Skiff Boats

The term skiff is used, and has been used, to refer to many various types of seemingly unrelated small boats.

One current usage of skiff is to refer to a typically small flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed bow and a flat stern originally developed as an inexpensive and easy to build boat for use by inshore fishermen. Originally designed to be powered by rowing, their form has evolved so that they are efficiently powered by outboard motors. The design is still in common use today for both work and pleasure craft.

The Thames skiff is a round-bottom clinker-built boat that is still very common on the River Thames and other rivers in England and featured in the famous book about a journey up the Thames, Three Men in a Boat. During the year, skiffing regattas are held in various river-side towns - the major event being the Skiff Championships at Henley.

Another current usage of skiff is to refer to a type of high performance sailing dinghy, one that usually features an asymmetrical spinnaker and requires that the crew use a trapeze to help balance the boat. Examples include: 29er, 49er, 18 footer, Musto Skiff, and International 14.

The Central American/Mexican version of a skiff is generally called a 'Panga'. The term "Panga" was used historically for any small boat other than dugout canoes. Today it usually refers to an open "semi-dory" type skiff.

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