Before the advent of the outboard motor, rowing/sailing skiffs were common on Chesapeake Bay. They were used for crabbing, fishing, transporting goods, and enjoying summer evenings with a friend. Many local kids could row their dad's skiff long before they could ride a bicycle.

Proper rowing and sailing skiffs are extraordinarily rare these days. With 90% of all flat-bottomed skiffs designed for outboard motors, we may be in danger of forgetting what a pleasure it is to spend an afternoon in a handsome, easily-driven rowing skiff, a boat that glides effortlessly with each stroke without dragging its transom. Don’t be deceived by the Jimmy Skiff’s™ ample beam and stability; this boat rows well enough to really cover some miles in a day, whether it’s to reach your fishing grounds or just to enjoy an afternoon on the water.

The Jimmy Skiff™ is light enough to be cartopped or hoisted onto the deck of a larger cruising boat. And even though she weighs less than 100lbs in rowing trim, there’s enough room and capacity for three adults or a family of four.

Under sail, the Jimmy Skiff™ exhibits perfect balance and impeccable sailing manners in light or fresh breezes. The "leg-o-mutton" sail is quick to set up and strike, with only the simplest controls, making the Jimmy Skiff a perfect boat for beginning sailors. The traditional sprit boom means that the crew will never get whacked in the head during a surprise jibe.

The basic kit is the rowing version. Add the optional sailing rig kit, and you’ll have the components for the mast, boom, daggerboard, trunk, and kick-up rudder. The sailing rig can be retrofitted to the rowing kit at any point, even long after completion.

We called our skiff "jimmy," Chesapeake slang for a male blue crab, because the Jimmy Skiff design is derived from rowing and sailing skiffs once common on the Chesapeake Bay.