Boatbuilding Tips
Our vast collection of boatbuilding tips, drawn from decades of experience in supporting backyard boatbuilders.
![Strip Planking 04: Shaping Internal Stems for Strip-Built Kayaks [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-shaping-kayak-inner-stem.png?v=1728320411&width=533)
Strip Planking 04: Shaping Internal Stems for S...
Nick Schade writes: I pre-shape the internal stems before installing them on the forms. I start with an over-sized piece of wood so I have material to hold on to...
Strip Planking 04: Shaping Internal Stems for S...
Nick Schade writes: I pre-shape the internal stems before installing them on the forms. I start with an over-sized piece of wood so I have material to hold on to...
![Strip Planking 03: Ripping and Sorting Cedar Strips [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-ripping-sorting-strips.png?v=1728320225&width=533)
Strip Planking 03: Ripping and Sorting Cedar St...
Nick Schade writes: The 2" strips were too wide for the kayak I am building so I ripped them in thirds. I will be "book matching" the strips on the...
Strip Planking 03: Ripping and Sorting Cedar St...
Nick Schade writes: The 2" strips were too wide for the kayak I am building so I ripped them in thirds. I will be "book matching" the strips on the...
![Strip Planking 02: Cutting & Milling Cedar Strips [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-cutting-strips.png?v=1728318386&width=533)
Strip Planking 02: Cutting & Milling Cedar Stri...
Nick Schade writes: This is my setup for milling strips. I use a Delta Unisaw, with a Freud "Diablo" blade, the fence is the Delta "Unifence". I've got a couple...
Strip Planking 02: Cutting & Milling Cedar Stri...
Nick Schade writes: This is my setup for milling strips. I use a Delta Unisaw, with a Freud "Diablo" blade, the fence is the Delta "Unifence". I've got a couple...
![Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Built Kayaks [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-cutting-kayak-forms.png?v=1728318204&width=533)
Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Buil...
Nick Schade writes: The first step to assuring your boat comes out right is to assure you have accurate forms. You could buy a kit with pre-cut forms made on...
Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Buil...
Nick Schade writes: The first step to assuring your boat comes out right is to assure you have accurate forms. You could buy a kit with pre-cut forms made on...
![Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-fixing-split-strip-1.png?v=1728317958&width=533)
Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: The first part of this video make look familiar. While releasing the hull from the forms in the last video, I ended up splitting one of the...
Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: The first part of this video make look familiar. While releasing the hull from the forms in the last video, I ended up splitting one of the...
![Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasing the Hull [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-flipping-forms-1.png?v=1728317769&width=533)
Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasi...
Nick Schade writes: After the stripping is done on the hull, it is time to flip it over. I got Robin to help and rested the now-upright hull on some...
Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasi...
Nick Schade writes: After the stripping is done on the hull, it is time to flip it over. I got Robin to help and rested the now-upright hull on some...
![Petrel Build: 09 Fitting the Closing Strip [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-the-closing-strip.png?v=1728317485&width=533)
Petrel Build: 09 Fitting the Closing Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: After working diligently on stripping the bottom you eventually come to a time when there is just one strip left. If you are using cove and bead...
Petrel Build: 09 Fitting the Closing Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: After working diligently on stripping the bottom you eventually come to a time when there is just one strip left. If you are using cove and bead...
Petrel Build: 08 Stripping up the Bottom [video]
Nick Schade writes: Stripping the bottom is much like installing the cheater strips, with the major difference that you need to shape and fit both ends of the strip so...
Petrel Build: 08 Stripping up the Bottom [video]
Nick Schade writes: Stripping the bottom is much like installing the cheater strips, with the major difference that you need to shape and fit both ends of the strip so...
Petrel Build: 07 Installing the Keel Strips [vi...
Nick Schade writes: On this Petrel I chose to do a "side herringbone" stripping pattern on the bottom. This involves running strips down the keel line and then filling in...
Petrel Build: 07 Installing the Keel Strips [vi...
Nick Schade writes: On this Petrel I chose to do a "side herringbone" stripping pattern on the bottom. This involves running strips down the keel line and then filling in...
Petrel Build: 03 Assembling Forms [video]
Nick Schade writes: The easiest way to set up the forms for woodstrip kayak is using an internal strongback. Here I use a 2" x 4" x 13' aluminum extrusion...
Petrel Build: 03 Assembling Forms [video]
Nick Schade writes: The easiest way to set up the forms for woodstrip kayak is using an internal strongback. Here I use a 2" x 4" x 13' aluminum extrusion...
![Petrel Build: 02 Milling Bookmatched Cedar Strips [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-milling-bookmatched-cedar-strips.png?v=1728315500&width=533)
Petrel Build: 02 Milling Bookmatched Cedar Stri...
Nick Schade writes: Cutting strips is always a little tedious. It is primarily a matter of feeding the wood through the saw. When you intend to bookmatch the strips on...
Petrel Build: 02 Milling Bookmatched Cedar Stri...
Nick Schade writes: Cutting strips is always a little tedious. It is primarily a matter of feeding the wood through the saw. When you intend to bookmatch the strips on...
