See What Our Customers Are Saying!

Everyone who sees it asks, “Did you build that yourself?” And I say, “Yes, I did…with a little help from my friends.” Thank you all for helping to create this new family heirloom. She glides through the water nicely!

I find the Northeaster Dory a spritely joy under oars and a safe, easily-controlled sailboat. What a delight!

I just wanted to let you know that I reached the great milestone of the first stitching together of the hull and deck on my Shearwater 17.  Thanks for all your help in getting to this point.  The manual says this is the time when you invite all your friends and neighbors in to see how great it looks, and that was no lie.  The Shearwater is a beauty, and we have invited all our kayak-building friends over for a celebration.

In spite of all the challenges (and that is the point of building yourself, right?), I couldn't be happier with the CLC kit, the quality of the materials, tools, the customer support, and most importantly support from other builders, on the blog and elsewhere.  What a great job your company has done.  I couldn't have imagined such a wonderful experience until I started the work.

Many thanks to you and the crew at CLC, and all best wishes for a very successful 2014

A wonderful design.  My wife KK and I use the two Woodduck kayaks in Michigan especially in the fall.  Also, we had an opportunity to catch your traveling road show in St. Petersburg, Florida this week.  Can't say enough about how helpful and courteous you people were (Austin and Joey).  Got the opportunity to row the dory, the pram, and the wherry.  Also paddled the Shearwater 16.  All great boats!  Thanks.

During the 2021 "Florida 120" Sailboat cruise, "Crusader" performed wonderfully! Stats: total distance 92 statute miles, total time Under way 19 hours 45 minutes, average speed 4.7 mph, and max speed surfing down the waves 9.7 mph. Exhilarating!!! Awesome boat!!!

Just thought I would send a picture of the Wood Duck I just finished. This is a great boat - fast, stable and looks great.  Thanks for a great product!! 

I'm unreservedly thrilled with the Northeaster Dory and looking forward to many miles of sailing my field camera through the marshes of Chesapeake country. All the guys have been great to work with, particularly David. The only downside is that it doesn't look homemade so no one asks if I built it!

I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how well my Eastport Pram turned out. I was totally pleased at how the pram easily handled water much rougher than would ever be experienced in any sensible anchorage.

Thank you CLC for your great product and great service. We are thrilled with the final results of our teardrop camper!

When I went to the DNR to have it inspected prior to registration, the ranger who inspected it gave me a very kind compliment: he said it was one of the nicest homebuilt boats he had ever seen.  This was totally unexpected and a testament to the quality of the kits and instructions CLC provides. 

I have enjoyed the build and am now awaiting spring so that I can paddle my mill creek more as the weather will be turning cold here very soon.  Again thank you for a wonderful experience with the build and hopefully many nice days to come paddling on the local lakes.

Thanks immensely, CLC, for such a rewarding project that will provide me with ongoing enjoyment for years to come. We are already planning another CLC boat build - likely a Mill Creek hybrid with outriggers and a sail.

First project--- Shearwater sport.  Easy to build, lots of fun!  Worked on it with my daughter-- great "bonding" experience!

Just a note of heartfelt thanks to all of you at CLC. Thanks for a great product, great support service, and great instructions. I launched my Ches 18 yesterday. What a feeling, in your own boat, without a leak to be had. . . Once again, thank you so very much in helping me through a very rewarding time. Your product, service and company employees are all of the highest caliber! Congratulations.

After the Sacramento event last Labor Day, we decided to build a pair of  12' Wood Ducks for fishing. We started in late October, and working part time through the winter, we completed the project in late April. They went in the water in the Sierra Nevada foot hills for the first time April 30th. Our woodworking skills weren't too great in the beginning, so we had to use a little exterior filler, thus the paint jobs. In spite of our initial lack of skill, the kayaks were easy and fun to build. We are both eager to join you once again in Sacramento to test drive other models so we can start another project for the winter.

Thanks to the designer for the concept, and to CLC for the fine after-sale support!

Great plans and kit. A pleasure to build. I'll probably add the Kaholo 14 letters to the deck as soon as I have them made. I took it out yesterday for the first time, I'm really sore today.  Thank god for vicodin.

What a wonderful experience it has been to build this boat. I was hesitant, 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.

I just wanted to thank you for being one of the most gracious companies that I have dealt with over the years. I am moving on in my interests and am grateful for the opportunity to use your site to sell my 17LT and move on to a more sedentary life (golf). The only issue with my kayak was that it was almost to pretty to use. Thanks again for the great experience.

Thank you for designing such a nice looking and fun boat and making it available for people to make themselves.

This challenging but well engineered project carried me through the fall and winter of 09/10, commissioned in May 2010 at Turkey Creek.  Turkey Creek is a tidal trib to the Upper Choptank River in Talbot County, MD. This kayak was everything I had hoped for in a kit built boat without disappointment. But do not fool yourself it is a lot of sanding, ha ha.

When paddling with friends, they often remark, “Why are you only taking one stroke to my two??” Or, “Why are you always enjoying a rest while waiting for us??”  

This durable, sleek Chesapeake 17LT workhorse cuts through lakes and rivers with ease & stable with  65 lbs of camping gear stowed in the two hull compartments when this picture was taken.  I weigh 210 lbs. I’ve never had leakage into the hatches, and she tracks well in river currents. I can’t wait to build the next one!

This Sassafras [16] was begun at a CLC class in Annapolis some years ago and - after many stops and starts - finished at home this Fall. With Covid restrictions, it was proudly launched in our pool in order not to delay getting it in the water any longer. Decided to use a traditional canoe green for the hull and the resulting contrast with the varnished wood is striking. Very pleased with its balance and stability.

My 14 year old just finished building the 16 foot. It took him 6 months on weekends to complete. This was a school project. Your video made it happen easily. Thanks!

Thought I would send you a picture of my first Wood Duckling 8.  The second one is nearly finished too...and my garage starts to look like a little shipyard now.

Here are a couple shots of the Chester Yawl I finished last fall.  Building it was a blast.  I am competing with it in a couple of open-ocean races this summer.   Hopefully she is as fast as she is pretty!

Hi CLC team, attached are a few photos of the maiden launch of the Skerry we built in our garage here in the Central Coast of California over the last few years. The boat was launched at Santa Barbara Harbor last month. It's painted with Kirby Gray Green on the hull and Ivory on the Cockpit floor. It's got about 10 coats of spar varnish with the rubbed effect type used on the seats. For the time being it carries our whole family Dad, Mom, Faith (9), Gabby (7), Eden (4) and Leo the dog in the calm waters inside the breakwater where we can land on quiet beaches inside the harbor. It doesn't have a sail rig yet but that is next. Thanks for all the support!!

[This image is] from our 3 day, 72 mile Bowron Lake circuit trip in British Columbia. The Skerry worked great, with our gear in the stern providing trim, my wife and I were both able to row. The extra weight of the boat (compared to a canoe) on the portages (up to 1.5mi) was still very manageable with 2 people. When the wind kicked up on 19 mile Isaac Lake and sent canoes running for shore, the Skerry was still a joy to row through the building white caps. On the river portions of the circuit, I sat on the pile of gear, facing forward, and rowed as if I was in my drift boat on one of our home rivers. While the weather and bugs proved to be our biggest challenge on the circuit, the Skerry was solid and dependable throughout the trip.

This past Memorial Day weekend, five guys in four kayaks paddled 70 miles down the Delaware River from New Castle to Lewes. On Friday, we stopped for a long break and as the tide came in, I had to pull my Arctic Hawk above the high tide line. As I sat in the shade looking towards the water, this was my view. I purchased the Arctic Hawk in January from Jeff S. who built a gorgeous boat. The Arctic Hawk held all my gear (food, water, clothes, tent, sleeping bag, etc.) for the three-day, two-night trip.

I built my wherry with Dave in late March up here at Port Townsend.  Got it in the water July 4th weekend at Lake Wenatchee in the Cascade Mountains. Never underestimate the time to finish the boat...7 coats on the bottom, and 7 on top.  I put a custom mahagony trim on the transom and seats, and stained the railings, seat supports and trim a red mahagony color.  The varnish really sets it off.  I get a lot of very positive comments.

Thanks for a great start point with your kit and excellent instruction. 

Thanks for your help with questions I had during the building process.  I learned so much. Though you might like to see the finished product.  Her name is “Gwi yaat chit” which is Gwich’in from Princess. I had the opportunity to work with Gwich’in youth in Fort McPherson, NWT and I learned so much from them I thought I would name the kayak in their language to say thanks.

Thanks CLC for a great build... my first and hopefully not my last.  Now I need to wait for water conditions to soften a bit before paddling.

Thanks for the perfect Annapolis Wherry kit, great accessory choices, and support along the way!  I tell everyone about CLC when I talk about the boat.  Already, my friend Scott caught the bug and ordered a kit from you.

Christmas eve was a great time to celebrate with the first launching of my Chester Yawl.  It exceeded my expectations on how stable and easy to row it was.  The grandkids couldn't wait to go for a ride even though it was pretty cool.  The smiles say it all.  One of the grandkids now tells me that he wants to build a boat together this year.  Great job on the design and how well everything fits.

Thank you also for always being there when I had a question.  You guys didn’t send me off to some list of frequently asked questions, you took the time to type an answer, and sometimes I even got drawings to help me.  I can’t wait for fall so I can order my next kit!

I just wanted to write to tell y'all about my tremendous experience building my first boat.  I built the Passagemaker Dinghy in about 4 months under the mentorship of my friend and neighbor, and the whole endeavor could not have gone smoother (taking into account that for most of that time I was working in 100+ degree Texas heat).  Aside from always wanting to build a wooden boat, I've also always (or at least for the last five years or so) wanted to marry a certain special girl.  

Well, after finishing and testing her (the Dandy Lion) out on the water, I took my now-fiancee out for a sail during which time we had a picnic and I proposed to her (and she said YES!). 

Thank y'all so much for a great product and tremendous support!  And all romance aside, I'm quite impressed with how well she sails!

What a great experience building this boat. I've been amazed at the admirers, even people who aren't into kayaks. Thanks for the great plans and instructions.

Thanks for the help, the great kit and design.  I took my first row yesterday and was deeply pleased.  People have been pulling up next to me at traffic lights to ask about the boat.  Next spring I plan to work on the sailing equipment.  

We bought the two Mill Creek 13 kits in March of 2005, and they remained only 20% complete until we moved them to our retirement home on Lake Monticello in central Virginia in June of 2016. My wife built hers (Mengib 2) without any prior woodworking experience (teaching her how to drive a nail straight so she could attach the deck and build her slat seat was a hoot). She commented frequently that she had to learn an entirely new language ("You want me to 'plane the shear clamps'? What the heck does that mean?!! And what's a rolling bevel?" And as these kits were bought in 2005, there were no puzzle-piece joints, only scarf joints...you can imagine the discussion around THAT term!) As an Elementary School Principal for a school in Fairfax County, Virginia with a highly diverse population including many Limited English Proficient (LEP) students, she used her kayak building (we took many pictures of her work-in-progress) as a story prompt for all the students which gave the children for whom English was their first language (as well as her teaching staff) an idea of what it was like to do something for which she had no language and no experience. A truly powerful teaching tool. We finished the Mill Creeks over this past fall and spring, and launched them in mid-July 2017. The first picture was taken the day we launched them. The second is when we were out just enjoying an afternoon paddle. 

Finally getting around to posting the pictures for you. I've been out a couple of times now, and it is a great boat.  The boat seems very fast and very efficient to paddle, compared to all of the other boats I've tried.  I actually really enjoyed the building of the boat. I took my time, no real time constraints and it came out wonderfully.

It has been a real pleasure building your boats.  Wherever I go with my Passagemaker Dinghy the attention and success is guaranteed.  Many thanks.

My family is loving our second season in our plans-built Mill Creek 16.5, and dang it, that thing is ridiculously photogenic. Attached are a few pics from a recent 3-day canoe-in camping trip at Timothy Lake in Oregon.

Thanks for the great design. Not just a boat, but happy memories too.

Dear CLC,  I love building your boats and wanted to say thanks for the support and all you do. I recently completed a Sassafras 12 canoe. It is my 3rd CLC boat. I built a 12’ Wood duck about 7 years ago. It was my first project and I was hooked. I since gave it to a friend who has a new house in NC so I could make room for another build! My second boat was a Wood duck 12 Hybrid. Wow that one gets a lot of looks! I loved making a strip boat and will definitely do one in the future. Long range plans are to design something of my own and build it in strip.

This year however I wanted a simpler project. I always wanted to build a canoe for several reasons. One being that my dog can comfortably go in it and have his own spot. Also the idea of not fusing a deck to a hull is appealing.  I chose the Sassafras because I love the look of the lap strake hull and I wanted a quick build. Boy was it a quick build compared to the Hybrid. I had this boat done in under three months working a few nights a week and now it’s on the water. I enclosed the pic of the boat on the dock right before its maiden voyage. It paddles great with both a traditional canoe paddle and a kayak paddle. I think the trickiest thing for me was painting the hull. I never painted a CLC boat before only varnish and I have to say the paint looks Awesome! I found it harder than varnish because there is no pretty wood pattern to distract the eye from a sag here and there. Patience does it and the result looks like an all fiberglass boat with sprayed on finish until you look at the varnished inside and realize it’s a wood boat. The contrast is eye popping! It’s just great.  

Cant wait for my next project!

Wanted to thank you for all of your assistance and a great product.  I have finished my Shearwater Sport Hybrid. Looking forward to my next project.  People are always commenting on the boat and want to know where I got it. Thanks again!

I did an overnight trip to Jewell Island with some friends. My Chesapeake 17lt led the pack weighing in at 63 lbs. Just a bit more than the empty poly boats. The Chessie made this 18 mile trip possible. I will reward her with a fresh couple of coats of Epifanes this winter. Thanks to CLC!

Thanks again for your excellent products.  I've done a Passagemaker Dinghy, two Chesapeake 16LT kayaks, and now a Guillemot stripper.

Thank you for your AMAZING kits!  I am looking forward to having you create my next project!

Built from a Kit, Pocketship "Carlyn J" ghosts along on Somers Bay, Flathead Lake, Northwest Montana. It was a pleasure to build and a pleasure to own and sail. 

I finished my Chesapeake 17… finally. I love it. People love it. It really was worth all the effort.

Building [the Wood Duck 12] was a lot of fun and the result exceeded my expectations.

You provide a great product and experience to your customers! Love the boat kit.

She floats!  Thanks for your help.

Here's  a picture of my just finished Annapolis Wherry, Gracie, prior to a morning row on Apple Tree Cove in Kingston, WA.  Loved the kit and had a blast building it.  Thanks for designing such great looking boat.

Finally launched the boat today. It was very windy, but I couldn't wait any longer. It looked & felt great - in fact it exceeded my expectations in the way it handled. Thanks for a great boat - I really enjoyed building it and equally enjoyed getting it wet.

Viewing the world from a kayak quickly puts things in perspective.  It handled absolutely beautifully, and I am looking forward to many years of enjoyment with my new boat.  The only "drawback" is that up here in Alaska, our days of ice-free lakes are numbered!  Thanks for a great product!!

I'm thoroughly impressed with the boat's design and ease of handling. Kudos to the design team and thanks, CLC! 

I am a 76 year old woman who had never built anything! My love of wooden boats and my late husbands workshop gave me the motivation to follow a dream.....building my own wooden boat...I built the Sassafras because of the size...I can paddle with my dog, Ruffles. “S.S. Ruffles “ is happy to be on Fallen Leaf Lake in South Lake Tahoe, Ca.

With a lot of advice from everyone at CLC and the whole family chipping in, the boat came together wonderfully.

Thanks so much for the help and the fantastic kit.  It helped me pass time this winter up in Minnesota.

We finally launched our wherry at our cottage on the Ottawa River. She runs so well in the variety of wave and wind conditions we get. Not too shabby for our first boat build!

I started building the Shearwater Sport as a 71st birthday gift on January 16, 2019 and finished March 29th. She's been out in the ocean, across the Tampa Bay shipping channel, and through mangrove tunnels in Boca Ciega Bay. She tracks straight, handles waves and chop well, and is very maneuverable. She gets lots of oohs and aahs.

Today was a very special day for us here on the “east coast” (of the Mediterranean).  Steve and myself both had our launch of brand new homemade wooden kayaks.  Steve launched his beautiful, featherlite Petrel while I launched with my son our handsome Chesapeake Sport Tandem.

Champagne poured like water on both vessels and each of us tried the other boat.  As you can see we also had quite a gathering of wooden kayaks which are becoming more and more popular.

My wife and I have gone on a dozen trips in 5 western states and really enjoyed our Teardrop.   It has provided a great stimulus to travel.  Thanks for making this happen.

G/day everybody at CLC.   Just thought I would send you some pix of my SEA ISLAND SPORT -- I believe it may be the first built of its kind down here in Australia.  As you can see I have made a fish box with a fold back lid that can hold a fish of approximately 10 kilos and I have also fitted four rod holders.

I fish mainly offshore (up to 10 kilometers) chasing pelagic fish such as Spanish Mackerel, Cobia (black kingfish), Snapper, Tailor (Bluefish in U.S.)  As for the yak, I couldn’t be happier with it and am the envy of my fellow fisher folk.  It certainly is faster through the water than a tupper ware boat and much more stable.  I can stand up on it ( only to prove a point, but it can be done easily).  Have had a few issues with a rather large tiger shark lately -- came in so close on one occasion I could have almost touched it.  It hasn’t worried me though probably too pumped full of adrenalin.

