Captain Trey Sowers has started a new business, Mathews Deadrise Charters.

Sowers purchased a 34-foot-long deadrise last winter and has restored the boat which was built by local resident Al Sibley about 1990. Sowers began offering charters in mid-June and plans to conduct the business seasonally as the weather permits.

Sowers has formed a partnership with Greg and Lori Dusenberry, owners of The Inn at Tabbs Creek, Port Haywood. Sowers has arranged for his boat to be docked there for much of the year and he offers several tour routes of local waters.

The Dusenberrys help with marketing the boat tours of up to six people, and often line up groups of guests who stay in their six guest rooms. Special rates are offered for Gloucester and Mathews residents, Lori Dusenberry said.

The most popular tour so far has been a history and ecological tour of the East River, Sowers said, in which he gives an oyster-shucking demonstration. Guests onboard can purchase oysters to shuck and eat ...