HISTORY
The
St. Lawrence skiff is a traditional clinker double ended craft
developed in the mid 1800's among the Thousand Islands, between New
York and Canada. Usually between 18' and 22', the Skiff was
originally an all purpose water transport between islands and the
mainland. The St. Lawrence skiff was not paddled but propelled by
oar or sail, and was always sailed with no rudder. In the late
1800's, with the rush of city folk to the outdoors, the St. Lawrence
skiff became the craft of choice for the local fishing guides to
take their paying city "sports" out on the river. Sailing races
between towns on the river took place in the Skiffs, again using no
rudders, just the movement of the crew to steer the boat.
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