Description
The Bay Skiff 15 is a versatile, flat-bottomed utility skiff designed by naval architect Karl Stambaugh of Chesapeake Marine Design, introduced in the 1990s as part of his series of simple, affordable boats inspired by traditional Chesapeake Bay workboats. Tailored for amateur builders using the stitch-and-glue plywood method, it’s optimized for rowing, light sailing, or small outboard power, making it ideal for recreational use, fishing, or as a tender in sheltered waters like bays, marshes, lakes, or calm coastal areas. The design emphasizes ease of construction, portability, and stability for solo or small family outings (1–3 people, with a payload capacity of ~600–800 lb.). It’s not suited for blue water or rough offshore conditions but excels in protected environments, offering a stable platform when loaded. The optional sprit or lug rig with leeboard makes it forgiving for novice sailors, though rowing remains its primary mode. Stambaugh’s book, Good Skiffs: How They’re Designed and Built (2003), details its construction and Chesapeake heritage, highlighting techniques like plywood filleting. As a plans-built or kit boat, hundreds have likely been built globally, though exact numbers are unknown.