Once again thanks for a terrific kayak; Nick really knows his stuff.  Cheers for now, hope you like the pix.  Wal from Aus.

The CLC SailRig fitted to an old plastic Oasis kayak. It sails beautifully. Thanks for a great product!

We launched this past Saturday in the Mystic River, near the Seaport. Later that evening, we participated in the annual Mystic Lighted Boat Parade (The boat won “Best Small Boat”).

The boat handled great with my and family onboard. It rowed very smoothly, with little effort required. I am extremely pleased with the boat, and have shared my satisfaction with the design with others.

You just don't seem to have enough women pictured who have built boats. My husband was there for moral support and as a second set of hands when needed, but between your instruction manual and bouncing ideas off my husband, the boat was basically very easy to build. . . Thanks for a great product!

Finished my Wood Duck 12 Hybrid this Fall. Great support from your team and the builders forum made it possible for a first time builder. Now I know why so many of customers can't stop at one boat!

I have attached some photos of the Duckling we built as our raffle boat.  Pic. #1 shows the family that won it  and me in front of our boat shop on Port Jefferson Harbor, Pic. #2 is their daughter in it, Pic. #3 is their son, Pic #4 is just a picture of the completed boat.

We currently are building a 12' Sassafras Canoe for our raffle boat this year and are using a 17' Chesapeake Kayak for our first boatbuilding course.

I am also affiliated with  the Long Island Maritime Museum, where a Skerry is being built by me and 5 other volunteers for LIMM's raffle boat.

Needless to say, I am a big fan of CLC kits.

After nearly a year of work, Connie and I made our first trip to Olympic National Park in our Teardrop camper last week.

Thanks to all of you for your creative work on the design and the great instruction book that led me to a successful project conclusion.

I met several of you at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival in September, and in the course of construction I received helpful advice over the phone from Terry and others on your staff.

Thanks for keeping me on track. I’m impressed with your courteous and helpful customer service.

As a former varsity oarsman at Cornell when Pocock cedar shells were the only game in town, I have always wanted to build a wooden boat that reflected the quality and appearance of those shells. The Teardrop almost did the trick!

Thanks again for a great experience. I’ll look forward to saying hello next year in Port Townsend.

In 2021 I built a Wood Duck 10 Hybrid for my wife and this year's winter project was a Wood Duckling 8 for my granddaughter. I wanted to strip the deck but the Wood Duckling kit doesn't come in a Hybrid configuration. So I temporarily attached the Okume deck from the kit, took a bunch of measurements and then made a series of forms for the stripping operation. After that, it was just like building the Wood Duck 10 Hybrid, only smaller! I also made her a kid sized Greenland paddle to use. I'm very happy with the results and it was so exciting to watch my granddaughter's first tentative strokes in her new boat. I'm looking forward to her having many years of fun in her beautiful boat. Thanks for offering great kits for all ages!

I wanted to thank you for such a great kit. I’ve built a lot of stuff over the years, but I can honestly say that this was the most fun project I’ve ever taken on. I was really sorry to see it end, but I am really enjoying the water. Fast, maneuverable, and a really able rolling machine! Thanks again!

Thanks again for providing me with hours of enjoyment building my fourth CLC watercraft. The Kaholo 14 is the easiest of the four (rowing shell, skerry, and kayak) to get onto the water and a pleasure to paddle. My wife observed that I am getting better on it because I was less “wiggly.”  The Kaholo decal did well under the fiberglass and I like the improvements you have made on the air vent.

I finally got to go on the kayak trip that sustained me through the whole time I was building this boat. I was on a 5 day trip to the Broken Group Islands, Vancouver Island, BC this August.

It paddles so effortlessly and tracks superbly. I even got it up to 5 knots for a brief time! I am so happy with this design and all the helpful tips on your website.

Thank you CLC

I've finally finished my boat and the experience has been worth every penny I've put into this beauty. I love the lines and when I take it to the launch in Suisun City, CA. People come to see and touch. Everytime people see this boat I find myself spending more time talking than rowing. But what the hey, I'm proud! . . Thanks for your good work!

I very much enjoyed building my Chester Yawl and it now is helping me explore the Ottawa River.  A sistership in the form of an Annapolis Wherry will soon be complete so that my wife and I can row together.  Both the boat designs and the kits you produce are great. 

What a great design and a thoroughly enjoyable project. She was launched on July 20 this past summer after taking just over 200 hrs. to complete. The kit was straightforward to build, included first class quality materials, and affordable. She's been fitted with Mercury 15 hp outboard the performance is beautiful.

Thanks for your assistance in getting this started. The quality of the parts and instructions was excellent. These photos are of the finished boat on Lake Huron at Southampton Ontario. I got a lot of compliments on the design from passers-by.

Even as a novice oarsman in choppy water I stayed dry and upright.

Just wanted to let you know that I'm having great results with my PAX 20. I pretty much race guys 20 years younger than me I'm now 62. They use Thunderbolts and Epic 10. Some are in Huki surf ski's. This is a non pro group. but very competitive.

I am glad to say the kayak performed great. The plan is the Chesapeake 18'.  On the hull I stayed with the plan, but I redesigned the deck and strip-built it with zebra wood. The Greenland paddle I made was also a performance hit. Glad to share with you guys at CLC my boat and my success.  Much thanks to all of you.

We built a CLC Teardrop over the summer and had a great 3 week, 4500 mile maiden voyage with it between New York and Colorado this Fall. The build experience was great and we are so happy with how beautifully the camper turned out! On our trip we had sun, and rain, and cold, and some snow and stayed snug and comfortable the whole time. As we were warned, we spent LOTS of time at gas stations, rest areas, and campgrounds talking with people about the teardrop. People just couldn’t believe we built it and we just kept smiling knowing that we did.

Thanks for such an innovative design and well thought out kit. We are looking forward to many years of travel with the Teardrop.

I just took my maiden voyage on my newly completed Wood Duck 12 Hybrid. It was amazing and flew through the water with ease! Looking forward to many years of paddling.

Thank you for all the help over the years. She’s an elegant design and is already something of a local celebrity.

My wife is a Marine Biologist and has always dreamed of having a boat named Halobates, which is the genus name for sea-skaters and water-striders. The boat is true to her name in every way.

The design is exactly as described and went together with a precision that speaks very well to your commitment to craft.

Lastly, I want you to know that my experience buying and building this boat from you has redefined what customer service can be when a company and its people genuinely believe in their core mission.

Thank you and please keep doing what you’re doing.

Today, October 23, 2013, I took my Shearwater Sport for her first paddle at Turtle Beach, Siesta Key, Sarasota, FL. It was a windy day so I had some good chop in the bay in which to play. The boat handles and paddles just like a dream...I'm truly happy. 

I learned enough during this build to know that this will NOT be the last boat I build from CLC...it was so fun, so challenging, and so rewarding to see her come together and make it to the water within a month of taking delivery of the kit.

Thank you John and everyone at CLC...your products are wonderful...your support is beyond wonderful!!!

We just hauled my Peeler Skiff, About Time, for the season. She's been living on a saltwater mooring in Fishing Cove in Wickford, RI. The only additions to your original design are a sit-down center console and an automatic bilge pump to keep her dry after a rain.

She's a wonderful boat, stable, dry, and comfortable. We've been using her to enjoy Narraganset Bay and caught our fair share of Fluke, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Striped Bass this season. She makes a excellent fishing platform for 2-4 adults and handled every wake from thoughtless big boats with grace and security.

Thank you for her design, the kit, and the support of a great staff.

I finally successfully built and varnished the Sassafras-16 with lot of enjoyable struggles.  In addition, I installed a row-wing (with sliding seat), which I designed and built by myself to let it fit to the boat for marine use, on it.  I very much enjoyed rowing it with my 11 years old grandson out of Hiroshima, Japan, during our summer vacation.  The Sassafras-16 runs fast on the sea.

Thought you would like to know that my new Shearwater Sport has been added to the CLC population on Lake Champlain NY.  I know, if you look closely you will see that I have some more trim work to finish it, but I couldn't wait any longer to get launched!  Love how it handles, and my grand kids (age 6 to 11) handled it with no problem.  Great design.

Hi and just an update on the kayak I built a year ago. A MARVEL!! Stable, FAST, and easy to maneuver. I have taken him on three paddles with the NE Wisconsin Heritage paddles and had a great time. I took it to a wood boat show this past weekend in Green Lake Wisconsin and passed out several printouts of the Chesapeake 16LT spec page. I do have to tell you that there was one guy who just could not believe that I built it. My response is.. 'you too can build a kayak in your garage!'

Thank you again, for about the millionth time, for ALL your kindness, help and generous gift of your time to advise me along the course of construction and finishing. Buying a kayak kit is not just getting the bits and pieces to put together, it's the people in the organization who make the difference... as you did for me.

My Chesapeake 18 was built in 2005 and is ten years old. But it is still as beautiful today as it was 10 years ago. And it takes me to beautiful places.

Just completed my second CLC boat and launched this weekend "Water Log".  Cruised over 20 miles on some of the most beautiful water in the US and then tooled around a small peaceful lake.  Love it.  Is it wrong that on her maiden voyage, I was busy planning for my next build?

Thanks for offering great products and excellent support!

Thank you for your support for the Friends of the Petaluma River small boat building project. I've attached images of the launching of our first boat, the Eve-O. I hope you enjoy them.

Many cheers and thanks to Chesapeake Light Craft who designed the Northeaster Dory, cut the wood, supplied the fiberglass, epoxy, and hardware, and always answered the phone.

Here's my son James, the (happy) new owner of a Kaholo 14 at Waiohai Beach, Po'ipu, Kaua'i. The board gets lots of admiration from young and old.  Great design, very stable outside the reef. Good on you.

I own 3 boats and my West River 18 is awesome! That is one high performance boat. Love it, and so does everyone that sees it and is lucky enough to paddle it---I don't let just anyone paddle it you know. I've put many, many miles of water under her.  It cruises so nice---quiet, true and she can really get up and go---not a plastic boat around can catch me when I'm really diggin'...

Just finished my first CLC boat, the 10 foot Wood Duck Hybrid. I'm very happy with the result. The design on the deck is Cherokee, named "Star on the Mountain," and is used in their basket making.

I finished my Annapolis Wherry and have been rowing in San Francisco Bay between Sausalito and Tiburon.  It was fun and easy to build and a joy to row.

 I built this in the living room of my third story condo. It was a great project to do inside throughout the covid outbreak. Thank god for hobbies. I have had it out oaring and now am trying to get it out for a sail. Thanks for the great kit and answers when I needed help.

I have been rowing and sailing my Northeaster Dory for almost two months now and I love this boat. It's a very versatile design that rows well (although you are moving a lot of boat through the water) and sails great. We have had it up to 6.5kts on a reach and can cruise at 4+ with decent wind. It's light enough for two people to carry it a short distance up a beach -- a great plus for camp-cruisers and beachgoers. Plus it is beautiful and I get compliments on it wherever I go.

I'm confident in its seaworthiness and will be taking it up to Maine for a weeklong cruise in August.

Thanks for the great design and the very well-engineered kit!

I started my Annapolis Wherry in the April 2017 CLC/Wooden Boat School workshop, and completed the boat 14 months later in June 2018. I'd never rowed a sliding seat boat, so I took a 4 day sculling course at the Florida Rowing Center last winter. My intent was to learn some basic skills and rowing technique in order to more enjoy my time on the water rowing the Wherry.  But, I got hooked... and I'm now rowing shells as well as the Wherry. I spent well over 50 hours on the Chesapeake Bay, in a variety of conditions, and my Annapolis Wherry performed tremendously. Its responsiveness and performance characteristics have far exceeded my expectations. The photo is from the last row of the season near Kent Narrows on November 11, 2018.

 I had a great time building the pram. It was my first "wooden boat" project. I see another one in my future!

My Chesapeake 18 with my daughters Chesapeake 16LT out for a tour of Hallocks Bay, North Fork Long Island. I have paddled many boats, many miles and now retired from the marina/boat repair business. I have found these two boats to be my go to boats for exploring. I have paddled the length of the Sea of Cortez (1972), crossed the Sea of Cortez (1968), paddled from Long Beach to Avalon, Catalina Island plus a reverse trip. Taught kayak building and kayak tripping at Catalina Island School (1971 + 72), whitewater kayaking Grand Canyon, Yampa, Green. Arkansas and numerous other rivers.  

You might not typically think of seeing a kayak in Canyonlands National Park unless you’re familiar with the floats down the Green or Colorado Rivers. During the first week of June this year my group took three canoes, my Mill Creek 16.5 and a Mill Creek 13 down the Green River from Mineral Bottom to the confluence with the Colorado
River. It was a great trip, and the Mill Creeks were loved by whomever was lucky enough to paddle them! The smooth, flat hulls makes them perfect for skimming over sandbars in mere inches of shallow water while the low profile makes them easy to paddle on windy days... especially the tandem.

Five years ago, writer Julia Holmes had never built a boat, had never done any serious rowing or spent significant time on the water. But she had read a memoir penned by her great, great, great, great, great grandfather, describing his own 1814 odyssey from his family farm in New York State to New Orleans, using the superhighways of his day, the new nation's waterways.

Inspired, Holmes ordered a kit for a Northeaster Dory and set to work -- in her Brooklyn, NY, apartment -- building the boat she would take on an epic multi-stage adventure spanning four years and culminating when she arrived in the Crescent City herself, on October 15 of this year.

"I chose the Northeaster Dory originally for its traditional design, something close to the 19th-century skiff my ancestor described using for part of his expedition," Holmes said. "But over the course of the trip, I fell in love with the design and feel of the boat, which was perfect for a longer haul and handled everything beautifully."

Read more here ...

Chesapeake 17 LT. Preparing to paddle in the Estero Aquatic Preserve @ Bonita Springs, FL. Longest trip - weekend paddle with my son from St. Mary’s, GA to the Cumberland Island National Seashore. North bound on an incoming tide against south bound 15 knot breeze. Boat occasionally suspended on one and one half foot swells, both ends out of the water. It was awesome. Never felt in danger. Wonderful boat.

Let me thank you for providing people the opportunity to build stunningly beautiful wooden boats by themselves. I just recently completed my Shearwater 17 Hybrid. Both building and paddling this beauty have been a wonderful experience. Simply heaven as you can see on the attached pics taken after a tour on the lake Rurtal on a calm day in march. It was my first boatbuilding project that went smoothly thanks to your well made manual, vids and the helpful support from your branch in Germany. Way to go CLC!

I purchased a Chesapeake 17 LT kit during the October sale and completed the build over eight weeks.  I could not be more pleased with the level of service at CLC, or with the final result.  What a fun project!  Neighbors dropped in on a regular basis just to see the progress.  All were impressed, that a jumble of parts turned into such a handsome craft.  Even though it's now December, I am looking forward to her launch.

I bought the Passagemaker Take-Apart because of a romantic notion of building a boat and teaching myself to sail it. Took delivery in November and got to work, sort of.  Typical of a long-term project, many interruptions upset the rhythm, but just as well; it's warm enough to sail now!  The CLC forum and the PMD forum were the difference between success and failure at several points. 

She's so light on the water; rowing ease is startling, and it's amazing how much distance you can cover.  So now begins the vertical learning curve.  Yes, I really did row out into the middle of the lake to hoist the main and give it a go.  Before I deployed the rudder.  And before I dropped in the dagger board.  With the mainsail bridle underneath the tiller. And the mainsail sheet wrapped around the end of the boom.  Completely out of control, nearly capsized several times.  Finally got it all squared away and actually tacked and gybed, but then came the realization that sailing on a desert lake is challenging, to say the least, because thermals are coming in and changing wind speed and direction.  For a few seconds you think you're settled into a nice broad reach and then you're becalmed, then the wind comes in from the opposite direction.  I'm going to Ventura Marina next time!

So the kit was great, although I gave you guys some grief about the sailing kit bill of materials and some of the hull plans.  But I'm really glad I bought the kit and would recommend it to anyone interested.  I posted seven photo albums over the build period, right up to the launch.

I Built a 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.

Splash down at last at Cedar Point YC, Westport, Ct. Delighted with boat's handling. I have 200 lbs in the front to keep it down with helmsman in the rear. Quite fast and maneuverable.

Just a quick note to let you know that we launched our double yesterday afternoon. WHAT A GREAT BOAT AND FEELING!!!!!! It handled even better than I had dreamed, truly an excellent design!!! . . Thanks again for all the help and support!

Just launched this modified 17LT on Friday. The plans and instructions were great, as were the builders tips on your website. I've had it in the water every day so far. I love it. The kids are already asking for a wood duck of their own.

...she sailed admirably! Constant 7-10 knot winds, almost a little too much fun for total newbs. I was able to keep it pointed close to the wind with great speed and just a little heeling. So much fun! And so many compliments on the boat design. Thanks so much for designing a great boat to build and sail!

I finally finished the Wood Duck 10 for my wife.  She loves it!  It is quite nimble and tracks wonderfully!  Thanks for producing a great kit.

Just a note to thank you for all the helpful assistance and support when building my Pax 18. The boat has turned out beautifully and gets lots of rave comments when I take it out. I varnished the entire hull and it really is distinctive next to the composite boats i have been racing with. I have raced it twice and won handily both times.