![Petrel Build: 01 Making the Forms [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-making-forms-cutting-guides.png?v=1728315248&width=533)
Petrel Build: 01 Making the Forms [video]
Nick Schade writes: I've started building a Petrel for a customer. I'll be using 3/16" western red cedar, book matching and building without staples. In this video I'm doing one...
Petrel Build: 01 Making the Forms [video]
Nick Schade writes: I've started building a Petrel for a customer. I'll be using 3/16" western red cedar, book matching and building without staples. In this video I'm doing one...
Hybrid Decks - How to Build a Kayak With a Ceda...
Most people find the look of a cedar strip deck irresistible. Several CLC kayak kits, including Shearwaters and Mill Creeks, come with cedar strip decks as an option, but did...
Hybrid Decks - How to Build a Kayak With a Ceda...
Most people find the look of a cedar strip deck irresistible. Several CLC kayak kits, including Shearwaters and Mill Creeks, come with cedar strip decks as an option, but did...
How Many Cedar Strips Will I Need?
The world of small boats is replete with handsome designs for boats meant to be skinned in thin cedar planking. There are the lovely kayaks and canoes by Nick Schade...
How Many Cedar Strips Will I Need?
The world of small boats is replete with handsome designs for boats meant to be skinned in thin cedar planking. There are the lovely kayaks and canoes by Nick Schade...
Hatches, Bulkheads, & Deck Rigging in CLC Compl...
UnderstandingIt's puzzling why anyone would ship a kayak kit without the essential accessories that all paddlers use: hatches for gear storage, bulkheads to create watertight compartments for safety in a...
Hatches, Bulkheads, & Deck Rigging in CLC Compl...
UnderstandingIt's puzzling why anyone would ship a kayak kit without the essential accessories that all paddlers use: hatches for gear storage, bulkheads to create watertight compartments for safety in a...
Premium Epoxy in CLC Kits
In June of 1995 we began including complete epoxy kits with every Chesapeake Light Craft kit. But which epoxy? By then we'd already helped thousands of people build their first...
Premium Epoxy in CLC Kits
In June of 1995 we began including complete epoxy kits with every Chesapeake Light Craft kit. But which epoxy? By then we'd already helped thousands of people build their first...
Checking for Twist
Occasionally twist can develop in any boat built without forms and a strongback. Here's a technique, called winding, allows you to quickly check that your kayak is straight. Before taping...
Checking for Twist
Occasionally twist can develop in any boat built without forms and a strongback. Here's a technique, called winding, allows you to quickly check that your kayak is straight. Before taping...
Cheap Clamps
How many clamps does it take to build a kayak? With only 15 it's tough; 25 is better. We've often used 40 or 50. So even if you buy only...
Cheap Clamps
How many clamps does it take to build a kayak? With only 15 it's tough; 25 is better. We've often used 40 or 50. So even if you buy only...
Cabinet Scrapers for Boatbuilding
Boatbuilders seeking to ease the tedium of sanding have latched onto a very old-fashioned tool to deal with a high-tech problem: cabinet scrapers to smooth cured epoxy. Cabinet scrapers are...
Cabinet Scrapers for Boatbuilding
Boatbuilders seeking to ease the tedium of sanding have latched onto a very old-fashioned tool to deal with a high-tech problem: cabinet scrapers to smooth cured epoxy. Cabinet scrapers are...
Boatbuilding Terms Defined
There's a wonderful sequence in E.B. White's Stuart Little where Stuart and a sailor friend mock another boat's owner, saying he doesn't know "...A jib from a jibe...or a luff...
Boatbuilding Terms Defined
There's a wonderful sequence in E.B. White's Stuart Little where Stuart and a sailor friend mock another boat's owner, saying he doesn't know "...A jib from a jibe...or a luff...
Aligning Deck Fasteners
When fastening down a deck with bronze ring nails or screws, it's hard to get them all to line up evenly - especially if the deck panels are cut oversize...
Aligning Deck Fasteners
When fastening down a deck with bronze ring nails or screws, it's hard to get them all to line up evenly - especially if the deck panels are cut oversize...
Wooden Vee-Blocks
Our rudder kits, like most kayak rudders, come with a black plastic vee-block. It holds the rudder in the centered position when raised on-deck and locks the footbraces. Several of...
Wooden Vee-Blocks
Our rudder kits, like most kayak rudders, come with a black plastic vee-block. It holds the rudder in the centered position when raised on-deck and locks the footbraces. Several of...
Wooden Compass Mount
Here's an elegant wooden compass mount you can make. 1: Begin with about a 6" x 6" block of wood; trace deck camber onto the side of the block. 2:...
Wooden Compass Mount
Here's an elegant wooden compass mount you can make. 1: Begin with about a 6" x 6" block of wood; trace deck camber onto the side of the block. 2:...
Toggles for Kayaks
The plans for many of our touring kayaks show a loop of line at bow and stern for carrying handles. This is the simplest approach and brutally strong, but hard...
Toggles for Kayaks
The plans for many of our touring kayaks show a loop of line at bow and stern for carrying handles. This is the simplest approach and brutally strong, but hard...