A Mathews County deck boat, The Peggy, was launched from the Mathews Maritime Foundation’s boat shop on Gwynn’s Island Monday following an extensive hull inspection. This is a large step in preparing the vessel as the official flagship of Mathews. Photo by Quinton Sheppard.

The launching followed a period of ongoing inspection of her hull and allowed for a prioritization of work that still needs to be done on the vessel.

The Peggy was donated to the Mathews Maritime Foundation in 2008 and is being restored to showcase the legacy of the watermen and the maritime heritage of Mathews County, according to MMF member Marcy Benouameur. The deck boat will also be used to educate the public about a way of life that Benouameur said is rapidly disappearing.

The Peggy was previously kept at Horn Harbor Marina not far from where she was built in 1925, Benouameur said. She was built at the yard of William West by Harry Hudgins of Peary.

George Pongonis, Eric Hedberg and Wayne Pulley were integral in the latest phase of work on The Peggy, carried out at the foundation’s boat shop on Gwynn’s Island. Pongonis said the work included going over Peggy’s hull with a microscope. "The goal was to see what we had underwater," Pongonis said. "It’s like going to your annual physical."

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