1. Kits & Plans
  2. Kayak Kits
  3. Touring Kayaks
Sale
Sale
A prefect day for a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 Wooden Kayak.
Sale
A woman catching a wave in a wooden Chesapeake 16 kayak
Sale
Chris J. carrying his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on his shoulder
Sale
The sun is setting on Dunham Reservoir in Grafton, New York, as Liz B paddles her Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak.
Sale
Room for two. Sander S. and his dog, Kari, enjoy a paddle in Norway in his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak
Sale
Dave R. paddles his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on the Knysna Estuary off the southern tip of Africa
Sale
A man and a child enjoying a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak built by Frank J.
Sale
A young man carrying a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak up onto a beach
A prefect day for a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 Wooden Kayak. Thumbnail
A woman catching a wave in a wooden Chesapeake 16 kayak Thumbnail
Chris J. carrying his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on his shoulder Thumbnail
The sun is setting on Dunham Reservoir in Grafton, New York, as Liz B paddles her Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak. Thumbnail
Room for two. Sander S. and his dog, Kari, enjoy a paddle in Norway in his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak Thumbnail
Dave R. paddles his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on the Knysna Estuary off the southern tip of Africa Thumbnail
A man and a child enjoying a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak built by Frank J. Thumbnail
A young man carrying a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak up onto a beach Thumbnail

Chesapeake 16

Builder Testimonials

A classic sea kayak. Superb handling, fast, comfortable cockpit, fun to build.

  • Skill Level Beginner
  • Estimated Build Time 80 Hours

This project was designed with the beginner in mind. Assembly manuals and documentation are calibrated for builders who are using epoxy and fiberglass for the first time. In kits, little or no trimming and fitting of parts is required.

It takes about 40 or 50 hours to assemble the hull. The boat wires together in a single day, so the bulk of this time is for epoxy and fiberglass work. Depending on your degree of fussiness, add another 30 hours for sanding, painting, and varnishing. 

Build this boat if...

  • You weigh between 140 and 195lbs
  • You favor a large cockpit and strong stability in a traditional touring kayak
  • Ease of construction is important

  • Quality Materials

    Only the best professional-grade materials

  • Superior Support

    Tech support is free and unlimited

  • In-Depth Manual

    Meticulous, fully-illustrated instructions

Quality Materials

Our kits ship with the same first-class marine plywood, timber, epoxy, and fiberglass that we use in our own boatbuilding shop. It's not cheap, but these boats are meant to last forever!

Superior Support

Have a question about your project, large or small? You can speak to a boatbuilder at CLC, on the phone or by email. Send questions to info@clcboats.com!

In-Depth Manual

Polished assembly manuals with hundreds of photos and illustrations, evolved and updated over many years. 

 Build Your Kit
Shipping & Returns

Builders also looked at...

Take One of our Boatbuilding Classes

We offer classes for many of the boats we sell. Teaching sites stretch from Maryland to Washington State and from Maine to California. Click here to find out more.
A prefect day for a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 Wooden Kayak.

A prefect day for a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 Wooden Kayak.

A woman catching a wave in a wooden Chesapeake 16 kayak

A woman catching a wave in a wooden Chesapeake 16 kayak

Chris J. carrying his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on his shoulder

Chris J. carrying his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on his shoulder

The sun is setting on Dunham Reservoir in Grafton, New York, as Liz B paddles her Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak.

The sun is setting on Dunham Reservoir in Grafton, New York, as Liz B paddles her Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak.

Room for two. Sander S. and his dog, Kari, enjoy a paddle in Norway in his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak

Room for two. Sander S. and his dog, Kari, enjoy a paddle in Norway in his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak

Dave R. paddles his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on the Knysna Estuary off the southern tip of Africa

Dave R. paddles his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on the Knysna Estuary off the southern tip of Africa

A man and a child enjoying a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak built by Frank J.

A man and a child enjoying a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak built by Frank J.

A young man carrying a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak up onto a beach

A young man carrying a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak up onto a beach

A prefect day for a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 Wooden Kayak. Thumbnail
A woman catching a wave in a wooden Chesapeake 16 kayak Thumbnail
Chris J. carrying his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on his shoulder Thumbnail
The sun is setting on Dunham Reservoir in Grafton, New York, as Liz B paddles her Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak. Thumbnail
Room for two. Sander S. and his dog, Kari, enjoy a paddle in Norway in his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak Thumbnail
Dave R. paddles his Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak on the Knysna Estuary off the southern tip of Africa Thumbnail
A man and a child enjoying a paddle in a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak built by Frank J. Thumbnail
A young man carrying a Chesapeake 16 wooden kayak up onto a beach Thumbnail

