What is the definition of a Skiff?

   After a lot of looking around, the EARLIEST definition of a skiff (1700s in europe and north america) I can finmd is that a skiff is a 'small flat bottomed tender or canoe'.  By this definition even an oppy is a skiff and to be honest the earliest builders from all those years ago would probably agree.  
However!!!, as designs and technology have evolved so too has the definition associated with the term.  The basis of what people seem to be leaning towards now is based (as i'm sure most of us know) on the 18 footer class in sydney.  As far as I can tell the firrst designs were based on skiff tenders with sails added.  the main reson being that the boats were easy and resonably cheap to build.  However it was accepted that designing them successfully with or without sails was significantly harder.  As the 18 footer classed developed it was still considered a skiff as in principle it still fitted the basic description.  However over time perception changed from an 18 being a skiff to a skiff being an 18 and so people's understaning of the term changed.  The result being that the definition has become somewhat blurred.  Without wanting to sound too nerdy this actually gives an interesting view of how the english language has developed.  On a more important sailing related note, (and this will proobably not help matter to much) It appears that there are now too different schools of thought on the mater.  the 'classic' australian view which pretty much resticts the term to the 18's, 16's, I14, and 12's.  The other view is the european (british) one which expands this too light asymmetric boats designed to plane on all points of sail.  This is born more out of marketing than design and so some sinecism could be associiated with it, but (back to words again) provided we all know more or less what eachother are talking about, doews it really matter?!
P.S.:   Those in Oz please fell free to correct me on the 18's history, I've read the stuff on the web but thats no substitute for seeing them devlop first hand.  

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Phil eltringham Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: England/Hitchin Online Status: Offline Posts: 1105	Post Options Post Reply Quote Phil eltringham Report Post Quote Reply Topic: What is the definition of a Skiff? Posted: 06 Sep 05 at 6:06pm
	After a lot of looking around, the EARLIEST definition of a skiff (1700s in europe and north america) I can finmd is that a skiff is a 'small flat bottomed tender or canoe'. By this definition even an oppy is a skiff and to be honest the earliest builders from all those years ago would probably agree. However!!!, as designs and technology have evolved so too has the definition associated with the term. The basis of what people seem to be leaning towards now is based (as i'm sure most of us know) on the 18 footer class in sydney. As far as I can tell the firrst designs were based on skiff tenders with sails added. the main reson being that the boats were easy and resonably cheap to build. However it was accepted that designing them successfully with or without sails was significantly harder. As the 18 footer classed developed it was still considered a skiff as in principle it still fitted the basic description. However over time perception changed from an 18 being a skiff to a skiff being an 18 and so people's understaning of the term changed. The result being that the definition has become somewhat blurred. Without wanting to sound too nerdy this actually gives an interesting view of how the english language has developed. On a more important sailing related note, (and this will proobably not help matter to much) It appears that there are now too different schools of thought on the mater. the 'classic' australian view which pretty much resticts the term to the 18's, 16's, I14, and 12's. The other view is the european (british) one which expands this too light asymmetric boats designed to plane on all points of sail. This is born more out of marketing than design and so some sinecism could be associiated with it, but (back to words again) provided we all know more or less what eachother are talking about, doews it really matter?! P.S.: Those in Oz please fell free to correct me on the 18's history, I've read the stuff on the web but thats no substitute for seeing them devlop first hand.
	FLAT IS FAST! Shifts Happen

Skiffe Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Jun 05 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 220	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skiffe Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 05 at 9:08am
	I'm sure that we don't need to go down this thread again. If the blokes in the northern hemisphere think back twenty or so years, what was their deffition of a skiff was, I bet most people will think of an 18'. if so then the correct term is to be applied to 6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,24ft skiffs and the only one still sailing are 10 (historical) 12,14(now I14), 16, 18. Unfortunatally SOME MARKETING people use the word skiff to SELL boats.
	12footers. The Only Way to FLY Remember Professionals built the titanic, Amateurs built the ark.

Matt Jackson Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Sep 04 Location: Darlington Online Status: Offline Posts: 962	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matt Jackson Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 05 at 12:54pm
	Some background for the rest: The ICA has registered some domain names for the Contender website and want to get some stickers made up withthe web address on them, the poll is to decide which to get printed. The choices are 1, www.contenderclass.org 2, www.contenderskiff.org or 3, some of both. So far it's 73% 19%, 8% respectively. It seems most Contenderers agree that a Contender is not a Skiff but worryingly some committee members seem to disagree - which is why I launched this thread to convince them otherwise.
	Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36