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Chesapeake 18 Wooden Kayak built by Chris P.
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A green Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak built by Scott C. on Lake Powell
Sale
Chesapeake 18
Sale
Terry M. in his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak
Sale
A Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak with decorative stripping on the deck, built by Scott C.
Sale
Scott C. has caught a fish on the Yellowstone from his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak
Chesapeake 18 Wooden Kayak built by Chris P. Thumbnail
A green Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak built by Scott C. on Lake Powell Thumbnail
Chesapeake 18 Thumbnail
Terry M. in his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak Thumbnail
A Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak with decorative stripping on the deck, built by Scott C. Thumbnail
Scott C. has caught a fish on the Yellowstone from his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak Thumbnail

Chesapeake 18

Builder Testimonials

A big kayak for big folks who have serious coastal paddling on their itinerary.

  • 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 220 pounds
  • You need a very large amount of storage capacity
  • You need lots of extra legroom, knee room, and foot room
  • You want a large kayak that still handles well in wind and waves

  • Superior Support

    Tech support is free and unlimited

  • Easy to Build

    Your first boatbuilding project!

  • In-Depth Manual

    Meticulous, fully-illustrated instructions

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!

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. 

 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 18 Wooden Kayak built by Chris P.

Chesapeake 18 Wooden Kayak built by Chris P.

A green Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak built by Scott C. on Lake Powell

A green Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak built by Scott C. on Lake Powell

Chesapeake 18
Terry M. in his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak

Terry M. in his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak

A Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak with decorative stripping on the deck, built by Scott C.

A Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak with decorative stripping on the deck, built by Scott C.

Scott C. has caught a fish on the Yellowstone from his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak

Scott C. has caught a fish on the Yellowstone from his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak

Chesapeake 18 Wooden Kayak built by Chris P. Thumbnail
A green Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak built by Scott C. on Lake Powell Thumbnail
Chesapeake 18 Thumbnail
Terry M. in his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak Thumbnail
A Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak with decorative stripping on the deck, built by Scott C. Thumbnail
Scott C. has caught a fish on the Yellowstone from his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak Thumbnail

Specifications

Length
18'0"
Beam
24-1/2"
Cockpit Size
31" x 17"
Hull Weight
48 lbs.
Paddler Weight
210 - 270 lbs.
Max Payload
350 lbs.
Knee Height
13"
Max. Men's Shoe Size
14

Performance

Stability

5 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
Jim T paddling his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak with his furry first mate riding in the forward hatch
Jim T paddling his Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak with his furry first mate riding in the forward hatch

Overview

More than 9,000 Chesapeake-series kayak kits have been shipped since 1996. The Chesapeake 18 is the largest of the single kayaks in this series that varies in length from 14' to 21', and in hull weight from 36 to 68 lbs. The Chesapeake 18 can carry paddlers weighing up to 270 lbs with shoe sizes up to 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. With a maximum payload of 350 lbs, the Chesapeake 18 can carry plenty of gear for a days-long adventure. 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 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
$1,329.00 $1,129.00

The Chesapeake 18 kit ships with computer-cut okoume marine p...

The Chesapeake 18 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

$889.00

This Chesapeake 18 "wood parts only" kit ships with computer-...

This Chesapeake 18 "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 plans and instructions. 

This Chesapeake kit plans and instructions. 
$79.00

Plans for the Chesapeake 18 comprise 4 pages, each page 24" x...

Plans for the Chesapeake 18 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 18 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 favorit...

Chesapeake 18 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.
Balancing a Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak on end
Balancing a Chesapeake 18 wooden kayak on end

What builders are saying

I am very proud of launching my Chesapeake 18, “Peaceful”!  Many thanks to CLC for providing an excellent kit, helpful instructions, and an eager sales and service department. All of it is geared to make a “first-time builder” a success.

Terry M. | TX
Verified Builder

I really enjoyed building my Chesapeake 18. As I worked on it, I was indeed removed from some of the daily work pressures we all face. Everything in the kit fit well and nothing was missing. The kayak is extremely stable and tracks very straight. Many power boaters stop their boats to comment on the kayak and ask questions. On Sunday morning, I paddled for about two hours and my previous days nervousness disappeared. The boat just glides effortlessly through the water.

David W. | ONT
Verified Builder

My Chesapeake 18 was built ten years ago. and it is still as beautiful today as it was then. It takes me to beautiful places too. Thank you!

Rhonda S. | GA
Verified Builder

I built my Chesapeake 18 back in 2010 and have been meaning to pass along the photos for some time. I added some custom work including a day hatch, inking of the hatch covers, and a few more things.  I have less time to kayak now - but I still love being able to cut through the water in this beauty whenever I can.

Joshua A. | DC
Verified Builder

I took some liberties with the Chesapeake 18 kit that I bought from you guys. Right after it came I received a Shearwater hybrid brochure from you also. So naturally I thought--what the hell?!--lets try it on my kayak. I put a deck beam in every 12 inches, scarfed  a poplar rim piece, and then planked it with oak and poplar strips in an arrow head pattern. I also swapped the hatch covers for oak and bought after-market webbing and shock cord. I added a dragon drawing that I designed and the Chinese symbols mean "world peace". All of the graphics are painted right on the wood so they are protected under the cloth and epoxy.

David L. | NC
Verified Builder

What a wonderful experience it has been to build this Chesapeake 18 kayak. I was hesitant at first, but with a little help and your wonderful directions and plans I completed the project. It actually went together just as you said it would. I also found many of the discussions posted on the forum most helpful. . . Again thanks for a great product and for providing me with what I hope to be many years of happy paddling.

Bob R. | VA
Verified Builder

Videos

Building a Stitch & Glue Kayak: Complete Video

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

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