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Chesapeake 17LT Kayak built by Dan W. from Fredrick, MD
Sale
Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak at the 2021 Schoodic Sea Kayak Retreat
Sale
A Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Steve J., floating on the water of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California
Sale
Young paddlers enjoying a day on the water in a pair of Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayaks build by Reade J. in Victoria, BC
Sale
Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Doug T, on the water in Turunc, Turkey
Chesapeake 17LT Kayak built by Dan W. from Fredrick, MD Thumbnail
Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak at the 2021 Schoodic Sea Kayak Retreat Thumbnail
A Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Steve J., floating on the water of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California Thumbnail
Young paddlers enjoying a day on the water in a pair of Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayaks build by Reade J. in Victoria, BC Thumbnail
Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Doug T, on the water in Turunc, Turkey Thumbnail

Chesapeake 17LT

Builder Testimonials

A Chesapeake 17 with about 20% less volume. All the capability but for smaller paddlers or those with less need for gear storage.

  • 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 220lbs
  • You need the most versatile possible touring kayak
  • Paddlers of varying weights might share this kayak
  • You prefer speed and good handling in waves combined with a big cockpit

  • Quality Materials

    Only the best professional-grade materials

  • Superior Support

    Tech support is free and unlimited

  • #1 Seller

    Thousands of kits shipped

  • Easy to Build

    Your first boatbuilding project!

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!

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!

 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.
Chesapeake 17LT Kayak built by Dan W. from Fredrick, MD

Chesapeake 17LT Kayak built by Dan W. from Fredrick, MD

Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak at the 2021 Schoodic Sea Kayak Retreat

Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak at the 2021 Schoodic Sea Kayak Retreat

A Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Steve J., floating on the water of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California

A Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Steve J., floating on the water of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California

Young paddlers enjoying a day on the water in a pair of Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayaks build by Reade J. in Victoria, BC

Young paddlers enjoying a day on the water in a pair of Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayaks build by Reade J. in Victoria, BC

Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Doug T, on the water in Turunc, Turkey

Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Doug T, on the water in Turunc, Turkey

Chesapeake 17LT Kayak built by Dan W. from Fredrick, MD Thumbnail
Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak at the 2021 Schoodic Sea Kayak Retreat Thumbnail
A Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Steve J., floating on the water of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California Thumbnail
Young paddlers enjoying a day on the water in a pair of Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayaks build by Reade J. in Victoria, BC Thumbnail
Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak built by Doug T, on the water in Turunc, Turkey Thumbnail

Specifications

Length
16' 10-3/4"
Beam
23-1/2"
Cockpit Size
31" x 17"
Hull Weight
45 lbs.
Paddler Weight
160 - 220 lbs.
Max Payload
300 lbs.
Knee Height
12-1/4"
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
Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak with white hull and blue deck, built by Tim S., through a patch of whitewater
Paddling a Chesapeake 17LT wooden kayak with white hull and blue deck, built by Tim S., through a patch of whitewater

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, with the 17 having a slightly larger cockpit, a bit more knee room and the capacity to take paddlers up to 250 lbs. compared to the 220-pound maximum for the 17LT.

The 17LT was designed as a Light Touring kayak, with lower decks than the 17 and less interior volume.  The cockpit and knee room are slightly smaller, so the 17 LT is intended for paddlers up to 220 pounds with a shoe size of 13 or less. By reducing this volume, the lower sides mean less windage, so the 17LT is sleeker and more nimble than the 17. 

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 17LT kit ships with computer-cut okoume marine...

The Chesapeake 17LT 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 17LT "wood parts only" kit ships with compute...

This Chesapeake 17LT "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 17LT comprise 5 pages, each page 24"...

Plans for the Chesapeake 17LT comprise 5 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 panel ends
Page 3: Full-sized patterns for seat and bulkheads
Page 4: Construction details, full-sized patterns for hatches
Page 5: Construction details, full-sized pattern for cockpit coaming


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 17LT 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 17LT 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.
Mark B. built this Chesapeake 17 Kayak.
Mark B. built this Chesapeake 17 Kayak.

What builders are saying

I built this Chesapeake 17LT for my husband in Geoff Kerr's class last May. It's the first "anything" I've ever built. The class was terrific and Philip is thrilled with his kayak.

Ilene C. | MD
Verified Builder

Two years ago, my "vacation" was to build a Chesapeake 17LT with you guys and Geoff Kerr. Last week, I took a REAL vacation -- my first one in five years!  I went up to Rhode Island -- Jamestown and Newport to be exact. I put her in the water...and climbed in...she just sort of quivered like a race horse in the starting gate. What a thoroughbred!!!  She handled all sorts of conditions from bay to coastal ocean with equal grace and amazing speed...as in AMAZING speed!  

I have few words to describe it .. awesome, amazing, terrific (augmented with profane exclamations!) and do you know what the icing on the cake was there, in that world of drop dead gorgeous boats???  

The number of people who just stared at the boat and commented on her appearance (not her speed! darn it!)---from the toll booth attendants on the Newport bridge to folks around the marinas and beaches...boat owners and tourists...what a great experience this has been!

THANKS!!!!

Andy N. | MD
Verified Builder

I am a long-time woodworker, and first-time boatbuilder.  You guys make it easy!  I love the beautiful sapele [ply]wood on the deck of my Chesapeake 17LT.  I was also impressed with the care taken to match the grain through the bow puzzle joint.  I am glad someone took the time.  One benefit I didn't anticipate while building my boat was all the wonderful comments I get whenever I take it out. THANK YOU!

Mark B. | CA
Verified Builder

Preparing to paddle my Chesapeake 17LT in the Estero Aquatic Preserve at Bonita Springs, Florida. My longest trip was a weekend paddle with my son from St. Mary’s, Georgia, to the Cumberland Island National Seashore. Northbound on an incoming tide against southbound 15-knot breeze. The boat occasionally was suspended on one-and-a-half-foot swells, with both ends out of the water. It was awesome! Never felt in danger. Wonderful boat!

Jeff D. | GA
Verified Builder

I just completed my Chesapeake 17LT and wish to thank everyone at CLC. Every aspect of the project, from the demo to the last coat of varnish, was enjoyable. The supplies provided with the kit were complete and generous. The materials were flawless. I had never built a kayak, or any boat, before and all the information you provided helped me through the project with no problems and very few questions. The kayak came out virtually perfect.

Frank S. | VA
Verified Builder

Just wanted to thank you for the fun I had putting together the Chesapeake 17LT kit this summer.  The build was really enjoyable and the finished product is amazing.  I live near one of the Finger Lakes, and wheel the kayak down to the water.  The boat has received lots of compliments, and quite a few people asked for the name of the company. People from twenty-something women, to middle-agers told me they have always wanted to make their own boat.  I encouraged them that if I could do it, so could they. 

I made some modifications to the basic boat by adding your compass rose on-lay, and staining the hull with water based dark walnut.  Can't wait for warmer weather and new places to paddle.  Thanks again!

Scott A. | NY
Verified Builder

Videos

Building a Stitch & Glue Kayak: Complete Video

My Chesapeake Light Craft 17LT Kayak Build

Homebuilt Sectional Chesapeake 16LT

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

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