Gray Whale Paddle

Gray Whale Paddle will be hosting two Wooden Boat Meetups (small boats, paddleboards, etc.), one at Lake Natoma near Sacramento on Sunday 9-28-25 from 10-2, and another in Newport Beach adjacent to the Newport Aquatic Center on Saturday 9-20-25 also from 10-2. If you've built a wood boat or board and want to show it off, this is the place. If you haven't built your own, but are interested in building or just looking what other people have built, come by and check it out. For details and RSVP please go to clcboats.com and check "news & events."

This Sunday 10/23 we'll be hosting a Chesapeake Light Craft builders Meetup event at the Nimbus Flat area of Lake Natoma (just off Hazel Ave. and Hwy. 50). The event will be from 11:00 to 3:00. Bring your CLC project (or other home built wooden craft), or just come and see the wood boats, paddleboards and teardrop trailer! It is free and informal and it's looking to be a beautiful day at the lake.

It took some time, but the winter canoe project (Mystic River by Guillemot Kayaks via Chesapeake Light Craft) was finally finished a few weeks ago! We’re pretty happy with the results, and now moving on to a San O’ 16 prone board!

GWP has taken on a winter project that surprisingly is not paddleboard related; been working on a cedar (mostly) strip canoe. This is the Mystic River canoe designed by Nick Schade of Guillemot Kayaks, and produced as a kit by Chesapeake Light Craft.

Day one of Wooden Boat Festival; lots of interest in wood paddleboards, both SUP and prone!! And fantastic weather (so far).

On the way to Port Townsend for the Wooden Boat Festival!!

We like to bring attention to our 0ne-of-a-kind (and first by almost a decade) all wood SUP "kit" board on the market... and whenever the chance presents itself we like to make a brief mention of the occasional times we actually catch wind that a race was won on one of our boards. So once again, congrats to the paddler and be sure to checkout the whole story along with the numerous pic's posted. Once again a Kaholo Sup has shown that it's design is one that is now becoming modern and was well ahead of it time!

As a long time supporter and a regular volunteer I thought I'd share this with as many folks as possible.... Izzy runs this incredible non-profit organization along with his lovely wife and they both put everything they have into it (along with some help from his brother's, his sister, his parents- of course, and a variety of professional surfers and big name celebrities); An incredible cause and incredible, dedicated people have turned this organization into a truly life-changing experience for both the volunteers involved as well as the participants.
Keep up the good work guys, looks like things are continuing to be positive for you and appears better than ever!

**Please give any support you can and/or check out 'Surfer's Healing' on your own to see just what it is that this amazing organization does-

Anthony Kiedis is the lead vocalist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After spending his early years in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Anthony moved to Los Angeles where he met his future band mates in high school. Anthony is the principal song writer for the Peppers. His distinct vocal style and his electric stage presence have helped catapult the small Los Angeles band on to the global stage. The Chili Peppers continue to be one of the most influential and popular bands in Rock.

The board is 7' 2" and is a Mark Ellis shaped board. Mark is a Dana Point shaper who has been making custom surf boards for Southern California locals since 1981. Ellis shapes a wide variety of boards for all wave conditions and experience levels.

Scrolling through ancient winter-time photos in the CLC vaults. This was taken in January 2001 in a studio we built in a friend's garage. John Harris was filming a how-to-build-a-kayak episode for the DIY Network. (Three episodes featuring the Chesapeake 16, Jimmy Skiff, and Eastport Pram ran in syndication for several years.) Actor Bus Howard ("The Wire") was the show's host. The shows don't appear to be online, alas.

a piece of surf history going to auction to benefit our Surfers Healing, we are so grateful to the surfing community for their support

Our annual fundraising auction continues. Kelly Slater donated this signed board. Share with your friends who might be interested. Proceeds go to getting more kids on boards.

And Happy Boxing Day!