skipjack -rebecca t. ruark charter

We took a two hour ride (which actually ran for 30 mins more, the more the better) with the company of Captain Murphy and his beloved vessel Rebecca. Altogether there were 8 people on the boat and everyone had a great time. Capt. Murphy talked about crabbing on the bay, his life with and without the boat, the birds that live on the bay and how he loves them, and many other topics that made the trip not just fun but educational for all ages. When not talking (and laughing) about local politics and conservation, he gave a job to everyone on board - everyone was responsible for something from bring up the sails to driving the boat.You don't need to make a reservation, just come and enjoy. There is water provided, but if it is a hot day and you want something more than plain old H20, come prepared. There are two tours, at 11 and at 2. You can call him to find out more details, but don't be surprised if Capt. doesn't answer - he has more important things to do :)

Sailing on the Rebecca T. Ruark with Captain Wade Murphy was the highlight of our trip to St. Michael's! Captain Wade is fun and interesting. Telling you his story as well as the story of waterman on the bay and the history of his beautiful skipjack. The boat itself is amazing and it was such an awesome experience to sail on it. He even put me and my fiancé to work. We both hoisted her sails for the trip and I even got to steer her for a bit. I loved that he was a true Eastern Shore waterman and that he still loved the water he has worked on for these years! He told colorful stories of his time on the water and of his beloved family. Captain Wade was incredible and I feel lucky to have met him and been able to sail with him. Don't miss this adventure if you are ever in St. Michael's!

As a resident of the Eastern Shore, I had long wanted to sail in this spectacular skipjack. Captain Wade makes you feel his guest. He is not a traditional tour guide, he is a real waterman who shares his history and hospitality with everyone aboard. We were lucky to have another captain sailing with us that day, so Capt. Wade was able to engage with conversation with us for the most part of the cruise. Noteworthy, Capt. Wade was very friendly to the children who joined us in this adventure. I see some reviewers didn't appreciate his personal input and engagement, so this may not be the right tour for someone looking for solitude, contemplation or privacy. This cruise is for history and community-oriented people who seek a taste of regional traditions and diverse points of view.Rebecca T. Ruark is a historic gem and I highly recommend to patronize the preservation of this wonderful landmark. As locals, we'll do this again and again!

My grandsons 9 and 10 weren't thrilled about a 2 hour educational cruise but this was the highlight of their week by the time it was over. Capt. Murphy was wonderful with them. He said he was going to put them to work and he really did. For us it was funny and interesting, not to mention a lovely, relaxing cruise. With or without kids, you will love this experience!

Capt Wade gives the full experience of being on the Bay. Local color and a great cruise is what to expect. Don't expect a vacation cruise, 'cause this is a working man and the way a skipjack on the bay should be experienced.Don't miss it.. Great history and some of the best experiences and stories of the history of this fine old Capt. and his Skipjack.

A very pleasant afternoon/evening spent sailing with friends out on the Bay. Captain Wade is a character and yes he can go on a bit. However he did so with our blessing, if we had had enough he would have stopped. His opinions based on experience are worth listening to, you may not agree with all he says, but it is his view. As a professional seafarer myself I was interested. That aside, the vessel is a lovely old girl, the skipjacks are unique in their design and it was great to sail on a piece of history. Whilst you are in Tilghman make sure you stop in for a look at the free Waterman's Museum to find out a bit more about the life and times of these guys.

If you are just wanting to sail around the bay, this is not the tour. Capt. Wade's skipjack is a beautiful boat full of history and he is happy to share all that with you. He also gives you insight on the bay's history and problems. He is very talkative and loves to engage in conversation. Anyone is welcome to steer the boat, just ask! Visitors are also welcome to bring alcoholic beverages and food aboard.

As we were celebrations our 30 the wedding banning anniversary my husband called to make reservations for a romantic night... We arrive to the pier to our surprise no one was there and the captain was a no show. The woman on the phone told my husband what time and where to catch it.. What a waist of my time and ruined my night for our 30th anniversary !!!!!! Way to go skip jack, you made me so angry!!!! As a travel agent I WILL make sure all my colleagues hear about this and will let the local business know too. If you did not want to do it you should have said so, my husband put trust in you! We could have gone else where t o celebrate, but you RUINED THAT!,, DO NOT TRUST HIM, GO ELSE WHERE...

We had a most delightful sunset sail with Capt. Wade! He has captained this boat for many, many years and has so many interesting stories to tell! He has books full of his photos and news stories to add to his stories. And he's a great sailor! We took a bottle of wine and some snacks, as did the other people on board. My husband enjoyed taking the wheel for part of the trip. And guests are invited to help with the sails, as well. The only downside is that Capt. Wade does not hear well so it is difficult to ask him questions unless you get his attention and get up close to talk with him. One of the nice things about sailing out of Dogwood Harbor instead of out of St. Michaels is that not as many people are aware of this option so it was not crowded at all! (less expensive, too)

Well, I really really wanted to enjoy this event! Was vacationing in St. Michaels and excited to do this sail with the oldest skipjack and a seasoned waterman with local flavor! Capt. Wade is certainly a character and had some interesting information to share about the bay and history. That being said, I thought we were sailing around the bay a bit to get some history of the area. I did NOT expect to sit in the heat in one spot for 2 hours and listen to stories, and be lectured at for a long while about all the govt. is not doing to protect the oysters and crab industry for small business folks like himself. I understand it was a low-wind day and perhaps he didnt want to spend the $$ on gas to motor around a bit - but even a little bit would have been a nice break. I do hope the industry picks up for him and wish him well with the oyster and crab business so he can make a nice living and provide for his family, and leave the legacy of the Rebecca for his grandkids. It was wonderful to see his grandson on the boat helping him. But I would not recommend doing this event based on the negative aspects of it. I would have preferred to rent a boat and tour around ourselves, or enjoy listening to his tales of the sea as a guide in an air conditioned local museum! If you want to motor out to a spot off shore and sit and look at the water and get a little local flavor, then you may enjoy this. Not worth the money for what we got though.

What a great time we had with Captain Wade on board the Rebecca T!! We sailed on a morning cruise and along with 12 other passengers were delighted with tales from the 50 years of experience from the Captain. We were out for nearly 3 hours and many of us chipped in. Steering the boat or hosting sails. The least inexpensive of all the sailing choices in the area by far and one of the largest ships and the oldest! A nice plus also is you can bring a cooler with your own food and drink. We had a nice bottle of wine and some homemade sandwiches from the local country store down the road. A perfect experience for us.

Sailed with Captain Wade on the Rebecca Ruark for a 2-hour trip. Yes, we were out 2 hours, but at least an hour of that was listening to Captain Wade speak about the Chesapeake. It was interesting learning about the Chesapeake and why he thought the crabs were in short supply. He also spoke of his experienced of being stranded in a storm on the Chesapeake in 1999. He just went on and on as we sat in the hot sun. I just think this could have been shortened. Captain Wade let us steer the skipjack and that was nice. I don't think I would do this excursion again.

We had a very pleasant sail on the Rebecca T. Ruark with Capt. Wade. Capt. Wade provides a very pleasant and informative sailing trip on a skipjack. He tells about the history of the boat as well as the process of dredging for oysters. We had looked at the other sailing options on Tilghman Island and were glad we had chosen the Rebecca T. Ruark.

This trip is all about Chesapeake Bay. Wonderful sights, and amazing commentary by the skipper, who has seen lots of changes during his time on the bay. Bonus points for letting the passengers steer the boat. Excellent.

Wade is a true treasure. I highly recommend this two hour bay tour. You can hoist the sail and steer the ship. Do it! make sure to wear sunscreen.