Re: [Paddlewise] KAYAK KIT RECOMMENDATION

I built a CLC Chesapeake 18 from kit last year.  I can use basic hand tools
but am by no means a craftsman.

The quality of the components in the kit were top notch.  The only thing I
substituted from what was in the kit was some bronze fittings for stainless
for appearance.

The on line group was a major help.  Any question I had was answered by
someone within hours and if appropriate by someone at CLC within a day.
I'm told they are also very good at answering questions over the phone, but
I did not have to resort to that.  Before I began each phase I scanned the
archives of the group to see what problems others had encountered.  That
saved me quite a bit of trouble.

I probably have about 80 - 100 hours in building the boat.  The panels fit
without a lot of work.  All the parts I needed were there.

My longest trip last year was 142 miles in  a week.  The only problem I had
was the seat came loose.  I had used silicone instead of the recommended
contact cement.  The urethane paint is not standing up to rocks as well as I
would like, but so far all the damage is cosmetic.

I paddle rivers and lakes.  The boat paddles easily, tracks beautifully, and
gets a constant stream of comments.  The arch in the front deck is quite
high, but it is rather low on the sides and I don't have any problem with
hand clearance.  The rear deck is high, if you are going to roll it, don't
plan on laying back.     On the 18 foot boat I use a rudder.  The boat does
respond well to body lean and when lightly loaded you can put it on edge and
bring it about fairly quickly.

Kulczycki's book "The Kayak Shop"was also a real help to understanding how
the process worked.  The instructions that came with the boat were a little
sketchy in places.   I have seen bits and pieces of their new video and what
I have seen makes it easier to understand.

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