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A young sailor looks eagerly ahead for the helm of his Eastport Pram.
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Eastport Prams on the beach await the start of a race.
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The graceful lines of the Eastport Pram are accentuated in its reflection.
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A woman gracefully rows her Eastport Pram in a peaceful harbor.
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Eastport Prams are not just for rowing. They are a pretty good way to harvest dinner too.
Sale
Pull the daggerboard up, and then the Eastport Pram is easy to drag up onto the beach.
Sale
Two children enjoying a row in their Eastport Pram. Later!
A young sailor looks eagerly ahead for the helm of his Eastport Pram. Thumbnail
Eastport Prams on the beach await the start of a race. Thumbnail
The graceful lines of the Eastport Pram are accentuated in its reflection. Thumbnail
A woman gracefully rows her Eastport Pram in a peaceful harbor. Thumbnail
Eastport Prams are not just for rowing. They are a pretty good way to harvest dinner too. Thumbnail
Pull the daggerboard up, and then the Eastport Pram is easy to drag up onto the beach. Thumbnail
Two children enjoying a row in their Eastport Pram. Later! Thumbnail

Eastport Pram

Builder Testimonials

The Eastport Pram, with more than 1000 built, is one of the most popular small dinghies in the world.

  • Skill Level Beginner
  • Estimated Build Time 70 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, plus sanding, painting, and varnishing.  Add another 25 hours or so to the total building time for the sailing option.

Build this boat if...

  • You need an excellent rowing and sailing dinghy.
  • You need a dinghy with a maximum payload of 375 pounds.
  • You want a perfect small sail trainer.

  • #1 Seller

    Thousands of kits shipped

  • Easy to Build

    Your first boatbuilding project!

  • Quality Materials

    Only the best professional-grade materials

  • Classic Appeal

    Traditional looks that will never age

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!

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!

Classic Appeal

Some might argue that small craft design reached the zenith of looks and performance in the 19th century. We wouldn't disagree. Designs like this one will still look good in a hundred years.

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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.
A young sailor looks eagerly ahead for the helm of his Eastport Pram.

A young sailor looks eagerly ahead for the helm of his Eastport Pram.

Eastport Prams on the beach await the start of a race.

Eastport Prams on the beach await the start of a race.

The graceful lines of the Eastport Pram are accentuated in its reflection.

The graceful lines of the Eastport Pram are accentuated in its reflection.

A woman gracefully rows her Eastport Pram in a peaceful harbor.

A woman gracefully rows her Eastport Pram in a peaceful harbor.

Eastport Prams are not just for rowing. They are a pretty good way to harvest dinner too.

Eastport Prams are not just for rowing. They are a pretty good way to harvest dinner too.

Pull the daggerboard up, and then the Eastport Pram is easy to drag up onto the beach.

Pull the daggerboard up, and then the Eastport Pram is easy to drag up onto the beach.

Two children enjoying a row in their Eastport Pram. Later!

Two children enjoying a row in their Eastport Pram. Later!

A young sailor looks eagerly ahead for the helm of his Eastport Pram. Thumbnail
Eastport Prams on the beach await the start of a race. Thumbnail
The graceful lines of the Eastport Pram are accentuated in its reflection. Thumbnail
A woman gracefully rows her Eastport Pram in a peaceful harbor. Thumbnail
Eastport Prams are not just for rowing. They are a pretty good way to harvest dinner too. Thumbnail
Pull the daggerboard up, and then the Eastport Pram is easy to drag up onto the beach. Thumbnail
Two children enjoying a row in their Eastport Pram. Later! Thumbnail

Specifications

Length
7' 9"
Beam
48"
Rowing Draft
5"
Sailing Draft
25"
Sail Area
42 sq. ft.
Hull Weight
65 lbs.
Max Payload
375 lbs.

Performance

Stability

3 out of 5
Very Tippy
Very Stable

Speed

1 out of 5
Cruiser
Racer

Cockpit Room

2 out of 5
Close Fit
Huge Cockpit

Payload

2 out of 5
Day Tripper
Freight Hauler

Ease of Construction

5 out of 5
Requires Patience
Very Easy
Middle school students at Maryland's Calverton School installing the sheerstrakes of their Eastport Pram.
Middle school students at Maryland's Calverton School installing the sheerstrakes of their Eastport Pram.

