[1] They were introduced by fishermen on the Jersey Shore, and were originally designed to be launched from the beach through the surf, so they could tend their fishing nets offshore.
The primary difference between the two boats is the addition of a board on the side of the Jersey Skiff for slightly greater freeboard.
The design characteristics of the boat, are a stem that is slightly raked, less than a Dory and more than a Whitehall Rowboat.
The first trans Atlantic passage by a rowboat was made by George Herbo and Frank Samuelson on an 18 foot Jersey skiff (named Fox) in June 6, 1896.
With the start of Prohibition Captain William McCoy began to bring rum from Bimini and the Bahamas into south Florida through Government Cut.