{"title":"Kayak Chooser - Intermediate Tandem Recreational","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Recreational\" means fishing, birding, photography, casual day-paddling, and so on. \"Intermediate\" means you've worked with epoxy and fiberglass, and\/or you're a confident maker.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mill-creek-165","title":"Mill Creek 16.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eEver since\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eWoodenBoat \u003c\/em\u003eMagazine featured the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mill-creek-13\" title=\"Mill Creek 13 Kayak\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMill Creek 13\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e in a two-issue spread in 1997, the Mill Creek models have been built in the thousands. And why not? They look good, they're easy to build, and even though they are more stable than most kayaks, the Mill Creeks offer good speed and handling that you'll never get tired of.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Mill Creek \u003cstrong\u003ewas designed as a wider, shorter, and more stable alternative to the typical sea kayak\u003c\/strong\u003e. It offers the stability sought by nature photographers, fly fishermen, and birders. The most versatile paddling designs in our lineup, the Mill Creeks are true high-performance boats. That is, if high performance is defined as comfort, good handling, rewarding speed, stability, and classic good looks. Originally drawn as stable and compact complements to our more traditional sea kayaks, the Mill Creeks have found fans among paddlers of all skill levels because t\u003cstrong\u003ehey offer so much boat in such a light and easy-to-manage package\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMill Creeks are built using the stitch-and-glue method.  In the kits, BS1088-grade okoume marine plywood is cut on our CNC machine.  Builders stitch the hulls together with twists of copper wire, then add epoxy and fiberglass to stiffen and waterproof the hull.  Mahogany trim on cockpits and rails, cambered plywood decks, and contoured slatted seats add grace notes, while the fiberglassed 6mm bottom panel will absorb years of groundings in shoal water. All materials included in the kit are varnish-grade, and most builders varnish the entire hull and deck.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eMill Creek 16.5\u003c\/strong\u003e is enormously popular because it can be used in so many ways. You can \u003cstrong\u003epaddle it as a single\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eor a double\u003c\/strong\u003e, you can\u003cstrong\u003e sail it\u003c\/strong\u003e, or \u003cstrong\u003eadd a sliding-seat rowing unit\u003c\/strong\u003e, or even \u003cstrong\u003eadapt an electric outboard\u003c\/strong\u003e. The Mill Creek 16.5's stability will reassure the most nervous paddlers, while the low freeboard and light weight yield better speed and handling in wind than the average canoe. There's enough capacity for camping gear (with optional deck hatches), and the boat can be easily trimmed by sliding the seats fore and aft on their mounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eMake the Mill Creek 16.5 into a great sliding-seat rower with our\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Drop-in sliding seat rowing unit\" href=\"\/products\/drop-in-sliding-seat-rowing-unit\"\u003eDrop-in Rowing Unit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einstalled.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca title=\"Installing the Drop-in Rowing unit into a Mill Creek 16.5\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0854\/4839\/2997\/files\/mill-creek-165-row-wing-fit-kit-instructions.pdf?v=1750248911\"\u003eCheck out the installation drawings.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRead what \u003cem\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"\/blogs\/news\/mill-creek-16-5-review-by-alan-beryl-bright\" title=\"Rrview of the Mill Creek 16.5 in Watercraft magazine\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWaterCraft\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/em\u003emagazine said about the Mill Creek 16.5 in a review in their Nov\/Dec 2001 issue. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eIn 2008 we introduced our\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Mill Creek 16.5 Hybrid Kayak\" href=\"\/products\/mill-creek-165-hybrid\"\u003eHybrid Mill Creek 16.5\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/clcboats.com\/shop\/boats\/stitchandgluekayaks\/millcreeks\/CLC-MILLCREEK-16H.html\" title=\"Ooo!  Cedar strips!!\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eIn this model, the okoume plywood deck is replaced with hand-fitted cedar strips. It's a \u003cstrong\u003ehybrid \u003c\/strong\u003ebecause it \u003cstrong\u003ecombines construction techniques of stitch-and-glue plywood kayaks and cedar-strip kayaks.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eDo you fit in this kayak? \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/compare-kayak-specifications\" title=\"Kayaks need to fit right---check your height, weight, and shoe size in this chart.\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eStudy our kayak fit chart.