Overview

The Eastport Pram, with more than 1000 built, is one of the most popular small dinghies in the world.  Classic good looks, stand-out performance, and ease of construction are hallmarks of this John C. Harris design.

After the pram was in production for several years, the design was updated in 2010.  Now all Eastport Pram kits have the stitching holes, that hold the temporary copper stitches, drilled in all of the hull parts by our computerized machinery.  Bulkhead locations are indicated by drill holes and machined "mortises" so there's no need for measuring, and the parts fit exactly every time.

We also updated the sailing rig in 2010.  While the old rig is powerful and weatherly, the new rig is taller, bigger, and sports battens for a sleeker look and even more power on all points of sail.  All this, and the Mark II mast is actually a foot shorter!  The new rig may be retrofitted to older Eastport Prams.   It’s simple to add the rig later if you just want a rowing boat to start with. In fact, the standard kit includes the daggerboard trunk, to make the conversion quick and easy months or years later!

We gave the Eastport Pram deep rocker for low wetted surface and to keep the transoms from dragging. The result is a boat that is as easy and satisfying to row as you can expect on such a short waterline. Used as a tender to a larger boat or kept at a dock, it's possible to undertake a long afternoon row around the local waters without breaking a sweat. Yes, an outboard or trolling motor may be fitted up to a maximum of 2-hp; the motor's weight should not exceed 30 lbs. 

The Eastport Pram’s many joys are multiplied when you add the sailing rig. Not a clumsy add-on, the large standing-lug sail and efficient rudder and daggerboard convert the pram into a proper sailboat with enough real performance, upwind and down, to keep the most seasoned sailors interested. The 48-inch beam means that the likelihood of capsize is remote as long as the sheet is never tied down. This is the perfect craft in which to learn to sail, whether the crew is age 8 or 80.

Small tenders should be able to withstand heavy handling alongside the mothership or in the dinghy park. Planking is 6mm okoume throughout, with three 9mm frames and seats. There’s a big, deep skeg for tracking under tow. In addition to multiple layers of fiberglass on the bottom panel, there are two cypress rubbing strips on the bottom to take the abrasion of dragging on a beach. For added safety, permanent flotation tanks are built in beneath the seats.

For all its virtues, perhaps the neatest thing about the Eastport Pram is the ease of construction using CLC's patented LapStitch™ process. Not only does the hull go together in a single weekend, but everyone agrees that the lapstrake Eastport Pram is one of the most beautiful dinghies they've ever seen. It will take the patient novice only 40-50 hours to assemble the hull, with a little more part-time work for finishing. It is our easiest kit and perfect for families.

"Rowing from the center seat with the spoon-bladed oars moves the boat with a minimum effort, and it sails in just a ghost of a breeze. It punches through chop and boat wakes more easily than might be expected from such a light boat . . ." read the entire review - Good Old Boat Magazine, March 2001

 

Buying Options

Choose Your Boatbuilding Experience

Start your kit-building experience by selecting the option that best fits your goals. 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 will start with the Base Kit. If you plan to sail your new boat, you will also need to order the Sailing Component Kit.
    Build From Scratch:
    Source your own materials and hardware, and work from full-sized patterns.
    Build From a Wood Parts Only Kit:
    "Wood Parts Only" kit buyers 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:
    If this is a rowing and sailing boat, you’ll need the Sailing Component Kit. You can also choose different sail colors, order a Line & Cordage Package, add nonskid decking, storage covers, and more.

  3. Get Building!

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

Standard Configuration

Nearly every builder will start with the Base Kit. If you plan to sail your new boat you will also need to order the Sailing Component Kit.

Sale
$1,325.00 $1,120.00

The Eastport Pram kit includes plans and a fully illustrated,...

The Eastport Pram kit includes plans and a fully illustrated, step-by-step instruction manual, computer-cut and -drilled parts, bulkheads, seats, daggerboard trunk, epoxy kit, fiberglass for hull, and one pair of bronze oarlocks and sockets. 
$1,175.00

The Mark II Eastport Pram Sailing kit includes 42sq.ft. sail ...

