Gilbert Klingel
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Klingel was a naturalist, boat-builder, and adventurer, author, and contributor to the Baltimore Sun, for a time affiliated with the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and a long time member of the Maryland Natural History Society. He is best known for his book about the Chesapeake Bay
, The Bay, winner of the John Burroughs Medal
.
, the rotund sloop in which Joshua Slocum
became the first man to sail solo around the world in 1898. Klingel christened the boat Basilisk, and with the support of the American Museum of Natural History, it was fitted out as a biological laboratory, to be used for an expedition to gather information on rare species in the West Indies, especially lizards. With a sailing companion, Klingel embarked from Maryland on an extended voyage. After a series of mishaps, Klingel was shipwrecked in Dec. 1930 on the island of Inagua
, the southernmost and third largest island in the Bahamas. Although most of his instruments were lost, Klingel decided nonetheless to stay, take pictures with his salvaged camera, and explore the island. The result was published in his first book, Inagua, a memoir of the voyage and a naturalist’s survey of the island, including detailed pictures of flora and fauna. This book has been out of print, but a new edition is now available.
from the American Museum of Natural History
in 1953 for this book.
Klingel’s final book was "Boatbuilding with Steel: Including Boatbuilding with Aluminum" with noted yacht designer Thomas Colvin, published in 1973, and considered a classic on the subject.
Gilbert Klingel died in 1983 at the age of 74.
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
, The Bay, winner of the John Burroughs Medal
John Burroughs Medal
The John Burroughs Medal, named for nature writer John Burroughs , is awarded each year in April by the John Burroughs Association to the author of a book that the association has judged to be distinguished in the field of natural history....
.
Inagua and The Basilisk
Born in 1908, Klingel built his first boat when he was 20. In 1930, at a boat shop in Oxford, MD, Klingel supervised the construction of a replica of SpraySpray (sailing vessel)
The S.V. Spray was a oyster sloop rebuilt by Joshua Slocum and used by him to sail single-handed around the world, the first voyage of its kind...
, the rotund sloop in which Joshua Slocum
Joshua Slocum
Joshua Slocum was the first man to sail single-handedly around the world. He was a Canadian born, naturalised American seaman and adventurer, and a noted writer. In 1900 he told the story of this in Sailing Alone Around the World...
became the first man to sail solo around the world in 1898. Klingel christened the boat Basilisk, and with the support of the American Museum of Natural History, it was fitted out as a biological laboratory, to be used for an expedition to gather information on rare species in the West Indies, especially lizards. With a sailing companion, Klingel embarked from Maryland on an extended voyage. After a series of mishaps, Klingel was shipwrecked in Dec. 1930 on the island of Inagua
Inagua
Inagua is the southernmost district of the Bahamas comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua.Great Inagua is the third largest island in The Bahamas at 596 sq mi and lies about 55 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 x 19 miles in extent, the highest point...
, the southernmost and third largest island in the Bahamas. Although most of his instruments were lost, Klingel decided nonetheless to stay, take pictures with his salvaged camera, and explore the island. The result was published in his first book, Inagua, a memoir of the voyage and a naturalist’s survey of the island, including detailed pictures of flora and fauna. This book has been out of print, but a new edition is now available.
The Bay
Klingel's book, "The Bay", expanded from articles he wrote for the Baltimore Sun, describes the Chesapeake as he'd known it all the way back to his childhood decades earlier, and includes detailed naturalist survey of sounds and sights both above and below the surface of the Chesapeake. He was awarded the John Burroughs MedalJohn Burroughs Medal
The John Burroughs Medal, named for nature writer John Burroughs , is awarded each year in April by the John Burroughs Association to the author of a book that the association has judged to be distinguished in the field of natural history....
from the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
in 1953 for this book.
Articles, Boatbuilding with Steel
Klingel wrote articles for National Geographic and the Baltimore Sun, mainly on topics related to the Chesapeake Bay. His article, "One Hundred Hours Beneath the Chesapeake," in the May, 1955, issue of National Geographic featured color photos by Willard R. Culver that were among the first taken from beneath a temperate estuary. These images were taken from inside a diving vessel invented by Klingel that was lowered into the waters off Gwynn's Island in the Chesapeake Bay.Klingel’s final book was "Boatbuilding with Steel: Including Boatbuilding with Aluminum" with noted yacht designer Thomas Colvin, published in 1973, and considered a classic on the subject.
Metallurgist, boat-builder
During World War II, Klingel worked for ARCMO Steel in Baltimore, and rose to Chief of Metallurgy for ARMCO in the course of his career there. After retiring he started Gwynn's Island Boat Yard in Virginia. He built a dozen steel sailboats in the 30' class, along with a 42' ketch, a 51' schooner, PIPISTRELLE, a 75' C/B ketch, CLEMENTINE, and one large power boat (a 62' yacht, MANTEO, now named MARIAH). In addition to building these steel boats he also built several diving bells that he used for research in the Chesapeake Bay.Gilbert Klingel died in 1983 at the age of 74.
Primary sources
- http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/10/05/reviews/carson-bay.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=login Rachel Carson review of The Bay in The New York Times, October 14, 1951
- http://www.visitmathews.com/OUTDOORS/WPOST.htm Review of The Bay
- Inagua ISBN 1558215476
- The Bay ISBN 0-8018-2536-9
- Boatbuilding with Steel ISBN 0877420297