Florida Skipjack, 1870 - 20th Century
Bateau Or Skiff British Yawl Dugout Canoe Flatboat Florida Style Trawler Spanish Chalupa
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| Skipjack pictured off Tarpon Springs, ca. 1950s. Courtesy of the Florida Photographic Collection. |
Florida Skipjacks were first built and used by commercial shad fishermen on the St. Johns River. These centerboard sailing vessels were characterized by a V-shaped, chine-built, sawn-frame hull with a sharp bow and with the chine rising very high on the stern. With their hull planks running lengthwise rather than side-to-side and lacking the Baltimore clipper bow, they differed markedly in construction and shape from the more famous Chesapeake Skipjack. In addition to being speedy sailers, their longitudinal planking and full framing made for a strong hull, able to handle a heavy deck load even when run aground. By the 1880s, Florida Skipjacks dominated the St. Johns shad fishery and had become the most common type of small sailing craft in Northeast Florida other than the bateau. In addition to their use as rugged working craft, skipjacks were prized as pleasure and racing yachts and they are the most frequently seen type in historic photographs of the St. Augustine Yacht Club. While similar craft were known on Long Island Sound, and fishermen from that region participated seasonally in the St. Johns River shad fishery, it is not known if this type was introduced to Florida or if it was adopted by these Northern watermen and brought back with them to Connecticut. Florida Skipjacks lasted well into the 20th century until many were converted to power boats. A typical skipjack, such as this one pictured sailing off St. Augustine's waterfront in the late 1800s, was gaff-rigged and might measure 18 to 20' long, 7 to 8' wide, and draw as little as 15" when fully loaded. Photograph courtesy of the St. Augustine Historical Society.
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