The Mark II Eastport Pram Sailing kit includes 42sq.ft. sail with battens, wooden mast, boom, and yard, mast step, tiller, daggerboard, rudder, and rudder hardware. 

Alternative Configurations

We also offer the Wood Parts Kit as a stand alone option. Typical wood parts only kit buyers have an existing or ready supply of their own epoxy, fiberglass, and hardware.

$925.00

This Eastport Pram kit includes plans and instructions, pre-c...

This Eastport Pram kit includes plans and instructions, pre-cut parts, bulkheads, seats, and daggerboard trunk. 
$119.00

Easport Pram Mark II Plans include two ARCHD (24" x 36") shee...

Easport Pram Mark II Plans include two ARCHD (24" x 36") sheets and two FULL-SIZE sheets.



Easport Pram Complete Plans Package Preview
$25.00

Purchase the manual separately if you'd like to get a feel fo...

Purchase the manual separately if you'd like to get a feel for the whole project before starting a kit, or if you have misplaced your instruction manual. 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 package for that.
$20.00

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

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.

Additional Options

The Sail Upgrade or our Line and Cordage Package are popular choices for many of our builders.

$349.00

Spacered inwales are an elegant touch.  They are a bit invol...

Spacered inwales are an elegant touch.  They are a bit involved to install, and might not be suited to first-time boatbuilders.  Detailed installation instructions are here, and are worth a read before you jump in.   

This kit includes pre-cut breasthooks (and quarter knees where applicable), mahogany inwale stock proportioned to fit your boat, spacer block material, and a pair of oarlock riser blocks.  Expect to do some trimming and fitting of the parts, as every boat varies slightly.
$110.00

Note: Tanbark and Egyptian Cream sails & sails with reef ...

Note: Tanbark and Egyptian Cream sails & sails with reef points are manufactured on-demand and may take up to 3-4 weeks for delivery. 

sail colors
$110.00

Note: Tanbark and Egyptian Cream sails & sails with reef ...

Note: Tanbark and Egyptian Cream sails & sails with reef points are manufactured on-demand and may take up to 3-4 weeks for delivery. 

sail colors
$45.54

The Sail Package includes all of the line and sail lacing req...

The Sail Package includes all of the line and sail lacing required to get you sailing once your boat is complete.

Bob C. and his granddaughter enjoying their Eastport Pram.
Bob C. and his granddaughter enjoying their Eastport Pram.

What builders are saying

I just recently completed an Eastport Pram. I've always wanted to build a boat, but never thought I'd be able to. Your kit was so easy to construct and your technical support team is fantastic. The first sail, while on an overcast day, was simply terrific. Thank you for helping me complete a dream.

Nathan Z. | CT
Verified Builder

I built my Eastport Pram from plans this year as a project to kill time before sailing season.  It was fun to build and the plans were great plans. It is a functional tender that is good for teaching grandkids the basics of sailing.

Bob C. | CO
Verified Builder

My Eastport Pram is the first and only boat I've ever built. It has now safely transported me, my camp gear, and a cold beer across Loon Lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Heaven! Thanks for making a cool little boat!

Thom L. | CA
Verified Builder

Building my Eastport Pram was a wonderful project. My neighbors also built Eastport Prams a pair of them for a total of three. It has been a great sailing boat on the small lake behind our home. My hope is to use it to introduce my granddaughters to sailing! The build experience was interesting, fun, and straightforward. It was a great kit and the few questions that we had were answered by CLC when we called for help.

James F. | MI.
Verified Builder

I wanted to send you some pictures of my latest Eastport Pram, MARISOL.  I built her in my garage in a little over two months. It was quite a fun project.  Everyone is raving about what a pretty little boat she is and I have had her out rowing a few times.  Even with the dark paint, the chines still show up very nicely.  You guys design really great boats! Cheers, and thank you for the great customer service!

Barbara T. | NS
Verified Builder

When I first built my Eastport Pram dinghy, time ran out before it was completely finished, and we went off to the [Florida] Keys for a winter cruise. While there we went through a storm that saw winds in excess of 50 knots. The dinghy was sucked off the water and went airborne, flying like a kite on its painter. It then slammed upside down on the water so hard I feared it completely destroyed.