The boat is extremely fast and handles medium chop quite well in spite of the fact that I didn't install the skeg. I can handle most quartering winds up to 15 knots simply by leaning it a bit and using a little more power on the off wind side. . . I appreciated the patience and support I received from all the staff during some trying times along the way. I have never considered myself particularly handy with tools, but really enjoyed the subtleties of boatbuilding and the craftsmanship it requires.

You can see CLC boats every year in Pentwater Michigan (on the shores of Lake Michigan) the 3rd weekend of August. This is the Wooden Boat Show and your boats have been in the last 5 shows. People really love them. This year I built a Wood Duck 12. What a hit, WOW!

I really enjoyed building this project. When working 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 stopped their boats to comment on the kayak and ask questions.

Sunday morning, I paddled for about two hours and my previous days nervousness disappeared. The boat just seemed to glide effortlessly through the water.

My wife's uncle Fred beaming. It took him almost 2 weeks to take in that it is really his and someone took 10 months to build for him as a surprise gift. He was an avid cyclist but was hit by a car last year while cycling and got injured pretty badly. They live on waterfront in Hamden CT and it is an ideal form of exercise which he enjoy every chance he gets. Of course everyone commenting on the beauty of the CLC boat makes it even more enjoyable!

Enclosed are pictures of the Chesapeake 16 I completed in June for my high school's Senior Thesis project. Needless to say, it turned out beautifully! . . Thanks to CLC's expert staff for their time when I've called for technical support!

Here is another photo of Sugar Honey in Newport RI, her first salt water adventure. She handles the swell and currents under oars really well!

The finished kayak looks great and performs even better. It handes nicely and glides through the water smoothly and quietly. . . Thank you for providing both quality products and excellent service. We are already looking forward to building another kayak.

This is me on Lake Superior in a race put on by the Duluth Rowing Club. The race is called "Death Row" because of the risk of flipping the boat in water that is dangerously cold in an area with winds that change suddenly and currents that can pull boats away from shore. CLC's Oxford Shell is the perfect boat for the event. I finished the boat and won my class in the race, all within the last year.

"Autumn", a Shearwater 17 Hybrid I built during lockdown. Build started mid-November 2020 and she was completed by mid-February 2021. Seen here around Bair Island in San Francisco Bay, California. The Shearwater is everything I hoped it would be, the best all-round do-anything day boat out there. The kit contained enough of everything and the manual covered the whole build process in plenty of detail. It was almost as much fun building it as it is paddling it! Thank you.

I finished the [Shearwater 17 Hybrid] yesterday and took it out for a spin in the evening.  It's a dream!  Thanks a ton for the great design!

I just completed my 1st project, a pair of Wood Duck 10s for myself and my girlfriend. I chose the design because we're both novice paddlers and she's almost entirely new to smallcraft, and we loved the boat's lines. So far she's taken to the water like the proverbial duck herself, and looks quite at home. I've been surprised at the steady rate the duck can cover ground and the payload capacity. These little boats are easy to move around both in and out of the water and have a way of charming everyone. I'm surprised how many people ask what they're called and compliment their looks: unlike those neon colored plastic boats, paddling one doesn't make me feel like I'm ruining the scenery at all!

Not only was CLC's ordering and delivery quick and easy but the forum and the help line were amazingly helpful for a beginner: the build was an extremely satisfying experience. I think you at CLC have come up with a recipe for success: every customer becomes a willing and enthusiastic representative, and that's good business.

Thanks so much for your good work!

I wanted to say thanks for the help you so readily provide when building my latest kayak.  I thought you might like to see the result.  She paddles like a dream and gets lots of compliments. Needless to say, I point them in your direction.

After 70 hours of dedicated building today I launched my Chesapeake 17.  A wonderful experience, thanks for the detailed plans and the great design, this boat is truly a seaworthy kayak!

This Petrel-SG was given to my wife on our 20th wedding anniversary.  I have been building model boats for 40 years but, the Petrel-SG was my first full-scale boat.  It was a pleasure to build, and a pleasure to paddle.  The photos were take at Bowles Reservour, in Denver, Colorado.  A sea Kayak in a landlocked state, go figure.  I'm planning to paddle this kayak in many of the beautiful lakes in Colorado, and hopefully one of these days, I'll take it to the Colorado River. 

A couple of years ago I had two back surgeries, I was heavy to begin with, I gained more weight recovering and outgrew my other Kayak. All last winter I built the Mill Creek and believe or not I lost 40 pounds. When I first got in the kayak I just could not believe how comfortable it was. I fit in it! I kayaked all summer and now the fall in my Mill Creek. I am not a very good kayaker, I just do it all the time. I even did the infamous "Grinder" a 19 mile kayak around Grindstone Island in the St. Lawrence. First and foremost the Mill Creek is extremely comfortable. It has excellent primary stability and better secondary stability than one might think for a boat with a 29 1/2" beam. ( I really have no idea if the beam of a boat has anything to do with secondary stability.) It's quick, turns well and holds its own in the speed department. I beat the hell out of it this year, my camp is on rocks, and it held up great. Thank you so much for making a kayak that a large person can enjoy.

Building the Oxford Shell II was the perfect activity for this recently-retired guy during the pandemic. Now I just need to get a few of my friends here in Washington to build so we can do some racing on Puget Sound. You have a great product and excellent service. Keep up the good work!

13'  Mill Creek hybrid I built last winter. Great kit, great kayak !

I have built a Shearwater Sport from plans, starting in 2012 and working on it only during winter. Great experience! The manual was crystal clear and the 1:1 drawing made life easy. I can hardly think of anything that is as rewarding as building and paddling your own little boat! The result is a beauty that makes heads turn (OK, I'm not unbiased). However, there is also a lot of beauty in the building.

Some years back I bought a Chester yawl kit from you, which was an excellent package, and the boat is giving me stellar service kitted out with a custom rowing rig, and is used on Lake Wabamun, Alberta. I
took exactly the 110 hours that you estimated, to build it, plus as much again in finishing time, of course! The yawl is indeed a pretty boat, and many at the lake comment on how it adds to the yachty visual appeal of this part of the lake. Well done CLC!

Thought I'd send you a pic of my skerry in progress. Beautiful design! My buddies are jealous.

Really enjoying the build process, my first boat project. I've learned: one can never have enough clamps.

Entirely please with how this project turned out, CLC has S&G technology down pat! This was taken a month after the first launch, I'm looking forward to the coming season and adventures with the CLC ama kit added!

2021-05-31 Launch of Firewood II (I built a wood boat back in 2003, and named it Firewood in case it did not sail well) (The Wood structure on the Cable is a Cableway for sending the boats down a 40 ft. Cliff from the House to the Water.) I bought the Kit back on August 13, 2020. Got it pretty much finished before November, didn't work on it during the cold months, I finished assembling it last week sufficiently to try out before I spent many more hours finishing and painting it. (I am not a Craftsman, little ability for the fine finishes of a Bristol boat. )

The white Shell in the background is a Little River Marine Sprint I bought last summer. The Amas on both boats are from Little River Marine also. I'm 68 and my balance is not so good anymore and I wear hearing aids, so I want to ensure that I don't flip.. The Amas are adjusted to just touch the water to reduce drag.

I have done Row Boats, Canoes, and Ski boats in my long past but never have been in a Shell. ....BUT.... The Oxford II Shell is a fantastic boat. Very fast (for an old guy), at least 20% faster than the Sprint for the same rowing effort and it rides like a dream. It's exceptionally smooth in the water and handles very well. I am very pleased with how well it performs. Just wanted to let you know how well the boat works 

In August I built my Wood Duck Double with Eric [Schade] at the Wooden Boat School.  After numerous skim coats of epoxy then varnish and installing the footbrace mounting, yesterday my wife and I had our first outing here in central New Hampshire.  Friends have told me not to take the kayak out on the water, but keep it in the house as a piece of furniture.  

Thank you CLC and Eric for a great kayak that makes me proud to take out on the water – not keep in the house.  And thank you Eric for such a memorable and fun week building the kayak at the Wooden Boat School.

Hello to CLC Headquarters in the USA.

I am from Fremantle, Western Australia and have just finished building a Chesapeake 18' with a ply hull and a red strip cedar deck. It is a work of art and I would like to congratulate Chesapeake on the brilliant plans that
I purchased. I made the boat from scratch preferring to source my own timber and do my own cutting.

The boat took me 306 hours to construct from scratch. I am extremely pleased with the product and have attached a few pictures for your perusal. I have fitted a 1.4 square metre sail and boy does that make a difference. I have just completed a 6 day, 180 kilometre paddle from Denham in WA across to Steep Point at the bottom of Dirk Hartog Island in Western Australia's North.

I have used the Australian measurement of 5.5 metres rather than 18 feet. I also increased the height of the gunwhale by 3/4" (20mm) to allow me to take more drinking water, camping gear and food for my extended trips. The boat handles beautifully in very big seas and is very fast on the flat water. I have fitted a 12V 800 gallon per hour bilge pump and the boat is encased in 6gsm fiberglass inside and out. I manufactured the steering and foot pedals out of carbon fibre. The weight is 24kgs.

I would really appreciate it if you could PLEASE PLEASE put my pictures and story on your site or builders blog. Everywhere I go people want to talk about the boat - it does look very cool!

Kind regards from down under!

The Night Heron looked good on the car, but looked even better in the water. Thanks CLC!

The Southwester Dory was an ambitious project for a first-time boatbuilder, but the instruction manual was clear and detailed and CLC staff were most helpful along the way. It took most of the summer, and my wife says I should name the dory “The Other Woman,” but I am very pleased with the result. Home waters are Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes of upstate New York.

My husband and I have build two CLC crafts (a 16' kayak and a wherry) -- both get drools and ooohs and aaahs everytime we have them on the road traveling from home to our point of destination.

We will NEVER buy a craft from any other company other than CLC. GREAT company...GREAT projects!!

Many thanks for your fantastic kit.  I haven’t done any woodworking in 50 years, but recent retirement allowed me to fulfill a long time goal and have some fun with my grandsons.  The kit was almost too easy, instructions clear, materials all of high quality.  And, the best service ever—orders usually shipped the same day and correctly.

You truly have a wonderful business/organization.  I’m looking forward to building another!

Charlie F., former surgeon, now BOATBUILDER

Here's a photo of my Chesapeake 17 with a SailRig Mk 2 ready for it's maiden voyage last week on Lake Sammamish, just east of Seattle. She was built from your kits over an extended period. She performed very well and was fun to sail once a breeze came up. I look forward to sailing her on Lake Washington and Puget Sound in the not too distant future. Thanks for creating these great designs and kits!

Thanks to CLC and Eric Schade for the great kit.  I finished the Shearwater Hybrid kit I purchased in September 2021 and launched it last weekend.  I am still tweaking a foam footrest and tightening the hatch tabs, but I got a couple paddles in over the weekend and look forward to many more.

The boat is great. It is surprisingly stable and rowers, both novice and expert, have been zooming happily up and down the river. It is very fast, much faster than our canoes, kayaks or electric boat. And it was new for me to row a boat that glides many times its length compared to traditional rowboats that row like they're in molasses. 

Thanks for all the support and well designed plans and boat.  It has been a great experience building my first boat with you guys, and I can’t say enough about CLC.  I must be one of your best advertisers right now.

I, my wife, Carol, and our friends are all thrilled with the performance of the Shearwater Sports. They are everything your catalog says they are: quick, responsive, quick to turn, and most important, LOTS of fun to build–a super winter project. The kits are beautifully put together and very complete, and the accuracy of the cut on every part is amazing.

Keep up the great work, CLC, and thanks for a great product!

I enjoyed making the Annapolis Wherry Model. Instructions in the comprehensive model were clear and easy to follow. In addition, the YouTube video was a great tool to refer to before and during the build. Very good social distancing project!

I wanted to announce that today I turned the last screw and tightened the last wing-nut on my Expedition Wherry. Champagne flowed and later I rowed. She is divine and in light of the empowering experience (given my rudimentary woodworking skills) I named her Rosie as in Rosie the Riveter. I look forward to many adventures and can't thank you guys enough at CLC enough for being there when I needed help and for designing such beautiful boats. You make the world a better place.

I finally got the canoe in Michigan waters.  Had to take a month plus off for family, but the wait was worth it.  The [Mystic River] Canoe handled wonderfully with Pam in the front and me in the back relaxing!  I plan to build another this fall, then try my luck on a kayak.

Please find the photo of my Passagemaker I started on April 2, 2012. It floats and handles very well!

February 2013 we first heard about the Skerry, the following May we started with assembling the kit supplied by Bergers from Berlin respectively Fyne Boat kits. Almost exactly a year later after a long winter where we worked on the rig - the hull had been finished by October last year - we finally launched our boat a week ago. Since then we had 4 days of sailing with almost no wind and up to 8 knots. The boat sailed wonderfully; even at the lightest breeze we moved and felt very secure at 8 knots. It's much more of a boat than what one might think considering its size.

Many people are puzzled and astonished and keep asking where the boat is from and all admire and can hardly believe we built it ourselves. Of course we always mention and recommend CLC, Fyne Boats and Berger - hope more of these boats will show up here in Southern Germany. The handling of the sprit sail when sailing is of no problem much to our surprise. The lightness of the boat is something we still have to get used to.  Anyway we are very happy with the way it worked out and I must admit we are quite proud having this boat and we would not want to miss this experience of building a boat. I can say a dream I had since my childhood came true.

A great thank you to you and your team for your assistance, patience and help so our dream came true.

Well...I should have gotten around to posting this picture last May. But I've been out having too much fun in my new boat!  My wife gave me the kit for Christmas last December. I started in right away and had the boat finished by April.  April  was too cold in Wisconsin this year, and there was still ice on the lakes, so I had to wait until May to launch her. She's called "Andiamo", which is Italian for "Let's go!"  

I had a ton of fun building her. As the weather cools down around her, I'll bring her in for a few minor modifications: replace and glass the skeg, touch up the exterior paint, replace the plastic seats on the row wings with mahogany ones, and add a bronze eye to the breast hook so tha I can have a little painter to tie her up occasionally. 

I love this little boat, and along with my new rowing partner, we're out 3-4x per week pulling 6 or 7 miles. Nothing finer than an early Wisconsin sunrise on a placid lake in my CLC boat!

Here's the latest Passagemaker Dinghy Take-Apart to be completed and hit the water. Instructions were easy to follow, tech support via phone and in the shop was informative and collaborative. On the 40-minute drive from home to the marina for sea trials, 3 random strangers in traffic commented on the sweet boat in the back of my truck. She's a dream to row. My GPS said 5 kts when I was really pulling, and 4 kts was relatively easy to keep up. She'll be our reliable "truck" to get us ashore and back to the mother ship.

Many Thanks for a great kit and an enjoyable project. I built this [Cocktail Class Racer] for my granddaughter's first boat. She is very excited to start using it. Almost finished with the project a few more things to do and we will be running.

I am dropping you a note to say thanks designing the Mill Creek 13. We are very happy with the versatility of this boat as Montana has so many different waters to choose from. In these boats we enjoy fishing, camping and watching our eleven-year-old son handle the Mill Creek like it was made for him.

Having finished my Mill Creek 16.5 Hybrid kayak, I thought you'd like to see a few photos. I started the project around May 25th, 2017, and launched the Kayak on June, 7th, 2017; a two month project. As a Pastor of a small Church here in Minnesota, I used it as a youth project where our teens could come as they were available to learn and work on it. It was a great kit, good fun, and a learning experience for all!

I built a Chesapeake 17lt in 2008 and have had many hours of enjoyable use over the years around the Chesapeake region. I recently had the opportunity to go on a 5 day kayak camping trip through the Florida Everglades Wilderness Trail and finally got to use the kayak for its intended purpose. I packed 90 lbs +/- in gear, myself weighing 192 lbs, for a total of approx. 282 lbs. For 2 days we encountered 24-28 mph sustained winds with 30 + mph gust, along with extreme lunar tides. The kayak handled AMAZINGLY fully loaded in these conditions!! (no skeg or rudder). Thank you for providing such a great product! This experience would not have been the same without such a wonderful handcrafted vessel!

My Eastport Pram dinghy, first built (winter of 2012) when time ran out before it was as completely finished. So off to the Keys we went for a winter cruise. While there we went through a storm that saw winds in excess of fifty knots, the dinghy was sucked off the water and 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 were broken loose on each side for three inches or so. Once home the dinghy was covered with a silver tarp to help dry out the seams. Once dry the seams were repaired as well as reinforced. (As stated earlier, the dinghy wasn't completely finished, and built during the winter. Heaters were used in a barn to try to keep the temperature stable and above fifty degrees. Had it been built earlier in the year I've no doubt there would have been no damage from any storm)

Later on another sailing trip this one on KY. lake in Tennessee we were once again caught in a storm that saw winds in a micro burst in excess of fifty mph (we're beginning to wonder if the dinghy was a magnet for high winds). Once again winds sucked the dinghy up like a kite and slammed her back down; this time, though, she's solid as a rock. Her oars were ripped out of the locks, ring dings were flattened, they were found fifty or so yards up in the woods.

Last month while on a sailing cruise down at the Gulf we were once again to suffer the wrath of another storm, this time while tied at a marina in Port Saint Joe 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, it is a testament to her strength and design.

