Description
The Chesapeake Crab Skiff is a traditional small workboat originating from the Chesapeake Bay region, designed primarily for crabbing in shallow, grassy waters during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These skiffs were essential for watermen harvesting blue crabs using trotlines or dip nets, often poled or sailed into tight tributaries and flats inaccessible to larger vessels. Flat-bottomed or shallow deadrise hulls allowed for beaching and shallow draft operation, while simple construction from local woods like loblolly pine or oak made them affordable and durable. Early versions were rowed or sailed with leg-of-mutton or sprit rigs; by the 1920s, many transitioned to small inboard engines. During Prohibition, they doubled as rum-running lighters, smuggling liquor from larger ships into hidden coves. Production peaked around 1920–1935 on Smith Island and nearby areas, with builders like local watermen crafting 100–150 units each using basic tools. Today, replicas are popular for racing (e.g., via the Smith Island Crab Skiff Association, formed in the 1990s), day sailing, and educational builds. Modern interpretations, such as Doug Hylan's 15' plywood sailing version (introduced in the 1990s), emphasize simplicity for amateur builders, blending historical lines with epoxy and stitch-and-glue techniques. Larger powered racing versions (17–19') use 20 hp "lawnmower" engines for high-speed events. Over 20 active replicas exist, with associations hosting 6–8 races annually on the Bay's Eastern Shore. A smaller variant, the Little Crab (13'), offers similar versatility for cartopping
