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Shearwater Double kayak being paddled by Eric Schade and his wife.
Sale
Shearwater Double
Sale
Shearwater Double
Sale
Shearwater Double
Sale
Shearwater Double
Shearwater Double kayak being paddled by Eric Schade and his wife. Thumbnail
Shearwater Double Thumbnail
Shearwater Double Thumbnail
Shearwater Double Thumbnail
Shearwater Double Thumbnail

Shearwater Double

Builder Testimonials

The multi-chined, stitch-and-glue Shearwater Double is the a fast, comfortable, versatile tandem sea kayak that you are looking for.

  • Skill Level Beginner
  • Estimated Build Time 110 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.

This kit features computer-cut parts, puzzle joints, pre-drilled wire holes, and computer-indicated bulkhead locations, speeding and simplifying the construction process. The illustrated assembly manual makes the construction process accessible to first-time builders.

Build this boat if...

  • You want a fast but compact double
  • You prefer sophisticated styling and a functional layout
  • You need comfortable cockpits but don’t want to sacrifice speed

  • Versatile

    A design that does everything well

  • Easy to Build

    Your first boatbuilding project!

  • Superior Support

    Tech support is free and unlimited

  • Sophisticated Design

    Nothing else like it to buy or build

Fast but comfortable, comfortable but sleek, sophisticated but easy to build, elegant but straightforward. If you're going to have just one boat...

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

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!

This is a design with qualities and features that are unique in the marketplace, both among DIY projects and production boats. Refined, tested, uncompromised, outstanding, and unique!

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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.
Shearwater Double kayak being paddled by Eric Schade and his wife.

Shearwater Double kayak being paddled by Eric Schade and his wife.

Shearwater Double
Shearwater Double
Shearwater Double
Shearwater Double
Shearwater Double kayak being paddled by Eric Schade and his wife. Thumbnail
Shearwater Double Thumbnail
Shearwater Double Thumbnail
Shearwater Double Thumbnail
Shearwater Double Thumbnail

Specifications

Length
18'6"
Beam
27"
Cockpit Size
34" x 18"
Hull Weight
68 lbs.
Paddler Weight
300 - 500 lbs.
Max Payload
575 lbs.
Knee Height
14"
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

3 out of 5
Day Tripper
Freight Hauler

Ease of Construction

3 out of 5
Requires Patience
Very Easy
Shearwater Double kayak on a paddle.
Shearwater Double kayak on a paddle.

Overview

Doubles can be big, like our voluminous Chesapeake Double, or they can be small, like our handy-but-compact Wood Duck Double.  How could we create a double kayak that combined the speed of a longer sea kayak with the convenience of a smaller boat? It was a challenge we handed to designer Eric Schade, and after a long development the Shearwater Double was revealed. 

For speed, the hull is multi-chined and plumb-ended, with a long waterline for minimal wetted surface.  We borrowed the Shearwater kayak’s handsome deck pattern to fit two large cockpits and three big storage compartments while maintaining a sleek profile.  The Shearwater Double is remarkably fast and comfortable.  The most discriminating paddlers will enjoy its responsiveness and speed, while the solid stability and roomy cockpits will reassure beginners.

The hull is okoume while the deck is standard in Sapele.  Flush hatches---three of them---are standard in the kit, as are seats, footbraces, deck rigging, and hardware.  Holes are pre-drilled in advance by our CNC machine for stitch-and-glue assembly.  All surfaces are fiberglassed, inside and out.

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 pre-drilled holes for stitching-and-gluing, puzzle joints, and precision in the fitting of parts.

Standard Configuration

Sale
$2,085.00 $1,850.00

The Shearwater Double kit ships with computer-cut and -drille...

The Shearwater Double kit ships with computer-cut and -drilled okoume and sapele 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 extensively illustrated 74-page step-by-step instruction manual. 


Shearwater Double Kit Parts

Alternative Configurations

$1,256.00

The Shearwater Double Wood Parts Only kit includes: pre-cut a...

The Shearwater Double Wood Parts Only kit includes: pre-cut and pre-drilled okoume bottom, hull, and sheer panels and sapele deck panels; hull and deck forms and bulkheads; coaming rings and spacers; transon, plywood hip braces and and hatch parts.

Shearwater Double - Wood Parts Only Kit 
$119.00

Full-sized patterns for every part in the Shearwater Double, ...

Full-sized patterns for every part in the Shearwater Double, plus the instruction manual with step-by-step instructions.

Shearwater Double Full-Size Plans
$25.00

Just the manual, so you can study the process in advance of a...

Just the manual, so you can study the process in advance of a kit purchase.  You may rebate the price of the manual from a subsequent kit purchase. 

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.
$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

$89.95

All-nylon sprayskirt built from sturdy urethane coated packcl...

All-nylon sprayskirt built from sturdy urethane coated packcloth and seam-sealed.

The 1/4-inch shockcord around the coaming edge and a 3/4-inch elasticized band around the top of the body tube ensure a comfortable fit; waist is adjustable. Available in blue, green, or black with CLC logo.

Fits the Wood Duck Kayaks 10 & 12 and the Shearwater Double Only. Available in camouflage, black, and yellow (athletic gold) with the CLC paddler logo. Royal blue is only available while supplies last.
$38.95

Fits over the kayak cockpit to keep out sand, rain, and critt...