Here are a few photos of the "Crabcake" the name suggested by my wife and approved by the family.  I tried my hand at a few customizations.  I have enjoyed every moment of the work and thank you for your product and the help you and your colleagues have given me over the phone.  I found that as I got comfortable with the design and flow of construction, I grew more and more confident.  The moment of supreme confidence came when I successfully cut the slot for the daggerboard. Once that was done, there was not anything I could not do.

As I have said before, it has been a wonderful experience. Your product was perfectly suited for my modest construction skills allowing me to gan confidence and new skills as I went along. Your technical staff were always ready to gently explain what to do when I was confused or had a problem. I also found a fellow locally, Steve Miller, who had build one of your kayaks and lives nearby. I found him on your site. He was always available for a consultation and was at the launch. So you see it really did take a village. 

I'd like to thank you for an easy to build and beautitul design in the C17. I spent this last summer building 2 of these kayaks with my young friend Beau. Beau is a high school senior at Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He is also a Boy Scout so this made a great scouting project. He used the project to earn his woodworking merit badge. I'd say this is a fitting project for that purpose. As it turned out we launched both boats at a scouting event on Coeur d'Alene Lake at the beginning of October.

This turned out to be a great way to obtain a beautiful boat. We purchased the plans last spring and worked on the boats on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. It was exciting to see the plans come together into such beauty. We have only been able to take them out twice before the cold weather set in, but may yet see an opportunity to get them out on the water before too long. Maybe we'll have a chance to do a New Years Day paddle - well if our chosen destination is not frozen over.

Attached are some photos of our results. We hope you are as proud of the design as we are of our results!

This is my first full size boat I have ever built! Prior to this project, I built the Independence pond yacht, lots of model airplanes, and browsed your catalogs for years. It took me 10 months to build this Mill Creek start to finish and the first 1/3 of construction was accomplished while on crutches from an injury. I had a wonderful time watching it take shape, made some mistakes and learned a lot. The best surprise was when we made the maiden voyage August 26! My wife and I were very pleased with the stability and nice easy paddling characteristics! Thank you for such a great experience!

Hi CLC, I had adapted your canoe/kayak sailing rig for my canoe. Works great! Photo is taken from D'Arcy Island, close to Sidney, British Columbia. Formerly a leper colony, D'Arcy is now in the Canadian Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. View is to the north of James and Sidney islands. Not a great sailing day but perfect otherwise. Thanks for all the great designs and excellent customer service. 

Started Sept 2018 and finished August 2019 just working in my spare time. Thanks to all of you folks at CLC for all the assistance, encouragement, and GREAT service!

I had more fun building this boat than you could possibly imagine.

I picked up the kit from the store on Christmas Eve 2018 thinking I might put it in the water on Memorial day 2019. Well, I spent the next 17 months puttering about, taking my time and enjoying every minute of it.  Instructions were easy to follow. The quality of build materials was great, and I learned many new skills in the process. We finally launched it a couple weeks ago on Little Seneca Lake in Black hills Regional Park, Germantown MD.  With three adults she was easy to row and glided quickly over the water. 

I very much enjoyed building the kayak and found the shop tips section as well as phone support to be great! . . My wife bought a [non-CLC boat] earlier this year which we both loved to paddle. It is one of the most comfortable and better performing boats we paddled until we finished building the Chesapeake. I was very impressed with the performance and was amzed at how much gear the low volume version can carry. We did a long weekend trip and had plenty of room for gear. . . I don't have enough experience in my boat becuase I can't get my wife out of it!

It’s been a year and a half in the making! Thank you guys for providing such a top of the line product.

 I've just completed the project (two years later) and am very pleased with the results. The design is
beautiful.The plans and instructions were 1st rate.

Thank you for responding to my many questions, your customer service focus is definitely a strength.  I’m having a blast and am on to the next step.  I think you’ll see me back for a camper, wherry, and kayak.

We want to send a personal note of thanks for your ingenuity and innovation in designing the teardrop, as well as your company's care and dedication during our building process.  While we finished our camper last year, my wife and I just used it to complete our honeymoon, traveling three weeks on the road to visit our National Parks in the Southwest.  This was our most significant trip with our camper to date, and it would not have been as fun, comfortable or stylish without the teardrop - not to mention economically feasible!

The headliner had some trouble in the heat, but overall the camper held up extremely well in the hot, sunny conditions.  It is by far the best project either of us have accomplished.  The camper is pictured in Lone Rock park in Utah on Lake Powell.

Thank you so much!  Good luck to you and the rest of CLC!

Here my son Eric mans the oars aboard "Winkle," our Passagemaker Dinghy (take-apart version), on a fine, breezy October day at Alum Creek Reservoir, getting set up to use her as a photo boat from which to take pictures of the mother ship (a Menger 19 catboat) under sail. It looks as if he really was paying attention when I taught him how to row as a boy! "Winkle" proved well up to the task, despite the choppy water, and the day yielded many fine photographs.

Here's my Wood Duck 12 I built in my garage during the winter of 2016-17. It was as much fun building it as it is using it. It handles and tracks beautifully, is stable and comfortable and just slips through the water. The only complaint I have, is that everywhere I go, people want to talk to me about it. "It's beautiful." "Did you build it?" "What kind of wood is it". Etc, etc, etc. Boaters even stop to talk. It gets annoying because I'm out to enjoy the paddling, see the wildlife and get some peace and quiet. Thanks for the wonderful product and keep it up! 

The build was both challenging as well very satisfying, already thinking about another building project. As a first project, I feel it came out well. Your tech support was outstanding as well as comforting, the hand holding was appreciated.

My husband Tony and I just completed our latest CLC project. We took the boat up to the antique and classic boat show in Hessel Michigan. We had the boat judged and won second place in the outboard category - with a brand new 2023 handmade boat- against all of those beautiful Chris Crafts etc! We are really enjoying our new boat, and so is our new boat dog (new puppy this summer) Rolo.

I gotta tell you that the Wood Duck 12 Hybrid is a great kit and I'm kinda sorry it's done. Maybe I really should do another one?

I finished my Wood Duck Hybrid 12 this weekend. Thanks for the kit. Things went well. I followed your manual and when I had questions the support team was there to fill in the blanks. This was my first [Hybrid] boat. I found it easy to put together, creating a good start to a pretty boat. I used your molds for a Nymph a couple years ago so the decking wasn't that big a deal. I liked the bead/cove strips, it seemed to almost snap together.

The photo is from the shore of Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, MN. The downtown sky line is in the background.

Again, thanks. I'm looking though the catalog for my next project.

I recently completed construction of the Eastport Pram on which I took delivery at the end of April and am very satisfied with the end result.  I had wanted a dinghy which I could bring aboard my Rosborough RF 246 which with an outdrive and a large engine box at the transom provides an ideal space for its transport.  It has worked out perfectly.  Mr. Harris should be (and I'm sure he has been) commended for his excellent design.  It rows exceedingly well, much better than I had anticipated.

The end result is a lovely small craft which elicts a lot more comments than a rubber dinghy.  I could not be more pleased.  Thank you.  

This is the Chesapeake 17lt I built 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.

Hi folks, finally yesterday morning, I received the plans for Pocketship. I hope to keep in touch with you to continue learning this beautiful building tradecraft. I believe this will be the first pocketship of Argentina and South America.
Thanks very much for the quality and effectiveness of your service and as the project progresses with "Gringuito"  I will update you on progress.

Thank you very much!

My grandkids enjoying their first ride, in the Wood Duckling I made, on a pond in Boise, Idaho.

Just wanted to thank you for your PAX 20 design.  

As you may recall I compete in Eppie's each year, for the past 3 years.  I'm the paddler on a mens over 50 team even tho I'm 61. We've won our division 2 of the last 3 years but came up short this year, 2nd place. The winning team found a runner that was outta this world.

Anyway, my personal paddle time was 25th of 389 team paddlers and only 10 of 700 Iron Men.  That's 35th of almost 1100. I'm really stoked about the PAX.  The only boats that beat my time were Huki surf skis and one Westside K1 and a lot more behind me.  I started the PAX on Memorial Day and launched it on July 4th. Only had 9 paddles in it prior to the event and of that only twice down the 6.35 mile river course.

I'll have  the Pax20 and the Shearwater 14 LV at Natomas on Labor Day---Hope to see you there.  May even bring the S&G NH also. Thanks again for all your great boats.

I've been kayaking the Lake Erie Islands in my Night Heron several times this week! Thanks CLC! Great boats, great time and great pride paddling my kayak!

Here are some photos of my latest, a Shearwater17 Hybrid. Next year, it’s the Night Heron!

I am a very satisfied CLC customer - I appreciate the well crafted kit and clear instruction manual.  Moreover, I loved the process of building my own boat.  I expect to build one of your kayak or paddleboard kits in the near future.

I took this picture of our Chester Yawl this past September at dawn at anchor in Princess Bay, on Portland Island in the beautiful Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada.  My good friend Roley and I completed “Chester” this past winter, and my wife and I use her as a tender when we go cruising.  Rows like a dream!  I know the name “Chester” seems a bit unoriginal and less than feminine, but that’s what she was called when she was under construction, and well, the name just seemed natural when she was launched.

The Eastport Pram got me into college! I wrote my college admissions essay about my experience building the boat, and now here I am!  Thanks again for all of your help throughout the process; it was alot of fun.

I bought your Chester Yawl kit last May, and launched the boat in August.  The quality and presision of the kit was much appreciated.

Wildly brilliant kit - have a Shearwater 17 that tracks extremely well, very stable, and fast. Looks great, especially with Sapele deck. Kit lacks only deck lines, s-cam buckle hatch straps, and hints on how to do excellent varnishing. Love da boat!

Good afternoon.  I recently finished a Shearwater 17-footer.  Have not added the deck lines yet, but Eric Schade's design is a treat to paddle in our coastal waters. 

I completed this over a year ago and have used it many times, most often for my son's Boy Scout troop camping events. I love this kayak and plan to make other kayaks/canoes/boats.

Enjoyed building the Oxford II. It handles Lake Erie with no problem. Absolutely beautiful boat!

I had the opportunity to take my niece, Janissa out for her first paddle this weekend.  She was visiting from California and had a great time despite the fact that it was a bit cloudy (we live in Seattle so clouds
are pretty much a given on any holiday weekend).  We went in the Wood Duck 12 I made from plans and it worked wonderfully for both of us, plenty of room in the cockpit (my Shearwater 14 would have been a bit snug!). Here's a shot of her helping to paddle.  She is such a special little girl - adopted from Ethiopia; I got to go with her Mom to Ethiopia to pick her up, and it is amazing to see her grow and develop and have new experiences.

Thanks for designing great boats that the whole family can enjoy!

The boat is great. It is surprisingly stable and rowers, both novice and expert, have been zooming happily up and down the river. It is very fast, much faster than our canoes, kayaks or electric boat. And it was new for me to row a boat that glides many times its length compared to traditional rowboats that row like they're in molasses.

I've recently completed construction of one of your Eastport Pram dinghies and I am very pleased with the results.  Thanks for making such a great product available.  Later this year, I intend to purchase the sail kit which I am very excited about.

Finally finished my Chesapeake 17LT, and it had some modifications such as the arch of the back cover to give it more height. Currently, I'm installing a rudder. People stop and ask me for information about the construction all the time. Everyone here has a PVC kayak!

I enjoyed every moment of the build. My friends laugh at my dedication, but when I have finished they want to build one of these too. I decorated the boat with inlays based on themes from the Alhambra.

I built this from a CLC kit as a tender for our 30’ sloop, moored at Elliott Bay Marina in Seattle. It was finished over a year ago, and still looks stunning. We can’t take it out in public without being stopped by people wanting to comment or ask about it. 

Nested, it fits on the cabin top of our sailboat as if it was made for it (with a minor reshape of the transom top profile). But this nesting pram tows so well, that’s what we’ve been doing if we’re going to anchor out. There’s very little drag, and we barely notice any speed difference when towing.

The boat rows well (our preference), but for longer explorations the 2HP Honda is well suited.

This was an easy build with (I think) only 2 calls to CLC support with questions.

For a custom touch we put the “Chesapeake Light Craft” inlay on the stern thwart, and the oval compass rose on the bow.

What an excellent design; thanks, John and crew, for a great boatbuilding experience!

With outstanding instruction from CLC's Andrew Schroehrer during the April 2019 course at Chesapeake Light Craft in Annapolis, construction of my T10 commenced. After car topping it to my home in Lancaster, PA and ultimately to our camp on Indian Lake, Owls Head, New York in the Northernmost Adirondacks, work continued until completion. I received lots of great assistance from a number of CLC staff members. The boat was completed and launched on July 31, 2021. There was a bit of hiatus along the way while the boat was residing in upstate New York and I was not leaving our home in Lancaster. This is a small lake in the Northern Adirondacks. The boat is unique, beautiful and attracts quite a bit of attention as well as being loads of fun to sail!

This is my Shearwater Sport on Placid Lake in Montana. It was a joy and challenge to build my first CLC boat kit. I have enjoyed paddling on several Montana lakes with it including beautiful Flathead Lake.

The dinghy sails better than I ever would have expected. I used it for the first time a few weeks ago, hence the photo. There is little that can be improved on. It goes upwind very well, of course flies on a reach and goes dead downwind silently. Seamless gybing, like on any boat, requires a little practice.

So, thanks again for this little masterpiece.

I love the boat. Tracks beautifully, handles a chop, fun to row! Thanks for such a wonderful design.

I just wanted to share some pictures of Kirs and I on our custom Kaholo SUP's.  Today was the first day we ever tried this fascinating sport. As for the equipment, we could not be happier.  The custom boards are perfect in every way, I even like the sound they make as they glide through the water.  Nothing like a hollow wooden vessel to carry you as you glide!  Our first experience was a success and we didn't even get wet until the end we walked in to see if our feet would feel wet or cold in the frigid water. Surprisingly, we were dry and comfortable the whole time. 

Thanks to all for the encouragement while building these boards.  Best Regards, Mike

I was so excited to get my Annapolis Wherry on the water last year and share some pictures with CLC that you used on your social media feeds, all fresh and spit spot.  Felt pretty good.   I pulled the boat for the year recently and got it up into the garage storage sling that I set up for it, another season over.  But before I did, I gave the boat a look over and took this image.  Someone looked at the image and said how sad I must feel, the boat isn’t all “perfect” anymore.  There are lots of scrapes and abrasions that have made their way aboard – all signs it been used!  I’ll freshen her up next spring, but I have enjoyed rowing her and sharing her with others, which after all, is what she was built for, just as it should be.  I love the boat and truly appreciate your company as you are all genuinely about getting everyone interested out on the water. 

Keep up the great work!

I thought I might share a small picture book that I put together for my grandson Nate to go along with the Wood Duck Double that we built together earlier this year. Now of course, I will have to do the same for the smaller Wood Duckling 8 that my granddaughter McKenzie and I will be building later this summer.  This has been a fun project and the best 1 on 1 time a grandfather could ask for with his grandchildren.

My order finally arrived. I just wanted to say thank you to you and your team for being so patient and helpful throughout this ordeal. [CLC's] customer service is second to none! I really appreciate it.

Just need to complete building my work shed and the construction of my own Pocketship can begin...... I can't wait.

This is my second CLC project (first was the Mill Creek Hybrid - my picture is on page 17 of the most recent CLC catalog). I have been getting tons of great comments about these completed projects. People are amazed. I put it down to a lot of patience, the ability to read instructions and a great kit from CLC!

The [Peeler Skiff] has been quite wonderful to put to use out here on the Puget Sound, providing a very stable and maneuverable fly fishing platform.

It may be a comment you receive frequently, but I am very impressed by the design.

The Skerry is a wonderful boat and an excellent first boat project. The manual is excellent and technical support is available. Being 15ft and 100 lbs it's one of the best compromises of seaworthness and light enough to carry with two people or one person with a dolly. After researching many designs I picked this one. Three years later I'm still loving it as much as ever. I consider it to be an excellent oar and sail boat.

With a 10 - 15 knot wind you can sail it as fast as you can row on a calm day, about 3 knots and sustain that speed for 4 hours before it becomes work. I have rowed it up to 14 miles in one day. It's an excellent fishing boat and though tippy compared to a flat bottom boat will not take in water unless you stand on the rail. I have rowed it in 3ft seas with no concern for safety. 

I just wanted to send you a note describing the joy of launching my Mill Creek 16 today for the first time. I couldn't be happier with the design, performance and plain ol' good looks of your design. . . Everyone who saw the boat said the same thing - beautiful and where can I get one. It was my pleasure to guide them in your direction. . . Thank you for a great product that delivers what was promised.

Hi Guys, 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 Triple. You can read the whole story at the link below.

http://www.arnavsupplies.com/news.html

We finished the kayak leg a full 10 minutes ahead of the 2nd 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.

Just wanted to say thank you. I've finished my boat and it was one of the best experiences of my life. The CLC staff is amazing. You all should be proud of the great work you do. The products are top quality. I was never disapointed. Now all I want to do is row...and build another boat. 

As promised, here are some photos of our event held the last Saturday in June at the annual Gwynns Island Festival. All pictures were taken by Mathews Maritime Foundation member Michael Swiderski.

We had six families. Groups built six peace canoes in one day. We helped things along by pre-assembling the bottom and sde panels as well as the scarfed lengths of spruce for the chine logs and the sheer clamps. These pre-assembled parts were all epoxy glued.

All in all we had a great day. Got lots of press and plenty of onlookers. The 35 individuals who saw to it that the six canoes got built had a wonderful time, made new friends, and learned something about boat construction. Thanks to all our help toward making this event a success.