Once the storm passed I could see it survived, though not completely unscathed, the two seams on the very bottom of the hull had broken loose on each side for three inches or so. Once we got home, I covered the dinghy with a silver tarp to help dry out the seams. Once the seams dried, I repaired and reinforced them. As stated earlier, the dinghy wasn't completely finished, and I had built it during the winter. That required me to use heaters in the barn to try to keep the temperature stable and above 50 degrees. Had it been built earlier in the year I've no doubt there would have been no damage from any storm. This proved to be the case as you will see below.

Later, on another sailing trip this one on Kentucky Lake, located in Tennessee, we were once again caught in a storm that had a microburst with winds in excess of 50 mph. (We are beginning to wonder if this dinghy was a magnet for high winds). Once again, the wind sucked the dinghy up like a kite and slammed her back down; this time, though, she was solid as a rock. Her oars were ripped out of the locks, but we found them later.

More recently, while on a sailing cruise down in the Gulf, we were once again to suffer the wrath of another storm. This happened while we were tied at a marina in Port Saint Joe in northern Florida. Winds were hurricane force, their floating docks were completely submerged, one of our buddy's boats broke loose and our dinghy ended up being used as a bumper. Other than a few dings on the rub rail she came through without any damage. This is a testament to her strength and design. Thank you for building such a fine boat!

Ken P. | TN
Verified Builder

I built an Eastport Pram with its sailing rig, built from plans over the winter. Launched on Cheney Lake, Anchorage, Alaska on June 16, 2019. With a boat this size I’m really enjoying the ability to transport it in the back of my truck and go sailing almost every day. Summers here are short and you have to take advantage of them!

Dan J. | AK
Verified Builder

Videos

Why We Sail--"Pram Story"

Sailing the Eastport Pram

Boatbuilding: The Eastport Pram in Seven Minutes

Mancraft 101: Building the Eastport Pram Sailing Dinghy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LapStitch Construction?

CLC'S LapStitch™ Construction

Patent No. 6,142,093 

Our system combines the unquestioned grace of lapstrake hulls with the proven ease of stitch-and-glue construction. The strength of the LapStitch™ joint is such that the designs require comparatively little fiberglass or fillet work, making them especially easy to build.

Lapstrake hull shapes evolved over millennia. Many would suggest that the type reached a high-water mark with the Viking longboats, but the actual building method was little changed right up into the 20th century. Planks were riveted together, and the technique required prodigious skill on the part of boatbuilders.

Over the last few decades, the advent of modern adhesives and high-quality marine plywood brought about the first major innovation in lapstrake building methods: "glued plywood" lapstrake hulls. This method of planking produces very strong, stiff, and beautiful hulls that never leak. This is progress, to be sure, but glued lapstrake boats still require molds and arcane joinery skills. It isn't a process suited to amateurs.

In 1997, Chesapeake Light Craft developed a way to build lapstrake boats without molds or complex "rolling bevels" on the lapstrake planking. Using sophisticated computer design software, we are now able to devise hull shapes that will assume a round-bottomed shape without a jig or "torturing" of the wood. A special "rabbet," or groove, is machined into each strake so that they are self-aligning. They are wired together just like a stitch-and-glue kayak. When these joints are filled with epoxy, the result is a remarkably stiff and strong hull that is visually indistinguishable from traditional lapstrake planking.

LapStitch™ construction is featured in these CLC boats:

After more than 15 years of development, the evolution of LapStitch™ has reached the stage where we can render complex lapstrake hull shapes in complete confidence without "strongback" molds.  Chesapeake Light Craft can design and build for you LapStitch™ hulls of any shape or size.  

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.

Could I use a small outboard on the Eastport Pram? If so, what size?

A 2-hp outboard has been demonstrated to work well. The Eastport Pram's transom and structure is configured for a small outboard right out of the box. It's a very small boat, of course, and shouldn't be confused with a Boston Whaler. The boat rows so well that I find it hard to imagine why an internal combustion engine is needed for anything except a very long and regular commute across a windy harbor.

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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