Fits over the kayak cockpit to keep out sand, rain, and critters. Nylon; available in blue, green, or black with CLC logo.

Fits the Wood Duck 10 & 12 Kayaks and the Shearwater Double only. Available in camouflage, black, and yellow (athletic gold) with the CLC paddler logo.
Shearwater Double built by John H.
Shearwater Double built by John H.

What builders are saying

I built my Shearwater Double from plans using red cedar planks, planed thin. For the deck, I applied thin planks and cedar strips. It looks like a hybrid! Her name is SOCIAL DISTANCE thanks to the timing of her launch, but when, by chance, I measured the distance between the seats, I was surprised to find they were exactly 6 feet apart...the name stuck! She is perfect for comfortable rides on some of our deep water rivers here in Georgia. Thanks for a great design. She was a joy to build and I learned so much.

John H. | GA
Verified Builder

Just wanted to pass along a few words of praise regarding the Shearwater Double. After a six month build, we launched our boat yesterday.  The kayak, which took 153 man-hours (67 work periods) to complete, came in fully rigged at 78 lbs.  As usual, both the kit and build manual were exceptional.

As expected, we found the Shearwater Double to be very roomy, stable and comfortable on the water.  It is so stable in fact, that my wife was able to raise up and lay on top of the deck behind the forward cockpit with no fear of capsize.  What really impressed us with the design is just how fast and maneuverable this boat is.  I installed a Smart Track rudder system but I am not convinced that this boat needs it.  I had the rudder up for about half of our first outing.  Another huge positive with this design is that the cockpits are far enough apart (6’+) that the two paddlers can uncouple their stroke without fear of hitting paddles.  My wife and I own a short SOT tandem, so we know why they are called divorce boats.

When we decided on the Shearwater Double, we were looking for a boat that the two of us could use to cover more distance than my wife could in her single.  We are also hoping to use it for kayak camping.  I have no doubt that this will be an excellent boat for both of those purposes.

Thanks again for putting out such a wonderful product.  With your kits and instructions, even a hack like me can build a beautiful boat.

Mark N. | FLA
Verified Builder

Presenting the Shearwater Double, an amazing craft that flies thru the air, paddles on land & sea, and can even cut thru dense Maine fog! Thanks for your support!

James D. | HA
Verified Builder

I just had to let you know how much I'm enjoying the Shearwater 17 that I built. It's everything I had ever hoped for in a kayak and more! I recently spent two weeks out at Smith Mountain Lake in western Virginia. I probably paddled over 200 miles. I was out on the water every morning by sunrise and set out in a different direction each day. I found myself getting lost in my own world not realizing how far I was paddling. The Shearwater in calm water tracks like it's on a rail and the ease in which it paddles is unbelievable! I was never uncomfortable in the boat and would paddle for 3 to 4 hours at a time and had to force myself to turn around and paddle back so I could spend time with the family. It's just such a great boat! 

Additionally, the heads I turned as I would pass by other boats or docks was amazing. I met more people who were so fascinated by the fact that I actually built the boat and how beautiful it was. You got a lot of free publicity! Hopefully it will bring you more business. It is a beautiful boat in and out of the water and I am just loving it! I would recommend this boat to anyone whose looking for a long distance cruiser that's comfortable, fast and a blast to paddle.

Fred S. | PA
Verified Builder

Videos

Building a CLC Shearwater Kayak Kit

Build a Kayak at the Maine Maritime Museum

Shearwater 17 - Chesapeake Light Craft

Frequently Asked Questions

Has anyone built both the Chesapeake and the Shearwater and how would you compare the build time and complexity of the two?

We've built a handful of Shearwaters and scores of Chesapeakes. I think the elapsed building time of the two boats is about the same. We kept an eye on the hours when we built the second Shearwater 17 and it was about 80 hours total. That was moving fast, and often with two people working on it at once.

There are no scarfs to glue and no sheerclamps to plane on the standard Shearwater, and that reduces time compared to the Chesapeake. You gain all of that back in putting the Shearwater's deck on. Actually, you have the deck on and off about four times in the process of assembling it. None of the processes are any more difficult than the Chesapeake, just different.

On a Shearwater, does it matter what order I lay the three layers of glass on the hull?

Yes, it matters.  The first layer is the all-encompassing layer; the second is just on the bottom panels, and third come the bow and stern reinforcement.

There are two problems with doing that in reverse order: First, you might get an air bubble at the edge of the layers that end short. Second, if the smaller patches shift beneath the all-over sheet, you'll have the devil of a time getting them back in place.

You want to apply all the layers DRY, and then wet them out with epoxy together at the same time.

Are there any significant differences between building the Shearwaters and the Chesapeakes?

The sequence for the standard Shearwater is thus: Wire the hull up like any other CLC boat, install fillets, etc. Wire together the deck (with a few temporary forms providing the deck camber), apply "tack welds" to the deck, and wire it onto the hull. Take the deck back off to finish the fillets and fiberglass on the deck. Like most of the hull, the deck is fiberglassed on both sides; there are about four layers of 'glass right behind the cockpit. At a last you wire the deck on for good and apply fillets to the hull-to-deck joint.

The Shearwater Hybrid process is different: there are temporary forms upon which the stripped deck is assembled, and the hull has the usual CLC sheerclamps to which the strip deck is ultimately fastened once the forms are removed. Definitely takes more time to build, but a fraction of the time of an all-strip hull.

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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