Specifications

Length
15' 8"
Beam
23-1/2"
Cockpit Size
31" x 17"
Hull Weight
42 lbs.
Paddler Weight
120 - 180 lbs.
Max Payload
260 lbs.
Knee Height
12-1/2"
Max. Men's Shoe Size
13

Performance

Stability

4 out of 5
Very Tippy
Very Stable

Speed

3 out of 5
Cruiser
Racer

Cockpit Room

4 out of 5
Close Fit
Huge Cockpit

Payload

4 out of 5
Day Tripper
Freight Hauler

Ease of Construction

5 out of 5
Requires Patience
Very Easy
Chesapeake 16 kayak paddling Leigh Lake, Grand Teton National Park. Built by Mike B.
Chesapeake 16 kayak paddling Leigh Lake, Grand Teton National Park. Built by Mike B.

Overview

More than 9,000 Chesapeake-series kayak kits have been shipped since 1996. The  series varies in length from 14' to 21', and in hull weight from 36 to 68 lbs. The Chesapeake 16 comes in two versions. 

The 16 and 16LT both weigh 42  lbs, but the 16 has a larger volume than the 16LT, so it has a larger cockpit and more storage volume than the 16 LT does. It can carry more gear and comfortably fits paddlers up to 180 pounds in the cockpit. People with shoes larger than a size 10 will not fit in the 16LT, but the 16 will fit paddlers with shoes up to size 13.

An enduring favorite among paddlers, the award-winning Chesapeakes are the gold standard for build-it-yourself sea kayaks.  Easy to build with sleek lines, their high-volume bows lift you over rough seas -- or powerboat wakes -- while the skeg-like stern prevents weather-cocking in blustery winds. CLC's signature cambered decks shed spray, increase the storage space inside the hull, add strength without weight, and look great.

Large storage compartments will absorb enough gear and water for long, unsupported expeditions. Cockpits are large and easy to pad out for a custom fit. The big, comfortable cockpit is an ideal spot to spend a lazy afternoon if multi-week expeditions aren't your speed.

Many of our Chesapeake kayak builders  tell us about their explorations of quiet local rivers, others have gone on great adventures, including a few who have paddled the length of the Sea of Cortez. They are used in expeditions above the Arctic Circle and for day paddling in Florida.

Chesapeakes are built to endure a lifetime of strenuous touring with their 4mm-okoume-plywood hulls and decks, which are both sheathed with fiberglass. Watertight bulkheads are standard, as are hatches, deck rigging, adjustable footbraces, and a comfortable seat. One reason so many builders prefer the Chesapeakes is their flexible architecture, unique among kit boats. Experienced builders may customize every part of the boat above the waterline, whether building from a kit or plans.

Chesapeakes have been built in garages, apartments, living rooms, television studios, and in at least 50 countries from Iceland to Australia. You can watch a video of a Chesapeake kayak being built from start to finish here. 

Individual kayak fit is very important, so there are six singles, two doubles, and a triple to choose from. The 16LT and 17LT are standard Chesapeake 16 and Chesapeake 17 hulls  with lower decks and sides, reducing their total volume by 20% for a sleeker, more compact kayak

Do you fit in this kayak?  Study our kayak fit chart.

Buying Options

Choose Your Boatbuilding Experience

Start your kit-building experience by choosing the option that best suits your experience and itinerary. Don’t have the confidence to build on your own? No worries! Join a boatbuilding class or hire us to build a custom boat for you.

  1. Select Your Configuration

    Build From a Kit:
    Most builders start with the Base Kit. It’s all there.
    Build From Scratch:
    Build from scratch using full-sized plans.
    Build From a Wood Parts Only Kit:
    For those who have their own supply of epoxy, fiberglass, and hardware.
    Order Study Plans or Manuals:
    Like to study up a bit first? Download study plans or a copy of the assembly manual. 

  2. Choose Options and Add-ons

    Additional Components:
    Add rudders, skegs, hatch options, spray skirts, and more. 

  3. Get Building!

    Computer-cut kits feature all of the latest tweaks to ease assembly, including slot-together frames, pre-drilled holes for stitching-and-gluing, puzzle joints, and precision in the fitting of parts.

Standard Configuration

Sale
$1,298.00 $1,099.00

The Chesapeake 16 kit ships with computer-cut okoume marine p...

The Chesapeake 16 kit ships with computer-cut okoume marine plywood hull and deck parts, hatches and bulkheads, full deck rigging, adjustable footbraces, epoxy kit, fiberglass for hull and deck, tractor seat, and backband, plus our extensively illustrated 180-page step-by-step instruction manual.

Alternative Configurations

$869.00

This Chesapeake 16 "wood parts only" kit ships with computer-...