The boys and I wanted to thank you and your crew for the outstanding product.  Our youngest son is autistic and this entire project has really shown how focused he can be.

Again thanks.  We are already thinking about MC16.5 #2 for a fall project.  

Hello, CLC! My nephew and I built a Chester yawl in 2020.  I wanted to do a big project with him before he went to High School and we decided to build this boat.  It was also a great project to do during Pandemic physical distancing. Here are a couple pictures of me and the boat from a recent excursion to Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.  The boat handles well in the choppy waves and I'm getting better at reading the tides and wind to handle the boat. Thank you for your excellent boat kit and assistance during the building process!

I just wanted to let you know that I finished my Annapolis Wherry, got it in the water last week and I love it! It was my late Winter/Spring project and took about 3 months start to finish. Living in Western NY makes for challenging weather conditions for expoxying, painting, and varnishing what with cold temperatures followed by rainy, humid weather. But I worked around it and am very happy with the results of what is my first boat build. I was pretty new to just about everything involved and was continually waiting for the first disaster to occur, but it never did! The build manual was very complete and CLC's John Staub gave very timely and thorough advice when I emailed in questions.

The boat's primary home is at our family camp on a small lake in the Adirondacks in NY. We cartopped it there last week and baptized it in the lake. It rows like a dream and is so fast and smooth compared to any other rowboat I've been in. The only potential problem now with having a boat that is so fast, is that we need a bigger lake!

Thanks for such a great kit building experience that allowed me to now own such a beautiful boat.

Bootlegger is now in the Bahamas at Deep Water Cay, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas.  Thanks for your help--the kit, design and materials were first class.

Here is the nearly complete boat.  All that is left is a few coats of varnish on the floor, decks and rail.  It moves through the water like a dream.  Thanks! 

This is my Shearwater Double that I built 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.

What a thing of beauty it is! All the parts are beautifully cut out and the included plans and documentation are very thorough. You should all be very proud of your efforts. I know I am proud to be the owner of a CLC kit and I will tell everyone I meet just how well you have treated me. I could not be more pleased. Thank-you all so much and a huge, huge thank-you to John Harris. John, you are one of the good guys in this world and you have really helped to make my simple dream of building my own boat a reality. Thanks!

I built this kayak from plans from CLC at my home workshop in Eugene, Oregon. I constructed the deck using strips of Cedar, Redwood and Peruvian Walnut that I cut, coved and beaded. The hull is made of Okoume plywood and finished with 5 coats of varnish. I completed it in May 2020 with its maiden voyage to beautiful Clear Lake, Linn County, Oregon. My [Shearwater Sport Hybrid] kayak tracked well and was easy and fun to paddle. It was a pleasure to build and I am very happy with how beautiful my boat turned out.

About ready to order my next kit.

I'm a novice stitch-and-glue builder; a fan of your work since my first project last winter turned out to be a pair of Wood Duck 10s. I came from a rowing/sailing family, so the Wood Duck has been my intro to the world of 'yaks. For my girlfriend, her duck is her first boat and an introduction to the fun of messing around in boats. On her behalf especially I want to congratulate you on making a design that first and foremost made her feel at home, secure and comfortable afloat, such an important part of starting out. For my part, I want to express my appreciation to you for drawing such a nicely proportioned little boat: I never tire of looking at them, and one of the great satisfactions of giving one away is being able to see it from a distance as well as from inside when we're out on the water together.

[My Chesapeake 17] was a joy to build and I have taken it paddling at least 30 times, including one trip on the ocean since I have built it. It handles better, is 100 times lighter, and looks amazing compared to all of the plastic kayaks who share the waters. 

Our new Jimmy Skiff, in a cove in Piscataway Bay, lower Potomac River.

I wanted a boat that can get my sons and me up small creeks, onto mud flats, islands, or anything else we want to explore.  The Jimmy gets us there, in style.

Many thanks to CLC for helping a non-woodworker achieve this.  Everybody I encountered at CLC was helpful.

We each built ours a bit different, but what a pair. Awesome kits!

I thought that I’d send along a couple of shots of my recently completed Wood Duck 12.  I was hoping for a more “scenic” time of the year for the maiden as it looks much nicer on the Napa river in the summer, but ah well, here she is anyway. It was such a pleasure to build and I must say that your support, along with the many others at CLC who manned the “help desk”, was greatly appreciated. It was a fun and enjoyable build that I would repeat anytime.

At one point, I read somewhere about how many nice complements one would receive when paddling a CLC kayak and even though she’s only been in the water three times so far I can absolutely concur that people are incredibly impressed. Needless to say, I always tell them where it’s from, that I did build it -which amazes them to no end, and how wonderful it is to paddle. 

Thanks for such a great kit and learning experience, and I plan to order the next “project” before the [end] of this month!

In July, my friend Pete came with me to the Wooden Boat School in Maine to build a Shearwater Sport. It's amazing what can get done in a week under the expert guidance of Eric Schade.  I came home with a kayak ready for finishing.  Of course, "ready for finishing" means I was about halfway there. Anyway, I persevered and finally finished it in time for Labor Day weekend and Pete helped me put it in the water. 

We had a great time in Maine, and the Shearwater Sport is really fun to paddle.

I built this kayak about a year ago for my grandchildren. The entire experience dealing with CLC was great. The kit was a pleasure to build and the end result is a great performing kayak. Best regards

My Eastport Pram [is] the first and only boat I've ever built, having 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!

I built my Chester Yawl over the last 2 summers and launched her this year.  Despite my poor rowing technique, Esperanza rode the waves quite nicely and the day was a success.  I love my Chester Yawl -- thanks for a great design and tech support during the building process.

We built our Jimmy Skiff during covid lockdown for our covid baby, born June 2020. Couldn't be a better silver lining, she loves it! The perfect family sailboat.

Just a brief note to let you know how delighted I am with the service and assistance that I received from your company during the construction of my WR180 last spring. I would have written sooner but have been busy paddling. . . Speaking as a wood shop teacher, with some 30 years experience, I must compliment you on the quality and completeness of your kit. I spent some time researching the various kit suppliers before deciding on CLC and have no regrets. I was delighted with every aspect of the hardware, literature and support. . . . Thanks again for your great service.

I'm very pleased with the appearance and performance of the boat. It's handy, because of the light weight, and ideal for visiting around the harbor and for river/creek exploring. I've taken it to area wooden boat festivals, where it gets lots of compliments - - - Of course, I always credit CLC. . . Thanks for designing a great little boat, and for supplying a kit with accurately-cut parts.

You're all so kind: I'm wonderfully fortunate to be associated with you and I'll gladly share my photo with you! Thanks for all that you folks do and stand for, I'm proud to be associated in any way.

Here are some photos of our Annapolis Wherry Tandem my daughter & I finished last week. Her name is La Luna.

We had a great time building her. She had her maiden voyage yesterday, out on Nimbus Lake in Sacramento, CA.

Thanks for designing a great kit & all of your & your staff's help.

I must say that I was greatly surprised at the speed and efficiency with which the Mill Creek paddles. There was no way the solo kayakers could keep up with us. It tracks well, the draft remains shallow, it's very quiet, the hatches are a waterproof seal, and it is quite rigid. My expectations were exceeded in all respects. Thanks for the design and the help by phone. We will enjoy this boat. You have a satisfied customer.

First Paddle of our Shearwater Double. Performs just as expected. Thanks CLC!

I took the Build-Your-Own Kayak class at the WoodenBoat School in Maine with Eric Schade and built this 12' Wood Duck.  I just finished the varnish and outfitting the end of September and splashed it yesterday, October 7, 2018, at Sleeter Lake in Round Hill, VA.  It paddles fanstastic through the water!

She has met all my expectations so far. I haven't had a chance to open the Yamaha 15 yet as she is brand new and must be kept slower for 10hrs or so. I will say she gets up on plane fairly quickly with a
smooth transition and returns the same.  I haven't yet found any unexpected handling issues and she is just a comfortable stable boat.

I took some liberties with the Chesapeake 18 kit I bought from you guys. Right after it came I received a Shearwater hybrid brochure from you. So naturally I thought, what the hell, lets try it on mine. I put a deck beam in every 12 inches, scarfed  a poplar rim piece, and 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. The dragon was designed by me and the Chinese symbols mean "world peace". All of the graphics are painted right on the wood so they are under the cloth and epoxy.

Hello friends, I started a Skerry from a kit just after the summer solstice, and launched her at the local pond just before the fall equinox. Your directions were excellent; detailed, friendly and reassuring for the untutored. While I did acquire the sailing kit, that has been postponed to next spring. For now I am rowing on the Connecticut River, precisely as I had hoped to - without having to scrounge up seven friends and a coxswain.

Thank you for your kits, directions, advice and unfailing good nature on the phone.

Skerry - I built this boat in 2007/8 and launched it on Martha's Vineyard over Memorial Day weekend this year. I've been a paddler (canoes and kayaks) until now, so not only is the Skerry my first sailboat, it's the boat I'm learning to sail in. So far I've been very pleased. It too has proven to be most seaworthy, easy to trailer and put in and take out of the water singlehanded. I look forward to many days on the water around Martha's Vineyard in the future in this boat. The photo of Cara and the boat on the trailer was taken on Sengekontacket Pond in Edgatwon, MA. The photo of me under sail was taken at State Beach in Edgartown, MA.

[The Skerry and our Mill Creek] draw lots of attention when they are hauled out on the beach and at boat launches. As you might suspect, your company and your boats have received many enthusiastic testimonials from me over the years.  I think you can tell by now that I'm a very satisfied customer.

This year I built my first boat (Skerry) with the help of my best fried for my wife-to-be.  I built this for the ceremony, where I row her across Falmouth Harbor, MA. I can honestly say it will forever be one of the greatest memories of that day.  The Skerry was the perfect boat for the wedding because I met my wife sailing.  The ride was stable and dry. We hope to be able to upgrade the boat to include the sailing rig soon, as we spend much of our summers on the water.  Thank you for the great memory and an excellent boat. 

Just completed Voyage from New York to Atlantic City in my Expedition Wherry. Amazing how this boat rides the swells in turbulent water.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY FROM EDISTO BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA!! We started our two 12-6 Kaholos in the middle of June and finished them in time for our annual family trip! My wife's blue board and my 13-year-old niece's yellow board cruised as smooth as glass, and they both did a ton of stitching, gluing, glassing and sanding to get them ready! My father-in-law sprayed the last coat of paint Saturday and we loaded them on the trailer to check in on Monday! They LOVE their boards! 

Just wanted to thank you for the kit and fun I had putting together the Chesapeake 17LT 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 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 havealways wanted to make their own boat.  I encouraged them that if I could do it, so could they.  I'm attaching some pictures; added to the
basic boat is your compass rose on-lay, and the hull was stained withwater based dark walnut.  Can't wait for warmer weather and new places to paddle.  Thanks again.

I built a Shearwater Hybrid years ago and wanted to try another project. What a wonderful project this was. I put much more creative thought into it, as now I had a better understanding of how the kits go together. So happy with the results that I'd like to do one more. Who knows, maybe the tear drop camper is in my future! The photo was taken the week before Thanksgiving on a local lake, Heart Lake, here in Anacortes WA. Thanks CLC for your amazing boats! 

Attached are photos of my completed Kahalo 14.  I designed the fabric for the boat.  It sails straight and fast.

Thank you Chesapeake Light Craft for helping me achieve one of my bucket list items. Your plans and instructions for the Wood Duck Hybrid 12 were excellent and it was so much fun to build. I can't wait to start another boat. 

I have finally finished and am a proud owner of your Mill Creek design. I have been taking it all week long to the beach and I must say it turns a lot of heads. The surf has been a little choppy but it handles very well , I love it!!! I hope you enjoy the pictures, let me know what you think.

I finished her this spring. She rides true and strong. We have been turning heads wherever we go!

Many, many thanks for a fascinating design, fine materials, and good instructions. Making your boats could easily become a lifelong habit.

Mill Creek 16.5 – I built this boat in 2000 and use it exclusively on Martha's Vineyard. It's a great family boat – my daughter Cara (now 11) loves to go out in the many ponds and bays on the island to tour the sights and watch shorebirds, particularly our favorites – the ospreys. The boat has proven to be most seaworthy, even in wind and rough chop.  In 2007 Cara and I "raced" it ~3 miles in Martha's Vineyard Sound and Sengekontacket Pond in just over 31 minutes to finish first in the parent and child class of the local season end boat race. This summer, Cara and I easily kept pace in Martha's Vineyard Sound with two high end sea touring kayaks – our fellow paddlers were very impressed with the capabilities of the boat.

[The Mill Creek and our Skerry] draw lots of attention when they are hauled out on the beach and at boat launches. As you might suspect, your company and your boats have received many enthusiastic testimonials from me over the years.  I think you can tell by now that I'm a very satisfied customer.

I have recently completed a Kaholo 14 SUP with the sapele deck upgrade.  I'm afraid the bug has bitten me hard - I've already started on my next project: a WoodDuck 12/Sail Rig trimaran.

My first and most likely last boat building effort. First of all, I can’t comment yet on how she handles as I need a bit better tie-down system on the trailer before any serious transport. That is to be shortly rectified. However, the boating season in the mountains of NC is rapidly going away with the leaves, so it may be spring before she gets wet. Secondly, your instruction manual was the best I have ever seen, and I appreciated the humor. 

I launched Pocketship "Titania" for the first time in January, but kept waiting to send my final review until I had a really nice picture to attach. Well, it's now May and I STILL don't have a nice picture, though not for lack of trying. Yet at the end of each day's sail, I find that we have again forgotten to stop the fun to perfectly frame a nice photo. So that's my review: the boat is a complete and total success!

Not much to offer for constructive criticism. The manual was fantastic, and reading the forum and other blogs was very helpful too. I had about zero woodworking experience prior to construction, so taking a neophyte like me through such a large process is quite an accomplishment as a designer and author.

Thanks again for answering all my emailed questions (not to mention all your support I read on the forum). I've already bought Eastport Pram plans... But first I need a table saw, finish the companionway hatch slide, build a mizzen mast (just for fun)... I think the tinkering could be endless, and endlessly enjoyable. And if one of my friends doesn't buy a boat kit or plans from CLC after seeing my construction, I'll buy you dinner.

A very satisfied customer,

I got the Shearwater 16 as a 75th birthday present from my sweet wife. Had a blast building it even with my few cosmetic mistakes.  On the Hudson River it really seems to be at home. It is fast, comfortable and very nimble. I love it.

I wanted to send you some pictures of the latest Eastport Pram, Marisol.  I built her in my garage in a little over 2 months, and 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 thanks for the great customer service!

The paddler is Benjamin, my grandson.  He is paddling the Wood Duckling that I built him for his 7th birthday.  He lives in South Florida and so the boat is ideal for him to explore among the mangroves with his father.  Benjamin was able to help to build some parts of the boat.  It handles amazingly well.  It tracks well enough for him to be able to paddle in a straight line, yet is easy for him to turn.

I wanted to thank you for another great kit building experience. The WoodDuck 10 Hybrid was my 4th kit (Annapolis Wherry, Teardrop, Mystic River Canoe) and the second with strips. While I stayed pretty conservative with straight strips for our Mystic River Canoe, I decided to stick some curves into the Wood Duck and am really happy with how it turned out. It 'lives' on a small lake in the Adirondacks in New York. It paddles and glides very smoothly and is perfect for exploring about. I really enjoy the process of building the boat as a winter project and then getting to enjoy it in the warm weather. I'll be back for more!

Had a wonderful time building this. Almost as much fun as sculling. 

A "Root" Longboard by Garin Surfboards built with white cedar.  The strips were leftover from CLC Wood Duck Hybrid builds which I added. Then glassed and sealed in clear epoxy and finally polished and waxed. It goes to my brother as a special gift. This makes the fifth kit I've completed from CLC. The journey of building your kits began sometime back in 2007 with an Eastport Pram followed by two 12 ft. Hybrid Ducks, then a Kaholo 14 and now this surfboard. I'm going to take a breather while I dream of the next project. The experience of creating these water craft from your kits as been a fun and rewarding experience.

So yesterday marks the official completion of my winter project.  I launched my new Shearwater 17’ Hybrid kayak at Red Bridge, which is located on the Quinnipiac River where it meets Hanover Pond in Meriden.

I would like to thank everyone at CLC who answered my many questions and helped me along the way.

I have no problem finding crew for "Petrel," my Northeaster Dory. Here, my young relatives test their rowing skills in the intracoastal waterway at Lockwood's Folly, North Carolina. Completed last year, Petrel has been a joy to build and row, as well as sail with her easily rigged main and jib. 

I get lots of compliments on the appearance of the boat, as its so refreshing to see a wooden kayak, and its human nature I guess that people really like the natural wood appearance. People honk and give me the "thumbs up" on the highway when I'm carrying it, and other kayakers on the river always want to stop and talk to me about it. Of course, I give you full credit.

CLC Gang, Just recently completed my Peeler Skiff. Great kit, superior product. Now, what to do this winter?

Finished at last. Thanks for your quick service when I needed to order things from you you to finish the boat.

We added an extra bulkhead, stringer and deck pad so that we could use our 14' Kaholo as a racing tandem Stand Up Paddleboard.

