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Chesapeake 17 Wooden Kayak kit
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Chesapeake 17
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A fully rigged Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak built by Graham C.
Sale
Paddling a Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak (left) with a Chesapeake 16LT
Sale
Ken N. built this pair of Chesapeake 17 wooden kayaks from plans
Sale
Paddling Chesapeake 17 (left) and 16LT wooden kayaks
Sale
Gary N. crafted the deck of his Chesapeake 17 Hybrid (strip planked deck) wooden kayak of hemlock, Douglas fir, cedar, and spruce strips
Chesapeake 17 Wooden Kayak kit Thumbnail
Chesapeake 17 Thumbnail
A fully rigged Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak built by Graham C. Thumbnail
Paddling a Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak (left) with a Chesapeake 16LT Thumbnail
Ken N. built this pair of Chesapeake 17 wooden kayaks from plans Thumbnail
Paddling Chesapeake 17 (left) and 16LT wooden kayaks Thumbnail
Gary N. crafted the deck of his Chesapeake 17 Hybrid (strip planked deck) wooden kayak of hemlock, Douglas fir, cedar, and spruce strips Thumbnail

Chesapeake 17

Builder Testimonials

The benchmark for fast, capable, seaworthy, comfortable sea kayaks. Roomy cockpit and big storage compartments for camping gear.

  • 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 more than 200 lbs or need a huge amount of storage space
  • You need lots of extra legroom, knee room, and foot room.
  • You need a high volume kayak that handles better than high volume plastic kayaks

  • #1 Seller

    Thousands of kits shipped

  • Easy to Build

    Your first boatbuilding project!

  • In-Depth Manual

    Meticulous, fully-illustrated instructions

  • Superior Support

    Tech support is free and unlimited

As the old Packard ad goes, "Ask the Man Who Owns One." You'll find examples of this popular design on every continent except Antarctica. And we're working on Antarctica.

If this is your first go at mixing epoxy and assembling pre-cut wooden parts, here's a good design for starting out!

In-Depth Manual

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

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!

 Build Your Kit
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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.
Chesapeake 17 Wooden Kayak kit

Chesapeake 17 Wooden Kayak kit

Chesapeake 17
A fully rigged Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak built by Graham C.

A fully rigged Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak built by Graham C.

Paddling a Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak (left) with a Chesapeake 16LT

Paddling a Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak (left) with a Chesapeake 16LT

Ken N. built this pair of Chesapeake 17 wooden kayaks from plans

Ken N. built this pair of Chesapeake 17 wooden kayaks from plans

Paddling Chesapeake 17 (left) and 16LT wooden kayaks

Paddling Chesapeake 17 (left) and 16LT wooden kayaks

Gary N. crafted the deck of his Chesapeake 17 Hybrid (strip planked deck) wooden kayak of hemlock, Douglas fir, cedar, and spruce strips

Gary N. crafted the deck of his Chesapeake 17 Hybrid (strip planked deck) wooden kayak of hemlock, Douglas fir, cedar, and spruce strips

Chesapeake 17 Wooden Kayak kit Thumbnail
Chesapeake 17 Thumbnail
A fully rigged Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak built by Graham C. Thumbnail
Paddling a Chesapeake 17 wooden kayak (left) with a Chesapeake 16LT Thumbnail
Ken N. built this pair of Chesapeake 17 wooden kayaks from plans Thumbnail
Paddling Chesapeake 17 (left) and 16LT wooden kayaks Thumbnail
Gary N. crafted the deck of his Chesapeake 17 Hybrid (strip planked deck) wooden kayak of hemlock, Douglas fir, cedar, and spruce strips Thumbnail

Specifications

Length
17' 0"
Beam
24"
Cockpit Size
31" x 17"
Hull Weight
45 lbs.
Paddler Weight
180 - 250 lbs.
Max Payload
325 lbs.
Knee Height
12-1/2"
Max. Men's Shoe Size
14

Performance

Stability

4 out of 5
Very Tippy
Very Stable

Speed

3 out of 5
Cruiser
Racer

Cockpit Room

5 out of 5
Close Fit
Huge Cockpit

Payload

5 out of 5
Day Tripper
Freight Hauler

Ease of Construction

5 out of 5
Requires Patience
Very Easy
Chesapeake 17 Kayak surging through a boat's wake.
Chesapeake 17 Kayak surging through a boat's wake.

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 17 comes in two versions. 

 The 17 and 17LT both weigh 45  lbs, but the 17 has a larger volume than the 17LT, so it has a larger cockpit and more storage volume than the 17 LT does. It can carry more gear and comfortably fits paddlers up to 250 pounds in the cockpit. People with a shoes larger than a size 13 will not fit in the 17LT, but the 17 will fit paddlers with shoes up to size 14.

