Higgins Yacht Yard, Inc.

- Since 1790 -

Full service boatyard & marina in St. Michaels, Maryland

Located in the historic St. Michaels Harbor on the Chesapeake Bay, our boat yard and marina has been the original port and ship yard of the town since the 1600's. Rooted in a rich history of boat building and boat work, we continue to provide a full-service boat yard and marina today, now updated with modern amenities. With over 50 slips, we offer transient, seasonal, and annual dockage, with electric & water hook up, shower & restroom facilities, WiFi, and ice available 24/7.

We are conveniently located just footsteps away from town, being the closest marina in the harbor to the main town road, Talbot Street. Experience the quaint charm of historic St. Michaels by browsing our many shops, restaurants, galleries, museums, and more. There is something for everyone to experience and explore here in St. Michaels.

Our History

Although the name has changed over the years, the property of Higgins Yacht Yard has continuously been a working boat yard since 1790. However, our "marina" dates back even earlier, as our location was the original port of the town of St. Michaels. A few footsteps away from the boatyard, going up Carpenter Street, is the corner of Carpenter and Locust Street, famously named "Hell's Crossing", after the rowdy sailors who frequented the streets and local bars in the area. The current name of Higgins comes from Capt. Jack Higgins, who owned the boatyard & marina in the 1950's. Although two owners have taken over since then, the name of Higgins has been kept as an ode of respect to Capt. Jack and his family, who still reside in St. Michaels today.

In 2017, our current owner Jonathan (Jon) Clarke took over Higgins Yacht Yard. Today, he continues to provide a wide range of marine services including mechanical, carpentry, painting, winterizing, and more.

Jon Clarke was born and raised here on the Eastern Shore and comes from a family with a long history of boating. His family has owned Magic, one of the famous Chesapeake Bay log canoes, since 1923, with Jon skippering and racing her since he was fifteen years old. Jon is a graduate of The Landing School in Maine, where he received a diploma in Yacht Design in 2014. He then attended Southampton Solent University in England, where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Yacht and Powercraft Design, graduating with first division honors in 2016.