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chesapeake Light Craft","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50173986865445,"sku":"6744-929","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0854\/4839\/2997\/files\/mill-creek-16.5_new-lead.jpg?v=1746719208"},{"product_id":"mill-creek-165-hybrid","title":"Mill Creek 16.5 Hybrid","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Mill Creek 16.5\u003c\/strong\u003e Hybrid differs from\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"The Original Stitch-an-Glue Mill Creek 16.5\" href=\"\/products\/mill-creek-165\"\u003ethe original\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein that a cedar-strip deck is substituted for the standard okoume plywood deck.  It's a \"hybrid\" because it combines a stitch-and-glue hull with a cedar-strip deck.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eWe've been seeing Mill Creeks with cedar strip decks for years as skilled builders made the substitution.  We've always admired the results, and when\u003cstrong\u003e our colleague John Peck built a Mill Creek 16.5 this way \u003c\/strong\u003ehimself, we digitized the patterns for the deck molds and made the \"hybrid\" option available to everyone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eThe Mill Creek Hybrid’s hull is identical to the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estandard Mill Creek’s, with computer-cut BS 1088 Okoume panels that go together very quickly.  Computer-cut molds are set into the hull with temporary hot glue.  These molds shape and support the deck during construction.  With the kit, we include 50% Western Red and 50% Alaskan Yellow cedar strips.  The strips are milled with a “bead and cove” joint so that one slides into the next for perfect joinery.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Mill Creek 16.5 Hybrid is a little more challenging to build than the standard model but will reward the patient builder with a unique heirloom kayak.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth Mill Creek 16.5 models share the same enormously versatile hull and cockpit. Not only can you \u003cstrong\u003epaddle it as a single or a double\u003c\/strong\u003e, but you can sail it or even \u003cstrong\u003eadd a sliding seat unit\u003c\/strong\u003e to create an ocean shell. The Mill Creek 16.5's stability will reassure the most nervous paddlers, while the low freeboard and lightweight yield \u003cstrong\u003ebetter speed and handling in wind than the average canoe\u003c\/strong\u003e. There's enough capacity for camping gear (with optional deck hatches), and the boat can be easily trimmed by sliding the standard seats fore and aft on their mounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eThe Mill Creek 16.5 can also become a great sliding-seat rower with our \u003ca title=\"Drop-in Sliding Seat Rowing Unit\" href=\"\/products\/drop-in-sliding-seat-rowing-unit\"\u003eDrop-in Rowing Unit\u003c\/a\u003e installed. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca title=\"Instructions to install a Row Wing Kit into a Mill Creek 16.5\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0854\/4839\/2997\/files\/mill-creek-165-row-wing-fit-kit-instructions.pdf?v=1750248911\"\u003eCheck out the installation drawings.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eRead what \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca title=\"Rrview of the Mill Creek 16.5 in Watercraft magazine\" href=\"\/blogs\/news\/mill-creek-16-5-review-by-alan-beryl-bright\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWaterCraft\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003emagazine said about the \u003cstrong\u003eMill Creek 16.5\u003c\/strong\u003e in a review in their Nov\/Dec 2001\u003cstrong\u003e issue. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class='\\\"related-content\\\"'\u003eDo you fit in this kayak? \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/compare-kayak-specifications\" title=\"Kayaks need to fit right---check your height, weight, and shoe size in this chart.\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eStudy our kayak fit chart.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur strip-built and hybrid kits ship with 50% Western Red and 50% Alaskan Yellow cedar bead \u0026amp; cove strips. Photos on our website and printed materials may show patterns and accent strips with walnut or other materials. \u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/clcboats.com\/shop\/products\/boat-building-supplies-epoxy-fiberglass-plywood\/cedar-strips-without-bead-and-cove.html\u0026amp;source=gmail\u0026amp;ust=1717778025339000\u0026amp;usg=AOvVaw2CuQ3oy3pof6bKxiFw1KZn\" href=\"\/products\/bead-and-cove-strips\" title=\"Bead-and-cove strips are available in a variety of wood types.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOptional walnut strips are available and can be shipped with kit orders\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chesapeake Light Craft","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50173986898213,"sku":"2434-2221","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0854\/4839\/2997\/files\/mill-creek-16.5-hybrid_new-lead.jpg?v=1746717369"}],"url":"https:\/\/clcboats.com\/collections\/kayak-chooser-intermediate-tandem-recreational.oembed","provider":"Chesapeake Light Craft","version":"1.0","type":"link"}