volunteers. The boat, an exact replica of the one used by John Smith to explore Chesapeake Bay in 1607, will be completed in time for Virginia's 2007 Jamestown Anniversary Celebration. A team of 30 museum volunteers is constructing the boat out of white oak. The boat will be powered by sails and oars and will carry a crew of 15.