The collections are the primary source for ongoing research into the evolution of the North Carolina's vernacular watercraft. The museum has published a book on this topic, Traditional Work Boats of North Carolina, and is working on a second. Yet another work, Historical Images of the Outer Banks, drew heavily from the collection, as did Dune Plants of the Outer Banks, Seacoast Life, Unsung Heroes, Discover Maritime North Carolina, Carteret Waterfowl Heritage, and several local books on folklore.

Research projects involving professors from Duke University, North Carolina State University, and East Carolina University routinely use the museum collections, as do visiting boaters, boat enthusiasts, birders, and people interested in sea life. At present the collections are being utilized by artist and writer Douglas Alvord to produce a monograph and traveling maritime art exhibit titled "In Carolina Waters." He has already produced a poster on traditional North Carolina work boats and an oil painting depicting a historical perspective of the Beaufort waterfront.

The library, just off the exhibits area, offers a quiet compatible atmosphere for browsing through the collections or doing research.