This Chesapeake 16 "wood parts only" kit ships with computer-cut okoume marine plywood hull and deck parts, hatches and bulkheads, plus our extensively illustrated 180-page step-by-step instruction manual. Typical "wood parts only" kit buyers have an existing or ready supply of their own epoxy, fiberglass, and hardware.
$89.00

This Chesapeake kit includes plans and instructions. 

This Chesapeake kit includes plans and instructions. 
$79.00

Plans for the Chesapeake 16 comprise 4 pages, each page 24" x...

Plans for the Chesapeake 16 comprise 4 pages, each page 24" x 36" (610 x 914mm). Also included is the latest version of the assembly manual, emailed in the form of a large PDF, with 8.5" x 11" (216 x 280mm) pages.

This option is for PDF download of the plans. You will need to be able to print the plans at 24" x 36", probably on a commercial plotter.

These plans include:
Page 1: General arrangement
Page 2: Offsets for hull panels, full-sized patterns for bottom and side panel ends
Page 3: Construction details, full-sized patterns for hatches and bulkheads
Page 4: Full-sized pattern for cockpit coaming, construction details

Please note: Upon placing the order, you'll receive an email with a link to the PDF.  Be sure to use a correct email address! If you have filters in place, make sure that emails from "admin@clcboats.com" are not blocked.  

Orders from outside the lower 48 U.S. states will need to wait until the next business day for processing and email delivery of their plans.

Copying or transmitting any part of this document is prohibited, as is posting or displaying any part of it online.

Chesapeake 16 Plans by CLC
$25.00

173-page spiral-bound manual that walks you through Chesapeak...

173-page spiral-bound manual that walks you through Chesapeake kayak construction step by step.  

NOTE: CLC instruction manuals walk you through construction step by step with photos and drawings, and are a good way to get acquainted with the process in advance of a kit purchase. (Manual purchase refundable with kit purchase.) There is not enough information in the manual to build a boat from scratch---you will need the complete Plans & Manual Only package for that.
$20.00

This option comprises the latest version of the illustrated a...

This option comprises the latest version of the illustrated assembly manual, emailed in the form of a large PDF, with 8.5" x 11" (216x280mm) pages.  

Please note:  This option is for builders who want to study the process before taking up their tools. The manual includes a materials list, tool list, and of course step-by-step construction details from start to finish.

While the manual is expansive in detail, the manuals alone lack sufficient detail to fabricate parts.  You will still need to purchase the plans or a pre-cut kit to build the boat. Plans are available through the mail. We regret that we are not able to transmit plans or CAD/CAM data digitally.

Upon placing the order, you'll receive an email with a link to the PDF.  Be sure to use a correct email address! If you have filters in place, be sure that emails from "admin@clcboats.com" are not blocked.  

Orders from outside the lower 48 U.S. states will need to wait until the next business day for processing and email delivery of their manual.

Copying or transmitting any part of this document is prohibited, as is posting or displaying any part of it online.  
$2.99

You can get printable study plans for most of your favorite ...

Chesapeake 16 Study Plans page 1

You can get printable study plans for most of your favorite kits and plans by return email --- for just a few dollars! 

When you order a set, you'll receive the study plans emailed in the form of PDFs at 8.5" x 11" (216x280mm).  

These printable drawings (most are two pages) help give a sense of the construction process and a feel for what the full-size plans or kit contain. Please note that a boat can not be built from Study Plans; they are to preview a project in print media; the Study Plans are an excellent broad-strokes look at the process. The subsequent escalation for more information is to order the boat's print instruction manual (where available), which will walk you through the project step-by-step.   

Upon placing the order, you'll receive an email with a link to the PDF.  Be sure to use the correct email address! If you have filters in place, ensure emails from "admin@clcboats.com" are not blocked.
Chesapeake 16 and 16LT wooden kayaks built by James N. on a dock in Isle Royale National Park, Lake Superior
Chesapeake 16 and 16LT wooden kayaks built by James N. on a dock in Isle Royale National Park, Lake Superior

What builders are saying

Thanks to your great plans, I built a Chesapeake 16 last year. As you can imagine, I made lots of photos during the construction. Every minute of the boatbuilding was lots of fun, I enjoyed it all. I named my boat INIFINITY, which is the meaning of the Japanese characters that I painted on the deck -- in Japanese it is pronounced as Mugen.

Mariska H | NET
Verified Builder

I get lots of compliments on the appearance of my Chesapeake 16, as many feel it is so refreshing to see a wooden kayak, and it is human nature, I guess, that people really like the natural wood appearance. People honk and give me a thumbs up on the highway when it is on my roof, and other kayakers on the river always want to stop and talk to me about it. Of course, I give you full credit.

John W | ME
Verified Builder

I completed my Chesapeake 16 in June for my high school Senior Thesis project. Needless to say, it turned out beautifully! . . Thank you to the expert staff at CLC for their time whenever I have called for technical support!

