What is it about summer that automatically has me dreaming of beach cottages, quaint small towns along the coast, and lobster rolls? But of course, when it gets too hot, my favorite way to cool off is an afternoon wandering the air-conditioned halls of the local antique mall.

Come summer, vintage farmstand finds often see an uptick in demand, as they remind antiquers of fresh produce and days spent outdoors, but the category that really peaks in popularity during this season is nautical collectibles. And while crusty sea captains and colorful old buoys are no doubt emblematic of the look, there are a few more slightly more obscure vintage nautical finds that also conjure up seaside vibes—and you might be surprised by just how much money they can fetch on the retail market.

Burgee Flags

Introduced in the 1800s as a way to call vessels back to shore, burgees are now used to identify a ship’s yacht club or affiliated sailing organization. Typically, but not always, triangular or swallow-tailed in shape, these pennants are flown from the top mast or the front of the bow and areoften exchanged as souvenirs when a boat visits another club. Vintage versions can be picked up today for between $30 and $300 apiece, with older wool and cotton flags bringing more than their nylon counterparts. Also good to know: Burgees still attached to their original bow poles (top right) tend to have higher values.

Pond Yachts

To identify a Star Yachts vessel, look for the five-pointed star on the main sail.

First popularized as an adult pastime in Victorian England, pond yachts are working wooden boat models built to be sailed on small bodies of water. Though a sportsman’s knowledge of wind and water was needed to navigate these larger vessels, after WWI companies such as Bowman, Star Yachts of Birkenhead, and Alexander of Preston began introducing smaller, simplified versions better suited to novices. Today these boats are valued between $50 and $500 each, depending on age, size, and condition.

Nautical Knot Boards

Originally created by sailors in the 1800s and the early 1900s as a way to pass the time while at sea, a nautical knot board is both an educational tool and a way to display a seaman’s prowess in technical ropework. Today these boards’ values range widely based on age, size, and craftsmanship. Large handcrafted ones (bottom left) typically bring between $800 and $3,000, while smaller souvenir replicas, often sold in port towns in the 1960s through 1980s, can be picked up for $30 to $70.

"Nautical" Dishware by Oxney Green

Iden Pottery was established by British potter Dennis Townsend in East Sussex in 1959. After finding success at both Heal’s and Harrod’s, Iden began mass-producing and exporting pieces through its Oxney Green subsidiary in the 1990s. Particularly beloved in Martha’s Vineyard, Oxney Green’s now-discontinued blue-and-white “Nautical” pattern adds seafaring sophistication to any china cabinet. Expect to spend $50 to $100 for smaller pieces and $150 to $300 for pitchers, teapots, and serving bowls. (Pro tip: To roughly gauge age, look for a logoless backstamp, which indicates an older piece.)

Boat Cleats

Crafted in a variety of sizes and shapes, boat cleats are affixed to both ships and docks to serve as anchor points for guiding and securing rope lines. Salvaged versions of these pieces of marine hardware also feel right at home employed as wall hooks or shipshape paperweights. They can be picked up for as little as $10 for a curved chock cleat (yellow, top right), or as much as $300 for properly patinaed 12-to-15-inch two-sided horn cleats (teal, top right).