Gilbert Klingel

Gilbert Klingel (1909–1983) was an amateur 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.

Books and articles

Inagua and The Basilisk

Born in 1909, Klingel built his first boat when he was 20. In the 1930s, at a boat shop in Oxford, MD, Klingel supervised the construction of a replica of Spray, 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, the Basilisk 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 embarks from Maryland on an extended voyage. After a series of mishaps, Klingel is shipwrecked in the late 1930s on the island of Inagua, 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.

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. [ [http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=901] Chesapeake Bay Journal] He was awarded the John Burroughs Medal from the American Museum of Natural History 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 C. 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 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 Gwyn Island Boat Works in Maryland. He built a dozen steel sailboats in the 30' class, along with a 42' ketch, a 51' schooner, PIPESTRELLE, 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. [ [http://viking.vhaven.sad8.k12.me.us/shop/current.htm] The Vinalhaven Vocational Technical School]

Gilbert Klingel died in 1983 at the age of 74.

Notes

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