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Chesapeake Triple Kayak Wooden Boat Kit
Sale
A couple paddling a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Robert B.
Sale
A trio of paddlers in a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak passing a Skerry Day Sailer at OkoumeFest 2016
Sale
With dogs riding in the forward and aft cockpits, a man paddles a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Gerry O. on Okanagan Lake, British Columbia
Chesapeake Triple Kayak Wooden Boat Kit Thumbnail
A couple paddling a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Robert B. Thumbnail
A trio of paddlers in a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak passing a Skerry Day Sailer at OkoumeFest 2016 Thumbnail
With dogs riding in the forward and aft cockpits, a man paddles a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Gerry O. on Okanagan Lake, British Columbia Thumbnail

Chesapeake Triple

Builder Testimonials

A big kayak with seating for three. Most builders put a kid, a dog, or extra camping gear in the middle cockpit, but it's fun to see how fast you can go with three paddlers...

  • 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 need a large, versatile, multi-paddler kayak for two or three paddlers
  • You’d like to carry a pet along with two paddlers
  • You need plenty of storage for camping
  • You need a support vessel for kayak tours

  • Easy to Build

    Your first boatbuilding project!

  • Need for Speed

    For racers seeking escape velocity

  • In-Depth Manual

    Meticulous, fully-illustrated instructions

  • Quality Materials

    Only the best professional-grade materials

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

It's hard to find designs like this in the production world. Combining the strength and light weight of wood-epoxy composites with simplified construction, this one's designed to be fast and fun.

In-Depth Manual

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

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!

 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 Triple Kayak Wooden Boat Kit

Chesapeake Triple Kayak Wooden Boat Kit

A couple paddling a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Robert B.

A couple paddling a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Robert B.

A trio of paddlers in a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak passing a Skerry Day Sailer at OkoumeFest 2016

A trio of paddlers in a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak passing a Skerry Day Sailer at OkoumeFest 2016

With dogs riding in the forward and aft cockpits, a man paddles a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Gerry O. on Okanagan Lake, British Columbia

With dogs riding in the forward and aft cockpits, a man paddles a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Gerry O. on Okanagan Lake, British Columbia

Chesapeake Triple Kayak Wooden Boat Kit Thumbnail
A couple paddling a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Robert B. Thumbnail
A trio of paddlers in a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak passing a Skerry Day Sailer at OkoumeFest 2016 Thumbnail
With dogs riding in the forward and aft cockpits, a man paddles a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak built by Gerry O. on Okanagan Lake, British Columbia Thumbnail

Specifications

Length
21'0"
Beam
30"
Cockpit Size
31" x 17"
Hull Weight
68 lbs.
Paddler Weight
300 - 600 lbs. (combined wt.)
Max Payload
700 lbs.
Knee Height
14"
Max. Men's Shoe Size
14+

Performance

Stability

5 out of 5
Very Tippy
Very Stable

Speed

4 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

4 out of 5
Requires Patience
Very Easy
A trio of paddlers in sync as they head for the beach in this Chesapeake Triple built by Jason R.
A trio of paddlers in sync as they head for the beach in this Chesapeake Triple built by Jason R.

Overview

The success of the proven Chesapeake hull shape led quickly to demands for similar tandem and three-person designs.

The Chesapeake Triple can accommodate three adults, but we have found over the years that most paddlers will use the center cockpit for children or pets, or for light gear stowage with a cockpit cover snapped in place. The Triple's ability to carry families with a couple of kids or dogs is a major attraction, but it's too big to paddle singlehanded without auxiliary power unless it's a glassy calm day.

 The Chesapeake Triple is a high-volume touring boat, with a 700-lb payload that belies its surprising speed. Even though these are substantial boats for serious expeditions, they are also comfortable day-trippers for families or couples. 

As in the other Chesapeake variants, the Triple is built solidly, with epoxy and fiberglass on the inside, outside and deck of the 4mm okoume hull. For safety, watertight bulkheads are standard. The cockpits are deep and snug, with the standard Rapid Pulse backbands offering excellent lumbar support, while the cambered deck affords plenty of paddle clearance.

The Triple makes a terrific base hulls for the CLC SailRig, having the volume and waterline length for fast and efficient "beach cruising."

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
$2,069.00 $1,830.00

The Chesapeake Triple kit ships with computer-cut okoume mari...

The Chesapeake Triple 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

$1,249.00

This Chesapeake Triple "wood parts only" kit ships with compu...

This Chesapeake Triple "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 Triple comprise 6 pages, each page 2...

Plans for the Chesapeake Triple comprise 6 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: Plywood layout
Page 4: Construction details, full-sized patterns for hatches
Page 5: Full-sized patterns for bulkheads and deckbeams
Page 6: Full-sized patterns for cockpit coamings and seats, 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 Triple 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 ...

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.
Two paddlers in a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak
Two paddlers in a Chesapeake Triple wooden kayak

What builders are saying

I just thought I’d drop you a note to let you know that AR Navigation Supplies won the Ocean Blue Adventure Race in Half Moon Bay California in the CLC Chesapeake Triple. We finished the kayak leg a full ten minutes ahead of the second place team and this set us up the eventual win. The boat was so stable that we were able to paddle through Mavericks while everyone else was fighting to stay upright. This is the race that I built the boat to win and it more than lived up to the expectations. I have attached a couple of the photographs for you. I hope you enjoy the story.

Mark M. | CA
Verified Builder

Our pandemic project was building a Chesapeake Triple kayak and it really was a wonderful experience for my wife and myself. Once built, we realized that we needed a lake house. We bought a lake house for the kayak! We have had an amazing time building and enjoying this. Our kayak gets a lot of attention from people on the shore yelling to us about how beautiful it is. We proudly tell them we made it to their surprise. I could not be happier with the end results. It just glides through the water so smoothly.

Robert B. | CT
Verified Builder

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Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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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