Chesapeake Light Craft: Wooden Boat Kits

“The Shearwater sport was my second build. My first was a Chesapeake 17, built during Covid in an unheated shed in my backyard in Vermont. Building that boat was a wonderfully rewarding experience, despite my minimal woodworking skills, although it took longer than I thought. I got great help from the staff at CLC and especially from information on the builders forum. I’m very happy with how it turned out, and I’ve used it extensively on lakes and rivers in Vermont and New Hampshire as well as the Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay in Canada.

After a couple of years, I got the itch to build again, and this time I wanted a boat that would be a little shorter, a little lighter, and a little easier to maneuver. I also wanted an excuse to experience a class at the Wooden Boat School in Brooklyn, Maine. So the Shearwater Sport was built in a terrific class taught by the boat’s designer, Eric Schade. What a wonderful place, and what an excellent learning experience in a supportive community environment.

While I was up there, I admired the Annapolis Wherries that were under construction, but I wanted something a little more suited to rowing in open water and for overnight camping. So my current build project is an Expedition Wherry. I would have signed up to build it in a class up there, just because my previous experience there was so much fun, but that particular class isn’t offered. Once again, I’m building this one in a shed in Vermont. I can’t wait to get it on the water this summer!” - Dan N.

Dan, congrats on the many beautiful boats! We’re glad that Chesapeake Light Craft has been part of so many wonderful experiences for you and your woodworking journey. Can’t wait to see how the Expedition turns out.

👉 Looking to build a CLC boat yourself? Check it out at clcboats.com or send us a DM.

☎️(M-F,9AM-5PMEST) 410-267-0137
📧[email protected]

Skip the shipping fees and meet us in Mystic. 🚚⚓

Order a boat kit today and get FREE delivery to the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic—available until the truck is full. This includes oversized items too: sculling oars, rowing units, epoxy, and small plywood orders (100 lbs max).

Not sure what you need yet? Stop by our booth at the show and we’ll help you figure it out—we’ll be there with a full spread of boats, kits, supplies, and gear.
To order or reserve space on the truck, contact Liam:
📧 [email protected] | 📞 410-267-0137

The ‘fine print’ :
• Limited truck space—first come, first loaded
• Must contact us to confirm availability before ordering
• Some kits (including pallet-shipped designs) are excluded
• Max of TWO Teardrop Camper kits
• Kits must be picked up at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, CT
• Pickup will be in the Mystic Seaport Museum parking lot at scheduled times (June 26–28, 9am or 4pm)

Plan ahead, bring your transport setup, and we’ll get you loaded up for summer on the water!

☎️(M-F,9AM-5PMEST) 410-267-0137
📧[email protected]

“My Skerry, built from plans in France last year.” - Franck D.

Franck, what a gorgeous boat and photo! Glad to see Chesapeake Light Craft builds all around the world.

Looking to build a CLC boat yourself? Check it out at clcboats.com or send us a DM.

(M-F,9AM-5PMEST) 410-267-0137
[email protected]

“Ryan is 11 years old and he has always been interested in building things, even drawing designs of things he wanted to build. He knew that I (Grand Dad) had built a CLC kayak several years ago so he went online to find the CLC kits. He asked me if I would help him build the radio controlled sailboat. His original idea had been to build the CLC run-about but we thought that was a bit too ambitious for a first project ; )

His parents agreed and said he had to pay for half of it with his own money and they would pay the rest. We met them at CLC so he could see an actual finished sailboat and he loved it so he and his dad bought the kit. We brought him and the kit back home to our house where he worked on it daily after sailing camp at Annapolis Sailing School and throughout the summer between other camps he was enrolled in.

We required him to read through all of the instructions and ask questions before getting started. Then he had to read then again for each step. He had to work each step, with supervision, learn to be patient while glue and epoxy dried, used a sander, electric drill, pliers, cutters and a file. He had to do all of the stitch and glue, sanding, epoxying and spar varnishing. After Grand Mom had him learn to use a sewing machine, he sewed the sail hems. With help from Grand Dad, he did the rigging.

The maiden voyage took place at the Annapolis Yacht Club basin. Our fingers were crossed, and it was a BIG success!!” - Chuck R.

Chuck, we’re proud of Ryan for his hard work and amazing outcome! Honestly, we can see him taking on the runabout next.. what do you all think?

👉 Looking to build a CLC boat yourself? Check it out at clcboats.com or send us a DM.

☎️(M-F,9AM-5PMEST) 410-267-0137
📧[email protected]

“My daughter, Colleen, and I built the boat in 2008, the summer after her 15th birthday. The photo shows her in it shortly after launching at a favorite Sierra Lake. It’s a Wood Duck 12 Hybrid, built before CLC offered hybrid kits. Colleen and I wired up and glassed the hull, struggling a lot with the bow, as I recall. Then we stripped the deck with WRC and pine to create a look reminiscent of the Gar Wood-style “woodies” seen up here at Lake Tahoe—those iconic speedboats.

I built a hatch into the rear bulkhead to avoid cutting into the deck, and got a seat together from a carved-foam seat bottom from Redfish Kayaks’s Joe Greenley. The deck is glassed inside and out. I think the hull interior is just varnished. A rub rail hides the join of deck and hull.

I had previously built two strip kayaks, and recently did a third, so was comfortable with the building processes involved in both strip building and stitch and glue. It made it easy to work with my kids to help them self-build enduring birthday presents.

Last year, I stripped the glass, reglassed, and built a new coaming as a surprise for her. The boat soldiers on, a great little smooth-water rec boat that she really enjoys.” -Scott F.

Scott, part of the joy of boatbuilding can be sharing the experience with loved ones. We’re happy to hear that you and your daughter had a great and clearly rewarding time building this gorgeous kayak!

👉 Looking to build a CLC boat yourself? Check it out at clcboats.com or send us a DM.

☎️(M-F,9AM-5PMEST) 410-267-0137
📧[email protected]

Boatbuilding seminars, lots of wooden boats on display, food truck on site, and a full day of boats and building. RSVP to help us plan and to be eligible for door prizes. See you Saturday, May 2nd, 9 am to 3 pm, in Annapolis.

☎️(M-F,9AM-5PMEST) 410-267-0137
📧[email protected]