I’ma build a couple of kayaks by Chesapeake Light Craft - one each for my daughter and myself. These are beautiful marine-grade okoume boats fully encapsulated in fiberglass. Construction looks extremely doable by relative amateurs in home garages. It’s stitch-and-glue, which greatly simplifies construction and obviates the need for complex jigs and fixtures.
The plans are published by Chesapeake Light Craft (https://www.clcboats.com/shop/kayak-kits/). I’m building the Chesapeake 16 and the Chesapeake 16LT. These are touring boats suitable for use on lakes, seawater or gentle rivers. They are very stable and not for whitewater kayaking.
I’ve purchased the plans for the 16 and redrawn them accurately in SolidWorks for CNC cutting on the Multicam. 16LT, which has slightly different vertical dimensions will follow shortly.
If anyone else is interested in building one and wants to piggyback on my plywood shipping, you’re welcome to. I figure if I pay for two-thirds of the shipping (because two boats) then you’d save at least a hundred bucks on shipping, give or take. I don’t really care either way, as shipping isn’t a huge expense in the grand scheme - just thought I’d offer. I’ll likely order the wood in the next couple of weeks after I finish a few other things.
Also - seriously considering a build of their “matching” teardrop trailer, built with the same materials and construction techniques. Plan is to CNC this too, after digitizing their paper plans. It’s a beautiful and very functional design towable by any car.
Are you able to leave kayak at the space for assembly and fiberglassing? I’ve been thinking of doing a skin-on-frame from gaboats.com but so much of the project has to be done on the strongbacks.
No, can’t leave at the space except perhaps overnight with permission. From what I’ve read by other builders, the project proceeds pretty rapidly and you can have a glassed kayak in just a few days. Most of the time is spent sanding and making it pretty
Makes me miss having a garage with any free space in it. I’ll actually be building (kayaks, not camper - doh!) in a spare bedroom of my rental house, where I’m holed up avoiding the 'rona.
Re: Fiberglassing. Definitely wait until much cooler. I almost ruined a small dingy beause on hot days the calalyst reacts too fast. You can try adjusting - hope you have more success than did.
When cooler you can also have windows open woth box fans exhausting it out.
Those are beautiful pieces of art and I’m sure will become heirlooms. Good luck.
That teardrop trailer looks interesting. A lot of work, but I love how light it is! Since I don’t have room for a trailer in my driveway or garage, I need something that I can roll to the side of my garage on my own. That one actually looks light enough.
If you decide to make that also, I might be interested. It would really help me practice a lot of skills while building it.