I finished my Chesapeake 16 about a month ago and it's great! I intended to write as soon as my boat was finished but I've been paddling instead. What a wonderful project this was for me, I'm already thinking about my next CLC kit. Everyone that sees my kayak for the first time can't believe it was home built. Some people need to see all the photos I took during construction to believe I could have done it. All your advice about sanding, sanding, sanding really paid off. The boat has an almost furniture like finish, you can't believe how proud of and happy I am with my kayak. And not only does this boat look good, it's also a pure pleasure to paddle. The light weight and stability enable me to carry it anywhere and to paddle with confidence in less than ideal conditions. Thanks again for all your help with my many questions when I called and thanks again for such great kit with a great instruction booklet.

Thought I would send along pictures of the Eastport Pram I built last winter-spring. I have been using it since it was launched in June to commute across Spa Creek; I live in Eastport and work on West Street. It is so nice to get on the water early in the morning, not get caught in the rush hour traffic and save fuel all at the same time.

We just launched our triple coffee table! Not only did it float, but it moved through the water effortlessly. For a couple approaching geezerhood it was a relief as well as exhilarating!

Thanks for all of your valuable assistance and for not laughing out loud at my questions. I have never attempted a project of this nature before. In fact the only wood working experience I have had is tossing another log on a fire. A plan is in the works to build another of your kayaks next winter.

Love the boat and the stitch and glue process. It took about 40 hours build time and weighs 42 pounds.

I completed my Shearwater Sport, which I built in Eric Shade's class at The Wooden Boat School. This was just in time for yesterday's 21 kayak and canoe flotilla down the Connecticut River. The kayak handled beautifully and received many compliments.

I'm very pleased with the construction & performance of the Shearwater 17 kayak - handled great and carried all my gear. I'll make another one this winter. Maybe a  Shearwater 16 for my wife? Thanks for providing great boats!

"THAT is a GORGEOUS kayak!" gushed a young mother of two leaving the Kensington, MD farmers market upon seeing my freshly completed CLC Shearwater 17 atop my car as I stopped by enroute to its first launch at OkoumeFest 2015. I worked up this Shearwater 17 with Eric Schade in a class at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath in September 2014. I took the boat back to Maine last August. The attached pictures were taken on the New Meadows River outside Bath. The kayak draws a lot of attention and compliments everywhere I take it. 

I'm 17 years old and just finished my first boat, the Sassafras 12, from CLC for my senior project.

I absolutely love it and really enjoyed the project. Thanks for the awesome kit, CLC!

Enclosed are just a few pictures of our Jimmy Skiff. It was an absolute pleasure to build with my child, Simon and Emeri. . . We had to build her under the stars but it was a wonderful experience to share with my children. . . This is a truly beautiful skiff and having built some the "old fashioned way" I was amazed at what a true skiff she is.

I heartily recommend this boat to any father that wants to share this type of experience with their children. I can not thank you enough for this design, the kit, and the memories.

We just launched our Chester Yawl "Serene" in Herford, Germany. She rows effortlessly and it is super easy to get in & out of the boat, even for my mid-80's grandma, shown here together with my father, both enjoying very much a short ride and the awesome autumn weather we fortunately had. The kit, supplied by Fyne Boat Kits, has been highly enjoyable & straightforward to build. Thank you very much for this wonderful design!

I love this boat! Having access to knowledgeable people who respond quickly and accurately to the consumer is a very uncommon resource these days. CLC is THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS! Thank you all for your help and the top quality boat I am fortunate to have. 

It took me 17 years to buy the kit and about 5.5 months to build it once I did. Chesapeake 17LT. Thanks to everyone who helped along the way. Now I have to wait for the Colorado River to thaw. Can't wait to build my next one!

Thought I would send you a picture of my wood duck 12, affectionately referred to as "the duck."  I enjoyed building it and am enjoying it here on the Salmon River in NY.

I am writing to sing the praises of the Chesapeake 16 kayak that I built in my garage from your kit. Although I had no previous experience with boat building, fiberglass or epoxy, the excellent design, clear instructions, pre-cut pieces, and inclusive collection of hardware, etc. all helped make a successful project. Indeed, building the boat provided me with so much satisfaction that I feared using it might be anticlimactic. Fortunately, this was not the case. . . Thanks for designing such a wonderful boat, and for marketing such a great kit. You will hear from me next spring.

Here’s another picture of my beautiful boat I built this year. I've taken it all over Maryland and everywhere I go people tell me how gorgeous it is and ask if I built it myself! I always tell them where I got it and how it's put together. I'm gonna help a friend build one soon. Thanks a lot for all your help on the phone!

My wife's MicroBootlegger. Fantastic first ride. Thanks CLC!

Just gotta say……….what a magnificent journey! Wonderful kit; wonderful people; wonderful boat.

I didn’t plan it this way but ordered the Peeler kit in December 2019…..before COVID. Then came COVID and the ‘lockdowns.’ The kit was in my garage and it became my job. Every day I’d go out and work on it. It became my very happy place. I finished and floated it in June 2020.

I’m a retired airline pilot and I built an airplane but never a boat. The whole boat process was a joy. Every transaction and every contact with CLC boats was a pleasure. First class.

 I know….I know it’s a job for you but know that the kits you ship out the door deliver great happiness. Just know that. And thank you for that.

Couple photos to show off the newly christened, "Etta Louise" Northeaster Dory. Basement build #3 for me from CLC. 

The float test took place at Kusel Lake in Wisconsin a few weeks ago and was a grand success. I'm still thinking about those quiet jaunts around that lake while acknowledging the compliments ("Nice Boat!", "Did you build that?") yelled from cabins on-shore. Built with minimal tools, minimal skills, the boat turned out great because of the kit quality. Hope to spend time next winter adding on the sail option.

The CLC staff has been terrific, answering even the most simple or farfetched questions with patience and good humor.  The class was an unbelievable experience for a woman whose only previous experience with power tools was a hair dryer.  But I never would've gotten through the analysis paralysis to finish the kayak without your help.

Hi, John!  We thought you would like to see this e-mail, particularly the last line of paragraph two.  We are going to put it on our web site. Congrats to CLC for helping to make us look so good!

Pat, Adam, Bonnie

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Can't say enough about the week at GLBBS. I knew that it would be helpful to work under a master boat builder, but the advice and attention that Pat gave us made all the difference in the world. He provided us with numerous helpful hints - ones that may have been implied in the directions that came with our kit, but might not have been picked up easily. Too, he quickly recognized that Ric brought a host of carpentry skills across the Atlantic to our week in the shop and schemed with Ric to find ways to make a really fine kit boat even better! 

The GLBBS facilities were and location were terrific. All the tools we needed were of good quality and in plentiful supply. Pat made the entire shop available to us as needed. We got more than we bargained for as other staff and students from the school would drop in, hang out, share ideas, and urge us on. Though the Northeaster Dory could be built by one person, I'm glad there were two of us there to move the project along as there was more than enough to keep us busy all week. 

Mostly, we had fun. Ric and I thoroughly enjoyed the time in the shop, the commute between Cedarville and Alanson. Time to talk about boats, about life. Sand paper and clamps replaced cell phones and internet. And, the format of the "custom" boat building week allowed us to enjoy watching other styles of boats being built at the same time. Many things in common despite the design differences.

Okay, enough chatter from down here in Dayton, Ohio. Good luck on the projects you have going up there this school year. Don't hesitate to have any interested and potential summer workshop participant contact me about GLBBS.

This Chester Yawl is the first one [CLC] shipped back in 2005.  I got bit by the boat building bug when I read all about this fine boat in the Popular Mechanics Magazine.  I placed my order and CLC told me that I was getting the very first production Chester Yawl.  You also knocked $100.00 off the kit price.  Lucky me!   I built this in my garage during the summer of 2005.  It took me about 200 hours give or take a few.  I love this boat.  It handles great in calm waters but also navigates some pretty rough waves as well.  I named her KIKI ANN which is an old childhood nickname of my wife.  The picture was taken on Upper Silver Lake in Waterford, MI.  I finished this wooden jewel off with 6 coats of Pettit #1015 Captain's varnish (traditional amber color w/ extra UV protection) on the inside and several coats of Interlux Brightside #4359 White polyurethane paint.

I've enjoyed many hours of exploring the lakes with the KIKI ANN and hope to get in many more in the boating seasons to come.  I'm ready to build another one of your fine crafts.  Perhaps a sailboat this time.

Thanks CLC for making such a great craft.

Just wanted to thank you guys for a great build. This was way out of my comfort zone as a carpenter but it forced me to go there and I had a lot of fun doing it. BTW your instruction manual was great.

A photo of my Eastport Pram (nesting version) taken on a recent sail to Hart-Miller Island [Maryland/Chesapeake Bay], across from Rocky Point. Cheers to CLC for a great design and a great little boat! 

Many thanks to all your staff for the expert advice given to me during my seven month build. This was my first strip boat and I could not be more happy with the way the Petrel turned out.  I installed a skeg with some pointers from Joey. I also built this boat with two layers of 4 oz. cloth on the hull for added abrasion resistance. I launched it today and I'm just as happy with the way it handles as the way it looks. It is stable, fast and nimble. Oh and it it a rolling machine for those that like to do greenland style rolls. Thanks again for a great boat.

Just finished my first Wood Duck 12 and conducted the sea trials at Fort Desoto State Park in Saint Petersburg, FL. I was very impressed and satisfied with the performance across various wind and sea states. I have already started my second Wood Duck for my wife. Great kayak!

Just wanted to share a couple of pictures of "The Loranely," the Chesapeake 17 Hybrid that had its maiden voyage approximately 1 year ago in Ely, Minnesota.  Unfortunately, it hasn't been in the water as much as I would like but that time will come. I forgot to send these Last year but I just wanted to say you have a great company with great customer service. Something that's so important, especially when a lot of your customer are novice builders like myself.

Very pleased with my gorgeous Kaholo! Thanks for giving me such a perfect kit & plan!  Building it was a pleasure!

This was a great project. The CLC Wood Duck 14 kit and instructions were excellent. It took me approximately 28 hours over a two month period to complete. I love this boat. It tracks well and is very stable. On my first trip I paddled about 6 miles effortlessly, it is comfortable and cruises, while not a slug. My wife likes it so much she has now claimed it for herself. I am now considering what kayak I will build next. Maybe a Chesapeake 17LT.

Thank you for the complementary t-shirts and cap… you guys know how to take care of your customers.  If you look closely in the photo, you can see the cap already collecting sawdust on my drill press.  My family Sassafras is almost complete, and not soon enough, because the cedar strips for the night heron that are sitting on the garage floor are haunting my dreams.  In addition, my wife has her eye on the Kaholo 14 so… not sure I should say thanks, but more like you, personally, have ruined us for life!  Ha.  At least she gave me until after retirement (30 years from now) for the Pocketship!  Just wanted to personally thank you and your people again for all of your hard work and dedication!

The Passagemaker gets lots of compliments!  Mine's totally bright, and would 'present' @ the WB Festival - hung on davits of my Devlin Czarinna - if it weren't for my fear that some ding a ling might clipit while maneuvering!  (I'll forward a sweet photo of it slung).

I just wanted to send a picture of the progress on my Skerry.  I am loving every minute of the build.  I have a little over 90 hours into it, but have been spending a lot of time on some modifications.  They include custom rails and a trolling motor integrated in the rudder (I plan to build a second rudder for sailing).  

I have been extremely satisfied with the kit and your customer service.  Austin treated me great when you visited Miami!

I would like to thank everyone at CLC for conceiving, designing and producing plans for such an elegant and pleasurable craft.  I really enjoyed the building phase, the looking phase and now the paddling phase.

The whole thing was great fun.  Laura and I built a cardboard model before we ordered the kit.  It could just barely make the turn into the attic closet and out the window.  We measured more carefully as we were
actually squirting the boat out, we have enough room to eject a Chesapeake 17 and that will be this winter's project.

More pictures later.

My now 21 year old son has dreamed of sailing since he was a boy. In June, 2017 we bought a base Tenderly boat kit and made many great memories building it together. Used primarily as a fishing boat with outboard motor and row boat, it was time to learn to sail. So, this summer we purchased the sailing kit.  Upon completion, Jack’s dream of sailing finally came to fruition.  Thank you for a wonderful project we will both cherish forever.

Finished and launched my first kayak. The Wood Duck 12 Hybrid. Weighed in at 38.7 pounds. Paddles like a dream and quite fast. 

I just completed my Chesapeake 17LT and wished 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 a 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.

She rows better than she looks. I splashed for the first time this weekend and chased my kids up and down the racecourse of their sailing regatta for several hours. At least two dozen people from the yacht club and regatta came up to me to tell me how gorgeous she is and could not believe she was a kit. Beyond the kit, I used Awlgrip, Epifanes, and gold leaf lettering. Thank you for a very enjoyable experience!

I am not done yet, I have the hatch kit to put on and the varnishing of the deck to do. We could not wait to try it out. It was Great!!!!!! It was a great project for us to do together -- we do not hang wallpaper, but can build a CLC kayak together!!!!

Had a great time building the Mill Creek 16.5 kayak from the complete kit. Easy to load on top of the car and carry to the water. Super stable. Every time I take it out it draws a crowd. Thanks for your attention to design and quality.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank [CLC] for my experience.  I started my project in your [Build Your Own Boat Class].  The boat made its maiden voyage on Fathers Day that year.  This was my goal as this project was a gift from my son.

I have been rowing small boats for most of my life.  I tell my friends that I can usually tell if I will enjoy the boat with the first pull of the oars.  I was not disappointed.  The Expedition Wherry was fast, with a nice glide, stable and seaworthy.  I spent about two hours during the shakedown and enjoyed every minute of it.  I intend to use my Wherry every weekend during the warm weather months.

I would like to congratulate [CLC] on designing and producing such a fine hull.  I would also like to thank all those who participated in the completion of this project.

Peeler Skiff on the White River in Arkansas, built by myself and two of my grandkids this past year.  Very satisfying project, and the boat performs admirably float-fishing for trout.

Here are two photos of my recently completed kit-built Kaholo-14 just before her maiden voyage on the Potomac River. The board is mahogany stained all over, with birds-eye maple veneer on the bow and stern decks. I started around mid-December and launched in mid-July. This was my first build, but it won't be my last.

Started building my Chesapeake 17 in Holland, but moved to Scotland before I could launch the kayak.  Did the deck rigging the day before I left Holland.

Passed the float test today! Thank you Chesapeake Light Craft for making such a wonderful kit - giving me much needed nightly stress relief from the job.

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. - Franklin D. Roosevelt.

CLC Teardrop Camper, built in 12 months of evenings and spare weekends, including the CLC galley, Integrated Cargo Carrier and trailer build. Camper includes brass fittings and accessories as well as leather trims and old style analogue gauges. Photographed in the state of Queensland, Australia, under the Milky Way showing the well known constellation The Southern Cross. Used for hunting trips with my son, and camping retreats with my wife!

Sundial is finished and ready for her captain. Built from the kit, it was a breeze. Thanks for making it so easy. The transom was painted by an artist friend of the family. I look forward to my children's children's children enjoying it for generations to come.

Just wanted to say the Northeaster Dory that I completed in Aug 2013 has performed well as advertised, but I was so pleasantly surprised at how much the sailing performance exceeded my expectations! This was my 4th CLC build, all of which have been enjoyable. However, the Dory's combination of row/sail has been great, especially at this point in my life. 

It was a fun project.  My granddaughters loved the boat and everyone says it is beautiful.  I guess I'm the only one who sees the mistakes. 

I'm sending a few pics of Ken Moody's Sassafras 16 built last summer at Mystic (during the Family Boatbuilding event).  It's modified for rowing with center seat and oarlocks.  Rows beautifully, stable and fast.  Photos are the first row and they speak for themselves.  Thanks, John, for your sketch of a layout for rowing.

I did my longest paddle yesterday of 26 km -- very much feeling it today, but it was well worth it. I spent the day trawling a soft bait and caught my biggest haul yet of 8 fish. 7 Kahawai (a local predatory fish that is the most fun on light tackle) and 1 Snapper. Every time I go kayaking I go fishing and have yet to come home empty handed.

Kayak fishing has taken off here in a big way and on a beaut day you'll see a lot them on the water. I've had nothing but praise and all sorts of questions about the kayak. It's a real head turner for sure.

Thanks guys for all your help and I'm happy to say wifee is keen for a double so will be contacting you soon for a quote. 

2 years ago, my "vacation" was to build a Chesapeake 17LT with you guys and Geoff Kerr. Last week, I took a REAL vacation.. first one in 5 years!  To Rhode Island -- Jamestown / 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 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!!!!

Skerry build “Miss Minerva” completed by a 64-year-old retiree in late June 2020. Rows like a dream, sails fast. Most fun I’ve had on the water since Boy Scout camp in the 1960’s! THANKS CLC!

I built this Sectional Shearwater Sport in Englewood, New Jersey and used it at Harryman State Park NY and Overpeck Creek in Leonia NJ. In 2018 I cut it into the three parts, which was not an easy decision and took it to Austria at the Lake Neusiedl, where I grew up. Now I live in Munich and explore the beautiful lakes in Bavaria in South Germany. The Kajak is very stable and easy to paddle for me as a heavy person. Transport is convenient even in a European station wagon. During winter time it makes a beautiful decoration in my office. The pictures were taken at Rockland Lake NY. 

Just wanted to pass a long a few pictures and words of praise regarding the Shearwater Double.         

