NJ Boyz remember the Jersey Speed Skiffs and Garvey races? Nice pics!! --->
01-22-2004, 12:44 AM
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**MUST SEE PICS** Remember the Jersey Speed Skiffs & Garvey races in NJ?? NICE!!--->
Summer w/e's w/these races gave me many (still do sometimes) classic memories and great times here on the Jersey Shore 
Action packed, real close-up and very competitive. Back in the day you could almost throw anchor in the course 
or one of the turns ... fantastic views and fun. Prolly not too smart, but none-the-less exciting. 4-6 boats per race, 3/4 different class of boats and 2 heats per class = a loto fun! ... always boats flipping, passing, and very LOUD! I'd roll outa bed on Saturday morning, hear the roar of the SBC & BBCs and pack the coolers!! AWESOME
Does any one on the board have family ties or know any of the founders or people mentioned in write up below??
ENJOY!
Jersey Speed Skiffs are a class unique to the Jersey Shore and provide spectators with an exciting, highly competitive form of power boat racing. Developed as "pound boats", the early skiffs were used by commercial fishermen plying their trade. Contrary to rumors, the speed skiffs were not used as "rum runners"; their lack of cargo capacity made them impractical for such a venture.
Among the early skiff builders, "Pappy" Seaman of Long Branch is considered to be the "Father" of the Jersey Speed Skiff. Pappy designed and built the first speed skiff, and many of these innovations and improvements are evident in today's boats. George Wolcott was another builder who contributed greatly to the speed Skiff's early development. Today, the Wolcott tradition
is carried on by his grandson, Rob Garrantano. So versatile were these skiffs, that the owners would use them for recreation during the week and race them on weekends.
Being residents of the Red Bank - Long Branch Area, many of the competitors would "form-up" in the Pleasure Bay Area and travel en masse by water to the Red Bank race site. Here the skiffs would anchor and watch the races. At the appropriate time they would "weight anchor", run their race, and then return to their anchorage. At the end of the day, the skiffs would again form-up for the return to Long Branch. Although hydroplane designs have changed greatly over the years, speed skiffs have remained basically the same.
Today's skiffs are built of fiberglass instead of wood, but maintain their lapstaked sides and flat-bottom. Powered by 283 or 305 Chevrolet V-8 engines, skiffs can reach a straight-a-way speed of close to 80 miles per hour. In official competition, boats must weigh more than 1600 pounds and consist of two passengers, driver
and riding mechanic. The Jersey Speed Skiff is recognized as one of the American Power Boat Association's most popular classes, having sanctioned races since the 1947 National Sweepstakes Regatta. No longer a local class, race fans from throughout the country flock to race sites to watch skiffs compete.
Action packed, real close-up and very competitive. Back in the day you could almost throw anchor in the course or one of the turns ... fantastic views and fun. Prolly not too smart, but none-the-less exciting. 4-6 boats per race, 3/4 different class of boats and 2 heats per class = a loto fun! ... always boats flipping, passing, and very LOUD! I'd roll outa bed on Saturday morning, hear the roar of the SBC & BBCs and pack the coolers!! AWESOMEDoes any one on the board have family ties or know any of the founders or people mentioned in write up below??
ENJOY!
Jersey Speed Skiffs are a class unique to the Jersey Shore and provide spectators with an exciting, highly competitive form of power boat racing. Developed as "pound boats", the early skiffs were used by commercial fishermen plying their trade. Contrary to rumors, the speed skiffs were not used as "rum runners"; their lack of cargo capacity made them impractical for such a venture.
Among the early skiff builders, "Pappy" Seaman of Long Branch is considered to be the "Father" of the Jersey Speed Skiff. Pappy designed and built the first speed skiff, and many of these innovations and improvements are evident in today's boats. George Wolcott was another builder who contributed greatly to the speed Skiff's early development. Today, the Wolcott tradition
is carried on by his grandson, Rob Garrantano. So versatile were these skiffs, that the owners would use them for recreation during the week and race them on weekends.
Being residents of the Red Bank - Long Branch Area, many of the competitors would "form-up" in the Pleasure Bay Area and travel en masse by water to the Red Bank race site. Here the skiffs would anchor and watch the races. At the appropriate time they would "weight anchor", run their race, and then return to their anchorage. At the end of the day, the skiffs would again form-up for the return to Long Branch. Although hydroplane designs have changed greatly over the years, speed skiffs have remained basically the same.
Today's skiffs are built of fiberglass instead of wood, but maintain their lapstaked sides and flat-bottom. Powered by 283 or 305 Chevrolet V-8 engines, skiffs can reach a straight-a-way speed of close to 80 miles per hour. In official competition, boats must weigh more than 1600 pounds and consist of two passengers, driver
and riding mechanic. The Jersey Speed Skiff is recognized as one of the American Power Boat Association's most popular classes, having sanctioned races since the 1947 National Sweepstakes Regatta. No longer a local class, race fans from throughout the country flock to race sites to watch skiffs compete.
Last edited by njgr8ful; 01-22-2004 at 02:15 PM.
01-22-2004, 12:47 AM
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Sweet!
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