Glenn S. | DE
Verified Builder

We love our Chesapeake 16 kayak!! Way back in January, we purchased the kit, but then did not start on it until May. It is now done and it is terrific. It paddles perfectly around Lake George, Michigan, and is the envy of all the neighbors. We gave your catalog to the most envious, and I expect you may hear from them this winter. Another satisfied customer!

Renate B | MI
Verified Builder

I am writing to sing the praises of the Chesapeake 16 kayak that I built from your kit in my garage. Although I had no previous experience with boat building, fiberglass or epoxy, the excellent design, clear instructions, pre-cut pieces, and inclusive collection of hardware, etc. all helped make a successful project. Indeed, building the boat provided me with so much satisfaction that I feared using it might be anticlimactic. Fortunately, this was not the case. . . Thanks for designing such a wonderful boat, and for marketing such a great kit. You will hear from me again soon.

Peter P. | OH
Verified Builder

I recently finished building my new Chesapeake 16. Again, it was a very rewarding and satisfying experience and the results are the best yet! The speed of the boat is surprising. . . The boat has exceeded all expectations in the water, and I feel like I own the perfect kayak for my requirements.

John Z. | CA
Verified Builder

I have had my Chesapeake 16 on a number of rivers and on Lake Michigan twice since I finished it in early February. I love it! I loved working on it and had little trouble figuring out the directions. When I did, you were quick with the replies to my questions which I really appreciated. . . Thanks for everything.

Gina W. | MI
Verified Builder

I finished my Chesapeake 16 about a month ago and it is great! I intended to write as soon as my boat was finished but I went paddling instead. What a wonderful project this was for me---already thinking about my next CLC kit. Everyone that sees my kayak for the first time cannot believe it was home-built. Some people need to see all the photos I took during construction to believe I could do it. All your advice about sanding, sanding, sanding really paid off. The boat has an almost furniture-like finish, I am so proud of and happy with my kayak.

Not only does this boat look good, it is also a pure pleasure to paddle. The light weight and stability enable me to carry it anywhere and to paddle with confidence in less than ideal conditions. Thanks again for all your help with my many questions when I called and thanks again for such great kit with a great instruction booklet.

Bob L. | NJ
Verified Builder

Videos

Building a Stitch & Glue Kayak: Complete Video

Homebuilt Sectional Chesapeake 16LT

Chesapeake18 Build at Jenkins Boat Works

Chesapeake 18 Complete Build Series by Jenkins Boat Works

My Chesapeake Light Craft 17LT Kayak Build

Frequently Asked Questions

I want to install my Chesapeake deck with no ring nails. Will the epoxy be strong enough? How can I keep the deck down while it cures?

MAS and System3 epoxies will certainly hold the deck down without the ring nails.  Here at the shop we like to use packing tape for jobs like this.  It's quite easy to manage.

How do I order this kit?

Click on the Buying Options tab the top left of this page and follow the directions.

If I buy one of your boat kits, what else will I need?

Chesapeake Light Craft kits contain all the parts and materials you need to build the boat. The kit includes pre-cut parts, hardware, epoxy, fiberglass, plans and instructions. Our standard kayak kits also have the seats, hatches, bulkheads, footbraces, and the deck-rigging. About the only thing kits don't include is the final finish: paint or varnish. Your boat's color scheme is entirely up to you.

You'll need a few ordinary tools, like a cordless drill, a decent 5-inch sander, and for most boats a wood plane. You'll need disposables such as sandpaper and paint brushes and mixing cups.

You need a workspace a couple of feet bigger all the way around than the boat you want to build, and you'll need to be able to maintain temperatures between about 55 degrees F and 95 degrees F during steps when epoxy is being applied or curing. Since a lot of boatbuilding gets done during winter, we've written up some tips on how to heat a cold space cheaply, easily, and safely.

How much does this boat weigh and how much can it carry?

The weight and payload of this boat, along with other statistics such length and beam, can be found under Specs in the Specifications section, which is just below the lead image seen at the top of this page.

Can you send me the plans digitally?

Sorry, but until digital rights management technology for marine architectural work catches up to that used for books and music, we are unable to transmit digital plans. Currently, only study plans and manuals can be sent digitally.

Classes

Take One of our Boatbuilding Classes

We offer classes for many of the boats we sell. Teaching sites stretch from Maryland to Washington State and from Maine to California. Click here to find out more.

View Classes

Related Products

Need Help Building it?

We’re here to help with any questions you might have during the build process.

Phone

Available Mon – Fri, 9am–5pm EST

410.267.0137

Email

We answer emails 7 days a week and within 24 hours

Contact Support

Chat

Available Mon – Fri, 9am–5pm EST

Start Chat