After a six month build, we launched our Shearwater Double yesterday.  The kayak, which took 153 man-hours (67 work periods) to complete, came in fully rigged at 78#.  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.

I built this Sassafras 12 in 2005, in my basement. The building spread out over the winter, but could have been done in a couple of weeks. I took this photo when the canoe was just launched, but it looks much the same today. The boat is standard except for the substitution of a kayak seat. It is located at Little Squam Lake in Holderness, NH, and has been used there and for excursions to nearby ponds. It remains a beautiful, handy, and durable little craft, and one of my proudest accomplishments.

The Night Heron Stitch-and-Glue was the perfect size for a 10-day paddle around the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. Might have a bias, but I'm pretty sure I had the best looking boat out there.

She's a beauty! My family and I built this Northeaster Dory at the Great Lakes Boat Building School. It was a great trip. This picture was taken at our boat slip on Loch Lomond lake in Bella Vista, AR.

You sold me the kit for this Shearwater 17 at the WoodenBoat show in Mystic last summer. I worked on her non-stop as soon as she arrived, got some good advice and help from my dad, and finished her in time to go kayak camping with my family in Georgian Bay, north of Toronto, at the end of August. I named her Osprey. I love her very much. She is living in my family's living room for the winter, stacked on top of my dad's Arctic Hawk (which he also built from a CLC kit). Here are some pictures!

Thank you so much. This is a GREAT boat!!!!!

About three years ago, my grandfather and I built a Northeaster Dory kit that we bought from you.  My Grandfather (who has designed and built a few of his own boats) and I thoroughly enjoyed the building process and were really stunned by the outcome.  Now, three years later, I would like to share with you my experiences with this spiffy little rig.

Using this boat primarily for fishing and sight seeing down scenic waterways, she handles well, has good acceleration, and fine turning abilities.  

Trap Pond Delaware State Park is probably one of the best America`s kept secrets. The beauty of the forest of water cypress, which you can only truly be reached by kayak, is beyond imagination. My husband and I both built boats from CLC. While his boat is stable for photography mine is great for speed and beauty. We have enjoyed both boats greatly. 

Our pandemic project was building a kayak and it really was a wonderful experience for my wife & I. Once built we realized 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 and it guides in the water so smoothly.

Thank you for teaching the "Jimmy Skiff" class at the Wooden Boat School and helping me accomplish my goal of building a boat. I'm very proud of my efforts.

It's a long row up the Genesee River in Rochester, New York to the Lower Falls. The Northeaster Dory that Matt and Bernie L. built was up for the challenge.

My Wood Duck Double kit arrived a few days ago, delivered on time and in good condition.  I am impressed by the efficient packaging of the kayak parts; it must take some considerable time to be able to do that well.  I am excited about getting started on my kayak!

I had a great time building and then rowing my Chester Yawl in Farmers Cay, Exuma, Bahamas.  We brought down 3 kits....one is complete, one half built and the third is still in the box....we're looking forward to many rowing adventures around the Exumas.  Thanks for putting out such a fun and beautiful product.

I launched one of your great-looking dinghies on Como Lake in BC, Canada yesterday. It’s my first boat build, but probably not my last. Now it’s time to start making the sailing rig for it, but I attached some photos of “Pramalot” as a rowboat and on top on my small car.

I just finished my Petrel Play SG after having completed a Wood Duck 12 a few years ago. WOW is the Petreal Play a fast fun boat! I love them both! Here is a few shots of my Petrel Play SG and my Wood Duck 12 on the shores of Crooked Lake in northern Michigan. There was a storm in the distance around sunset at the end of our paddling day which I thought made an excellent background.

Mill Creek 16.5 kayak photos, all from the intercoastal waterway around Swansboro, NC. My son and I built her and enjoy paddling and fishing, but my little girl loves to put up the sail! Part of the draw was having a project to do together with my kids. I hoped that they would have a deep satisfaction and happy memories from building something with their own hands. Midway through the process my son was gently running the hand plan along the rub rail and watching the dainty curls of wood shavings cascade around his feet. He looked up at me and said, "Dad, I don't know why but doing this just makes me feel happy". I knew he got it! 

Recently completed Sea Island Sport and hats off to those involved with this design.  Great combination of paddling ease, speed, and fishing stability.  As you can see we added a small removable center console for gear.  Kit was great.  Being put to good use here on Texas gulf coast.

Wanting to differ from the Hawaiin theme, I built this with old wooden Chris Crafts in mind. The rear deck was tapered down and the vent tube is hidden in the handle. Very fun to build!  Thanks CLC for the plans and prompt shipping of bits and pieces when I needed them!

Finally finished my CH17 this weekend!! I did mine from just plans, started on it a few months ago with a few breaks here and there, but IM SO HAPPY its done and I can enjoy it on the water! I went for an all paint finish and I love it.  Thanks for the plans and help!  You guys are awesome, I have people asking me where I got the plans from and I sent them to you!

I'm really satisfied with my Annapolis Wherry Tandem kit, a great kit and an amazing boat.  I've had it on the water 4 times now and each time I get multiple inquiries and even more compliments!

The Annapolis Wherry is a really nice product & fun to build, and incredible to row.  I've never rowed a sliding seat before & it is just terrific.  What a great non-impact exercise.

Happy New Year!  We pretty much finished ! all our students have to do is sand and varnish/paint. They are psyched.

Thank you for your support

The Chesapeake 18 is a great boat and it's getting plenty of use.

The most glowing thing I can say about your company's kit and the process in general, is that I am without question one of the least handy people on the Eastern Seaboard and this is what I made. Thanks for all your help.

On Watson Lake in Prescott, AZ. with granite dells in the background on the day I launched my Sassafras 12 for the first time. What a wonderful boat! Light, fast, tracks well and turns when you need it. [It's a nice complement to my Chesapeake 17LT. 

We just took the newly completed Mill Creek 16.5 out this past weekend for its maiden voyage – it was awesome!  The boat was by far the nicest one out on the water.  We are at Harvey Creek Reservoir located in Silt, Colorado.

This is the 4^th boat of yours that I have completed – 2 Wood Ducks, 1  Chesapeake 17LT and the Mill Creek 16.5.  My next project hopes to be your stand-up paddleboard. 

Thanks for your amazing kits – they are a blast to build and even more fun out on the water.

Just a quick note to let you know that I am still enjoying my WD-12 immensely!!  Thanks again for a wonderful product! 

I built the Mill Creek 13 back in 1999 for him, and the Chesapeake 17LT for him this year, after building the Mill Creek 16.5 for myself. Dave says the Chesapeake 17LT is the best boat he has ever been in (and he has been in a lot of boats).  He has five kayaks of various types and has lots of professional and recreational experience with lots of other boats. 

Greetings from beautiful near downtown Charleston, SC. Grandson Tyler and I finished the Matunuck and the results are most excellent. Tyler took the kayak on sea trials off Folly Beach (The Edge of America) and is quite happy with it. On the way to sea trials, we stopped by Sea Kayak Carolina where there was a large gathering for a winter sales event. The Matunuck drew a lot of attention and praise, not just for its looks, but for its lines for surfing - by the local surf kayakers. Now it is time for me to build my own Matunuck, according to Tyler.

Enclosed are a couple of pictures of my Chesapeake 16. I've had it on a number of rivers and on Lake Michigan twice since I finished it in early February. I love it! 

I loved working on it and had little trouble figuring out the directions. When I did, you were quick with the replies to my questions which I really appreciated. . . Thanks for everything.

I'm forwarding you some shots of my Eastport Pram that I just finished.  I mean like just now!  I'm really happy with the looks and from what everyone says, she's a great little boat.  Now if she floats (due to my construction) we're in business.

Just so you know, I've never built a stitch and glue boat before and it was really fun.  I wanted to pull my hair out a few times trying to get those little "notches" to line up in the transom and bow but once I cut them flush and said screw it, it all worked out pretty nicely.

I'm addicted and will most definitely be building a larger sailing boat to play around on.  I will be using this pram with my Tartan 27.  A great pair if you ask me.

This is my Chesapeake 17LT. We had the first launch today and it went well. It being the first day of Fall, the day started chilly at 49 degrees but by days-end, it warmed up enough that we got several hours of playtime in. I have never built a kayak before and I decided to go the plan route. I chose this model because of your video. I watched that video at every step and most steps I watched it multiple times. It was a great experience and I am glad it turned out so well. My wife loved it too, so we are going to build her the Wood Duck 12 from the kit. I can't wait!

I just finished building a Chesapeake 17 and I love it! I took it out for the first time today and it worked like a dream. I cannot say how much I enjoyed building it over the past few months. It is definitely something I can be proud of and show off to my friends and family. Not only that, but I love the looks people give me on the road transporting my kayak to the nearby lake.

I just finished my kayak and am looking forward to using it for the first time.  It required about 90 hours of labor, including finishing, and came together as easily as advertised.  Looks great, too!  Thanks for putting together a fantastic kit.

Thanks for providing a "doable" project for someone with only fair woodworking skills.

Good evening from Iowa City. Just finished my Northeaster Dory scale model. Quality product, great instructions!

Just wanted to say thanks for a great set of plans. I've been paddling around Banks Peninsula in New Zealand and am well pleased. I made a few modifications including a skeg and kajaksport hatches. All the best

Just wanted to thank you and your team....particularly Joey....for all the advice and support through the build of the night heron.

Finished her a couple days ago....and have been doing sea trials here on the Potomac....all good and everything I hoped for.

Over the past year my Son Zachary and I have been tackling our first boat building project. We selected the Hybrid Night Heron. It was a challenging build, but if two newbies like us can do it while avoiding the dreaded Viking Funeral, anyone can! Thanks for your support, and for the quality and attention to detail that you build into each kit.

Mill Creek 13 hybrid I built last year.  Great kit….great company !

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

Wanted to THANK you for this seriously sweet boat that I'm building (middle of day three here....hull has since been tack welded)...

Also, thanks for all the resources online that are helpful to myself and all boat builders. When I opened up the kit, I was apprehensive at best, but now that I have the hull and deck formed, I'm having a really good time. No Viking funerals here!

It has been a wonderful experience made all the better by the amazing customer service from the team at Chesapeake Light Craft. I called with some of the most basic questions and always got a pleasant/helpful person at the other end. BTW, have just ordered a Northeaster Dory as my next project.

Started the build in late April 2021 as soon as temps in Vermont would allow epoxy to cure and was sailing off the coast of Maine in the Fox islands of Penobscot Bay in July and August.

I can't believe I built this! The water is the Chesapeake Bay just south of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The workspace is our back deck in Lexington Park.

Stopped for dinner on the American River in Sacramento, California in my newly completed Mill Creek Hybrid. It doesn't get better than this.. Thanks for an awesome experience and for the guidance along the way.

I used to think it would be amazing to own a rowing dory. Thanks to CLC Boats, not only do I own one, I actually built it from a stack of plywood, plans, manual and a lot of phone calls and emails. Thank you guys so much. I just had a great morning rowing on the Maurice River in South Jersey.

At her maiden row yesterday her rig was tight, the slide was long enough for my 6'7" height and there were no apparent leaks.  I found her quite a speedy craft and a very pleasant row.  Now I just need to work on my fitness.

Thanks for all your teachings and advice.

It took me about 18 months but I finally finished this Woodduck 14 hybrid.  Definitely a challenge build for my first kayak. The kit is top notch with beautiful materials and well written instructions. We’re on Lake George on the Indiana Michigan state line and look forward to using it during the mornings and evenings when the speed boats have to shut down.

This is my first kayak but it won’t be the last.  Thinking about a 14’ paddle board next. 

Great product!  My wife loves it.

I finished my Chesapeake 17 LT and I love it!  Thanks for making such a great product.  Here are two photos of the boat (well the front of it at least) in action at the Cosumnes River Nature Preserve just south of Sacramento, CA.

My granddaughter loves her CLC Cradle Boat. Assembling from the kit was a “labor of love.” The directions were comprehensive and easy to follow. My next kit will be a canoe for two! Thanks to all at CLC-you were patient with my questions & very helpful when I called for advice.

11 days of wilderness travel in Canada:  Very stable, holds a line like a dream.  Still need to work out what to do with the paddle while pulling in the big one on the fishing rod.

I suspect you receive a lot of letters from builders enthusing over your products. Well here I another. I have enclosed a few photos of a West River 18 a friend, Tom, and I built over three weeks in August of this year. . . . Granted we worked essentially every evening and most of three weekends but she was complete, all be it without hatches, in time. I wish to thank John for the telephone advice and reassurance I received.

I must say I was and continue to be pleased with the quality of the kit. Everything arrived in perfect condition. None of the feather edges of the scarfs were damaged in shipment. More than enough materials were provided. . . I find that when paddling without any serious effort, I leave everybody behind. . . The boats invariably stop traffic wherever we go.

I will never appreciate why anyone would spend three times as much for a heavier plastic boat when they could build something better on their own.

Completed in 2016. My son loves the [Sassafras 12 Canoe]. He's a nature photographer and the craft has just the kind of room he needs for his camera gear.  He's launched it in several lakes/rivers in Michigan and has received several "wows".

Eastport Pram with 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!

I've now made several CLC boats and I enjoy reading your hard print catalog in part because of interesting images of customers and CLC staff in action.  One of me on an extended GA barrier islands trip finally made it.

I attached 3 images of the two Night Herons I made.  I did the stitch and glue with my massage therapist and then needed to make the stripper version for myself. These images were taken on a 3-day trip to Long Island (Little Tybee)

William R

I had absolutely NO prior woodworking skills, I can't believe I actually did this! And I will confirm that I did this completely solo, with the only exception of getting someone to assist holding down the deck sections while I secured them in place. This [Chesapeake] moves beautifully and effortlessly! I am truly impressed. THANK YOU for creating such a great kit.

Finished my night heron some time ago.  It was a great experience and challenge for my first strip planked boat.  Thanks to you and Nick Schade for the great design, supplies, and customer service (as well as video tutorials so I didn't just chuck the entire thing in the trash!).  She paddles amazingly well.  Also, great book on how to build the Greenland style paddle. I'll be back for more soon.

Just sending you pics of my first completed stitch-and-glue project - the Precious B.  You'll also see a quilt that Sheila made as a finishing touch.  We're waiting for Precious B's new "skipper" to arrive any day.

Thanks again for the great class last August at WBS.  That, combined with your well-done construction manual made the project very straightforward.  I still made some minor mistakes, but that's just me coming up the learning curve.  The cradle boat has been an enjoyable first boat project and I look forward to doing a "real" boat, probably a Skerry or SW Dory later this year.

Best of luck in 2017.

Really enjoyed the process and now the rowing!

Thanks for a really great boat, a terrific kit, and all your help when I felt lacking in confidence.

My father is having an absolute blast building his Northeaster Dory. 81 years old!

First kit.  I've been a carpenter most of my life and this was one of the most fun projects I've ever done.

I recently finished building my new Chesapeake 16. Again, it was a very rewarding and satisfying experience and the results are the best yet! The speed of the boat is surprising. . . The boat has exceeded all expectations in the water, and I feel like I own the "perfect kayak" for my requirements.

I'm very pleased with the kits, manuals and the building process. Not to mention the use of the boats. I estimate that I used approximately 70 hours on each boat, and they where built on a small arctic island called Jan Mayen. There was one thing that I wasn't prepared for: The silence in these wooden boats compared to fibreglass kayaks. This is a quality I really appreciate, and that you most definitely can emphasize more in your information about wooden kayaks.

I took my maiden voyage in my plans built Peeler Skiff on the Saint Johns River out of DeLand Florida. The engine I used was a 1972 Johnson 9.5 Hp. (one-owner) and it topped out at 10 mph. Perfect for what I have planned for this boat!

Passagemaker Dinghy with lug rig and tan bark sail. Photos taken by my father (in a CLC Wood Duck) on Lake Chicot in Southwest Louisiana on March 5, 2020, which was the first time sailing Eleanor (named for my great aunt). I'm use my boat to sail the bayous, lakes, and bays of South Louisiana. With an outboard mounted, my son and I fish. My wife enjoys cruising up and down the Bayou Vermilion. And both my wife and son find the stability on the water remarkable.

Today there were 3 wooden boats, the same size and type (Chesapeake Light Craft Northeaster Dories), all handmade, by 3 different craftsmen.  Even though there wasn't much wind today, they all sailed happily together on Bass Lake at Honcho Rest Campground in Elk Rapids, Michigan, and, the sailors were happy.  Sailors/builders (left to right sailing photo..reversed order on beach photo) Jim L. (Michigan-white sail lug), Curt D. (Texas-tanbark sail lug), and Dave M. (Virginia-white sail sloop).  It was great that building CLC wooden boats brought 3 builders together to share stores and common interests! 

Bought a Mill Creek 13 several years ago and put my own wood-strip deck on it. This is the third year I’ve taken it on the rocky rivers in Colorado and Utah, and is also the first year I sustained any appreciable damage to it requiring repair. Mostly just scrapes from sliding over big rocks, but this year I got pushed sideways into a big rock putting a silver dollar sized break in the lower panel in front of the hanging knee on the starboard side.  I’ve been taking it on 3-day/2-night trips and I have to say I love it. It fits all my gear, including a hard-sided Igloo Island Breeze cooler inside the aft compartment and 2 Coleman half-gallon water jugs in the forward compartment bungeed to the bulkhead and 2 more on the other side of the bulkhead, right in front of my feet. Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, food, stove, etc. . . . it all fits.  I even put a second small soft-sided cooler behind my seat so I can have access to drinks without getting out of the boat. The attached photo was taken last weekend on the White River in Utah, somewhere between the Bonanza put-in and Enron take-out.