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
$1,299.00 $1,099.00

The Chesapeake 17 kit ships with computer-cut okoume marine p...

The Chesapeake 17 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

$879.00

This Chesapeake 17 "wood parts only" kit ships with computer-...

This Chesapeake 17 "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 17 comprise 4 pages, each page 24" x...

Plans for the Chesapeake 17 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 17 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 17 Kayak Plans Drawing 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.
Zack P built this Chesapeake 17 Kayak that he calls Diamond in the Rough.
Zack P built this Chesapeake 17 Kayak that he calls Diamond in the Rough.

What builders are saying

What a thing of beauty my Chesapeake 17 is! All the parts are beautifully cut out and the included plans and documentation are very thorough. You should all be very proud of your efforts. I know I am proud to be the owner of a CLC kit and I will tell everyone I meet just how well you have treated me. I could not be more pleased. Thank-you all so much and a huge, huge thank-you to John Harris. John, you are one of the good guys in this world and you have really helped to make my simple dream of building my own boat a reality. Thanks!

Dave S. | WA
Verified Builder

Yesterday, I did my longest paddle yet in my Chesapeake 17.I went 26 km, and am very much feeling it today, but it was well worth it. I spent the day trawling a soft bait and caught my biggest haul yet of 8 fish. 7 Kahawai (a local predatory fish that is the most fun on light tackle) and 1 Snapper. Every time I go kayaking I go fishing and have yet to come home empty handed.

Kayak fishing has taken off here in a big way and on a beaut day you'll see a lot them on the water. I've had nothing but praise and all sorts of questions about the kayak. It's a real head turner for sure.

Thanks guys for all your help and I'm happy to say wifee is keen for a double so will be contacting you soon for a quote. 

Jason D. | NZL
Verified Builder

Just a footnote to the recent day I had in my Chesapeake 17. There was a small group of seven of us and the conditions were quite heavy -- force 4 and above and the wind with a rising tide made for lively weather! The front deck of my 17 was under water quite a lot and I also had two inversions!! All the other boats were plastic with rubber hatches and all their hatches leaked about a pint or two of water, according to my friends. That was a surprise. Another surprise was that my 17 literally only had a couple of drops in the front and rear compartments which impressed everyone including myself!! Proof of a good design! Thank you.

Roger W. | IRL
Verified Builder

After 70 hours of dedicated building today I launched my Chesapeake 17.  A wonderful experience, thanks for the detailed plans and the great design, this boat is truly a seaworthy kayak!

Johan V | ESP
Verified Builder

I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I finished my Chesapeake 17 a month ago and have had it in the water several times since then. The last time was at La Jolla Shores in a heavy swell where it really excelled.  I can't be more thrilled with this boat and your kit and support.  Other than a couple of small blemishes it turned out great.  I'm going to add some rub rails this winter. Again thanks for all your support, I'm already looking at your web site for the next project!

Wes O. | CA
Verified Builder

I built this Chesapeake 17 for my senior project in high school and have since paddled every lake in my area with it, several of these trips being overnight to week-long cruises.  The build was extremely enjoyable and the directions were easy to follow, especially for a beginner such as myself.  The cockpit has plenty of room on long paddles and is comfortable when fitted with a few extra cushions (my personal preference). There is also ample room for gear below deck.  Depending on how you pack, it's very easy to load for long trips.  

As far as the boat's performance goes, she handles quite well when you consider her length.  She is also very stable due to the hard chine and wider beam in the cockpit area; this is a blessing in rough waters as well as stiff winds.  Overall, Diamond in the Rough was a great project, good investment, and a wonderful new way for me to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks again, CLC! Your products are great and I hope to continue building in the future.

Zack P. | NC
Verified Builder

I'm very pleased with my Chesapeake 17 kit, its manuals, and the building process. My use of the boats is very pleasing too. I estimate that I have spent approximately 70 hours on each boat. They were built on a small Arctic island called Jan Mayen. There was one thing that I wasn't prepared for: The silence in these wooden boats compared to fiberglass kayaks. This is a quality I really appreciate, and that you most definitely should emphasize more in your information about wooden kayaks.

John-Kare T. | NOR
Verified Builder

Thank you for your help with the questions that I had during the building process of building a Chesapeake 17 kayak.  I learned so much. Her name is GWI YAAT CHIT which is Gwich’in for the word, Princess. I had the opportunity to work with Gwich’in youth in Fort McPherson, Northwest Territory, and I learned so much from them that I thought I would name the kayak in their language to say thanks.

Michael P. | ONT
Verified Builder

Videos

Building a Stitch & Glue Kayak: Complete Video

Chesapeake 17 Kayak

Chesapeake 17

Building my Dream Kayak

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.

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