I also built a Sea Island Sport in parallel with the building of the Mill Creek 13. My three sons and I took it along with two canoes to the Upper Missouri River Breaks area in Montana. My sons love this boat! It paddles fast, and is super stable, and holds a bunch of gear. It was a great choice for paddling a river like the Missouri and is a blast going through the wave trains. I’ve included two photos of my youngest son in this boat on the Missouri River, just downstream of the Wood Bottom put-in, taken in July.

I have just built a Wherry Tandem and I was happy and surprised to find out that it weighs only 82 pounds instead of the 90 pounds (or more) I expected, as indicated on your website. 

It’s a beautiful design, and the customer is very glad!

I wanted to share some pics of my build and show you a couple of additions!  It was such a fun project.  

We've taken our little guy to Lake Tahoe, Grover Hot Springs and a couple other locations in the Sierra Nevadas.  I pretty much built it by myself with the help of my kid.

I decided against the hatch lock and tried a cleat instead-I thought it would work with the boat building theme.  I'm not worried about theft.  I figured if cleats hold my boat to a dock, they should do the trick on the camper.  It has held very solid every trip and doesn't cause any scratches. 

Also, the inside of the camper is so darn cozy! I installed some plaid wool curtains and painted chalkboard paint on either side of the shelf.  My son painted a mural on the inside which makes me so so happy!

I think the worst part of owning this camper is all the attention! I have always gone camping to escape. With the lil teardrop everyone stops by, drives slowly and is just in awe of how beautiful it is. I started bringing along my build hymnal to help explain how it came about. Unfortunately, I can't take all the credit.

Thanks again for this amazing project!

The boat now has many kilometres under its keel as I use it mostly for exercise with the sliding seat installed. The boat performs very well in all conditions and stays fairly dry even when punching through half meter swells. One of these days I will go out when there are some decent sets coming through from the NE at Bonnells Bay and see if she will surf!
 
The boat has exceeded all my expectations.

Hi CLC gang. Very pleased with performance of the Oxford Shell II during it's first row. Thanks for a wonderful build experience during the class and all the help and follow up for installation of rowing gear.

I just completed this boat from your plans.  It worked out very well.  I am looking forward to building another (as soon as my wife calms down) boat from your excellent plans catalog.  Maybe something that sails. My boat gets many compliments on Norwood Pond.  As you can see I Opted for my own rowing rig arrangement rather than the drop-in.  The red/white color scheme represents the Grateful Oars Rowing Club.

This took me 75 hours including the sanding and finishing. Your kit worked beautifully. I think I used all of your shop notes and they really helped. Believe me I am no woodworker but this boat came out nice. Even my carpenter friends were impressed. The boat tracks great and holds a ton of gear! . . Thanks for producing such a great product.

This is a Kaholo 14 SUP that my dad built for me from one of CLC's kits. Its beauty is evident, but the sense of pride I have in my dad for building me such a gorgeous board will never be able to come across in a picture. 

I have really enjoyed every minute spent working on it. . . I don't know what next year's project will be but I'm sure its gonna be fun and most probably be a CLC of some dimension.

Chester Yawl kit purchased from Denman Marine in Tasmania, launched Sunday the 14th of May at Appletree Bay, just north of Sydney, Australia. The boat rows like a dream. Lots of compliments about the sweetness of the lines. 

Hi, Eric.  Recently finished a Shearwater 17.  What an awesome kayak.  I have paddled several different stitch and glues, and built your brother's Great Auk Single and Tandem pictured in the CLC catalog.  The Shearwater is by far the best looking and among the best handling stitch and glues on the market.  Congratulations on such a tremendous design.  Enjoy your day, Steve

I did want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed building [the Lighthouse Tender Peapod]. The instructions were very clear and easy to follow. Thank you for a very enjoyable experience.

Just a quick "Thank you" for the Chesapeake 17 kit and all your help along the way. The boat turned out great and is a real gas to paddle. It tracks straight and is stable and pretty fast. I have had lots of comments about it and people can't believe that I built it. John in the shop was great help and took care of all of my questions and really helped when I ran into problems.

You have great customer service and I have passed your name and old catalog to some friends and family that are interested in making a boat. I am wanting to build a small sail boat and will consider some of your designs. Thanks again for all your help and a great product.

Please thank everyone at CLC for all of the help over the last many months. We have a lot of fine-tuning to do to our little Molotov Cocktail before the October event, but had a blast regardless.

I really can’t speak more highly of how professional and friendly each and every member of your staff has been. Most places I deal with have one or two bad apples who aren’t very friendly (especially tackle stores) and not much fun to buy from. CLC doesn’t have that, and it’s refreshing. We couldn’t be more pleased with how the whole partnership worked. (Oh, and by the way, our little boat was the lightest at 87.6 pounds!)

Just thought you might like to see me rowing my new wherry. The row wing is by Palusky Boats in Peterborough Ont. Canada. I made the oars from basswood and cherry, triangular, hollow shafts, leather wraps. The boat is VERY pleasing to row. It inspires confidence. It's quick, beautiful, stable and outperforms my rowing abilities by a nautical mile. I made a Cheasapeake 18 , 3 yrs ago and paddle it 125 to 150 days a year (when the ice is out). My kayaking buddy bought a recreational rowing shell last fall. We started to learn to row with it then.

While his 19', 22" beam shell is faster, my wherry is far more pleasurable to row, and almost as fast. The water temperature is approx. 37 deg. F, and he won't take out his shell for fear of going over. (brrr). I have no worries with the wherry. Just in case you missed it, I LOVE THIS BOAT.

As with my Ches. 18, I found the Annapolis Wherry kit excellent, and the factory support excellent. You folks have really got it together. Kudos to all of you. I recommend your products to anyone who asks about my kayak.  Since I live on a lake in cottage country, lots of people see and envy my kayak. Wait till they get a look at my wherry.

Thanks again for 2 beautiful craft. I am VERY PLEASED. By the way, my yak's name is Nessy ( as in Loch Ness) and my wherry's name is "Grace" because she possesses so much of it.

There's hardly a day when I take it out that someone doesn't walk up and ask about the boat.  It's been a real pleasure to row.

I just finished my Chesapeake 17 and thought I would send you a quick note of appreciation for your fine kit. The Chesapeake is the first boat I have ever built, and the fact that it turned out beautifully despite the mis-adventures I had building it, has to say something about the fine engineering and quality of your kit. Completing this boat has truly been a dream come true.

I recently finished building one of your Skerry model kits. I am writing to tell you how pleased I am with the results. I feel it is much nicer than I anticipated. It is definitely display quality. It was a great winter project for me. In the past I have built clocks from kits and I found this to be equally rewarding.

I found the components and instructions to be very easy to work with. I built it based upon the recommendation to build a kit to better understand the process for building a full scale boat, one of your representatives I met at the Mystic boat show, gave me. I feel it was good advice, although in some respects I think building a full size boat may be easier.

Thank you for producing a great product. I found it to be an enjoyable challenge. Several of my friends are interested in building one after seeing mine.

I look forward to building another model and a full scale boat in the futur.

I just returned from a trip from Outer Banks N.C. and can tell you paddling in 63 degree water is a lot more fun than the 40 degree water in upstate NY. Only problem I have is my two CLC  kayaks are feeling neglected. Every spring my brother and I take a kayak trip in April, This year I made him leave his plastic boat home, I was tired of waiting for him to catch up and made him use one of my small fleet of CLC boats (three so far). With me on my paddle board and him in a kayak he was waiting for me. After kayaking I find the view from my paddle board eye opening, I can't tell you how many sting-rays I saw. Do I like my board? I have paddled 8 times so far and can only feel sorry for my kayaks

See you at Okoumefest

Stitch-and-Glue Night Heron on its maiden voyage from Crownsville Dock, on canal C-14 in Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale (about a half mile from where the cruise ships dock).  It was two years ago I had initially launched my Night Heron and I'm still in love with how well she handles and looks. Thanks for creating this avenue to unlimited FUN!

We love our kayak!! Way back in January, we purchased a kit for the Chesapeake 16 but then didn't get started on it until May. . . It's done and it's terrific. . . It paddles perfectly around Lake George, Michigan and is the envy of all the neighbors. We gave your catalog to the most envious, and I expect you'll be hearing from them this winter. . . Another satisfied customer!

Some months ago I bought from you plans of the Chesapeake 16. I'm pleased to inform you that I was able to build a very nice kayak despite the fact that it was my very first experience of boatbuilding. The extreme precision of the plans and drawings and the accuracy of instructions made the job a lot easier, and I do declare that it was a great pleasure and a rewarding experience to spend some of my spare time to build that little craft.

I just completed my first kayak. Actually, I built it for my wife. Building this kayak was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. I can't wait to open the boxes that are sitting in my shop, and start on the second one. 

This is a photo of my just finished Shearwater 17 that paddles like a dream.  This was the most fun that I've had in a long time.  My first time working with fiberglass and epoxy, a wonderful learning experience. Many positive comments already.  Thanks to everyone at CLC for the support on this build.

The kit was absolutely exceptional with all the pieces fitting together nicely and most of the holes predrilled. The manual is also a piece of art loaded with pictures and building tricks. The boat performs as advertised, it tracks nicely but turns very easily with a little lean and is easily driven at cruising pace.  I was looking for a smaller kayak for use in small streams/springs where my 17LT is a bit too big, and it looks like the Petrel Play was a good choice. I have also included the “family picture,” showing all three of my builds: My Chesapeake 17LT, my wife’s 16LT and the new Petrel Play.

Just wanted to drop a line to say what a great product you make. I was surprised by my wife Carol with the Eastport kit last March for a 25th wedding anniversary gift.  What a nice surprise.  It sat in the box in my basement 'till December when I finally started on it. All in all the build went well, without any 'hitches' overall. I did need to purchase more epoxy, but probably overmixed a few times. I was initially attracted to the beautiful lines of the boat and thought it would make a great ' tender' for our 28 Capedory F/B, The 'Carol L'. Finally launched on Memorial Day. It rows easily and I received great praise from alot of folks around the marina as a few people besides my wife and I took turns rowing it.  John has really designed a beautiful product here and I am very pleased with the results. Keep up the good work . Wishing much continued success with your present and future kits. Sincerely , "A Brother in Boating!".

I just completed the first sea trials of my Chesapeake 17LT.  Relatively new to kayaking, I can only compare it to the 12' by 25" plastic that I've been paddling.  The Chesapeake 17LT is clearly faster, especially upwind, and eerily quieter; and surprisingly, just as stable.  I finished the hull with Interlux Grand Banks Beige and Dark Blue, and used Interlux Schooner on the deck.  The Chesapeake 17LT is a JOY to paddle.

This is my second Wood Duck this year!  I travelled 5,300 miles round trip to Osoyoos, B.C. Canada to build this Wood Duck 10 with my niece.  We had a blast and went from start to launch in only 8 days!!!  Love these CLC boats!  This build was an experience neither of us will forget! 

I built this Chesapeake 17 for my senior project in high school and have since paddled every lake in my area with it, several of these trips being overnight--week long cruises.  The build was extremely enjoyable and the directions were easy to follow, especially for a beginner such as myself.  The cockpit is roomy on long paddles and comfortable when fitted with a few extra cushions (personal preference), and there is ample room for gear below deck.  Depending on how you pack, it's very easy to load for long trips.  

As far as the boat's performance goes, she handles quite well when you consider her length.  She is also very stable due to the hard chine and wider beam in the cockpit area; this is a blessing in rough waters as well as stiff winds.  Overall, Diamond in the Rough was a great project, good investment, and a wonderful new way for me to enjoy the outdoors.

Thanks again, CLC! Your products are great and I hope to continue building in the future.

Thanks again for such a great product.  It was a joy to build. We made a couple modifications including a spruce mast, douglas fir spars and polytarp sail. She has graphite thickened epoxy on the bottom and is slick and tough.  She was named Heresy, was launched a couple of weeks ago and is sailed in Pensacola, FL.  She has a desirable ever-so-slight lee helm.  I'm already looking forward to the next project.

Keep up the good work.  I had no wood working experience and the boat just came together because of good design and easy to follow instructions.

I just finished my Kaholo 14! It goes to show that even an old man with little woodworking skills can do it. I live in Las Vegas but this photo is the board's maiden voyage on Gold Lake in northern California. I can't wait to build another CLC kit!

Well after a freak thunderstorm, which was only over my house, and a lot of scraping and sanding; I finally have the third coat on! I no longer fear epoxy!!! The plans and book were great! The boat is great! It went together - well perfectly. At least I'm happy. My only regret was not getting the kit! You guys have been great! Thanks!!!

Regards,
Tim

Launched a WD 12 yesterday behind Weedon island on Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida. She weighed in at 38.7 lbs. I want to thank you guys for answering all my questions during the build.  My wife and I took it paddling on the bayou in the late afternoon and it performed very well. When the pads on my finger tips heal from lots of hand sanding I suppose I'll be looking to order another kayak kit and or Kaholo SUP. The CLC family continues to expand down here. The pram I built in 2007 is doing great. I finally added deck pads and now the dog can stand without slipping.

Lighthouse Tender [Peapod] sea trials on Webster Lake (Lake Chaubunagungamaug) in Massachusetts. Worked on this project for 3 months during this pandemic. 250 hours of work and dreaming of the first day sailing. The step-by-step instructions in the manual along with the photos made this project easy to follow comfortably with basic woodworking knowledge. Rows and sails gracefully, many thumbs up and waves on the lake. Thinking of sailing and camping on the Connecticut River next season.

I got the PocketShip "Little Bear" launched this weekend. At the same time I pulled out the Northeaster Dory "Sooner or Later".   I am writing to thank you, and your staff, for all the help along the way but even more for making these joyful adventures possible.

Boy, after the dory, the PocketShip really has a Cadillac ride. Such a stout, strong little guy with the heart of a lion.  Actually I find it easier to sail than the dory.

It's not only been fun, but the boats have been a boost to me socially and in the community.  Gathering up folks to turn the boat twice, and then to get it out of the garage and onto a trailer to finish up was a good way to meet the neighbors in this town of Swampscott where I haven't lived for almost 40 years.

Everyone is asking what CLC boat I'm building next. I wonder that myself.

I just had to let you know how much I'm enjoying the Shearwater 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 Va. 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 lovin it!

I would recommend this boat to anyone whose looking for a long distance cruiser that's comfortable, fast and a blast to paddle.

I have completed construction of "CJ" and we are having a blast on the lakes and beaches here in South Carolina! This boat is an absolute head turner...it takes me forever to get the boat rigged and in the water because everyone wants to talk about it at length. I have pointed many your way so I hope you get some more orders from Charleston, SC.

I started my Passagemaker in Oct. 2016 and completed it in April 2017. I had to reach out to you all for tech support and you always steered me in the right direction. I would highly recommend anyone interested in building a boat to seek out CLC.  

I am looking forward to my next build in the near future!

The Petrel is a thoroughbred sea kayak which handles beautifully and I cannot wait to get it into rough water!

About this time last year I bought a set of plans for the 'Jimmy Skiff', the plans and drawings are excellent and cover the building procedure very well. Over the next three months my boys (ages 12, 10 and 8) and I worked on it here and there as time allowed; it came together quickly, so much so that we took it out on it's maiden voyage during april. We made it as the sailing Jimmy Skiff using a fifty eight square foot sail that I had built several years ago for a canoe; it sails wonderfully and is easy and light and comes up on step quite nicely.

We sailed it through out the summer and found that it works well in a wide range of wind speeds, I do not consider myself to be that good of a sailor but this little boat makes me look like I am. 

Thank you for all the research and development that makes the plans so complete and reliable, it was a fun family project. We have just ordered plans for the Sassafras canoe and look forward to another season of building.

I'm no woodworker so I'm very pleased with how she turned out. The CLC instructions and plans made it an easy build and a real pleasure to make.

Hey CLC, 

I went to your boat demo day on Gandy Beach near St Pete this spring and tested several boats on the water. I had built two scale models that I purchased through Wooden Boat magazine, the Shellback Dingy and the Yankee Tender, which came out great and boosted my confidence. I had been thinking about your NE dory because it seemed to be the best of both worlds for rowing and sailing, and decided to order it. I really enjoyed building it in my garage and became much better acqainted with all of my neighbors as they stopped by daily to check my progress. It was my first full size boat build, but it won't be my last. Thank you for such a quality kit and terrific instructions. I have rowed the Dory several miles up the Hillsborough River in Tampa and she handles very fast and easy in moving water, especially for a 17 foot boat. I have also been out in Tampa Bay and was impressed by how quickly the Dory covers water and how shallow she can navigate in the flats and around the mangroves, (where all the big snook and redfish hide!). Everytime I go out, people come over and ask "what kind of boat is that and where did you get it". Thank you for a great experience.

 I chose to build a Lighthouse Keepers Peapod with the intention of mounting her on davits at the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse for the 150 year celebration in 2025. 

Wonderful project built with my neighbors who also built Eastport Prams (total of 3). It has been a great sailing boat on small lake behind our home. My hope is to introduce my grand daughters to sailing! Build experience was interesting, fun, and straight forward. It was a great kit and the few questions we had were answered by CLC when we called for help.