Offsite at Chesapeake Light Craft Shop, Annapolis, Maryland
Build Your Own Wood Duck Kayak
Elegant recreational kayaks in 10′ or 12′ lengths.
- with ERIC SCHADE — March 25–30
Tuition: $800 (partner $400)
Materials:
- 10′– $954
- 12′– $1029
Note: This is a six-day course ending Saturday afternoon.
Here we have two beautiful little kayaks designed for just about everyone to enjoy on the water. With big cockpits and ample stability, the emphasis is on comfort. But these boats really paddle well! Speed is excellent; you can really cover the miles in a day, while tracking is solid in stiff crosswinds.
Compact, easy-to-launch boats just seem to get used the most. In a tenth of the time it takes to launch a heavy boat on a trailer or drag the big canoe down the lawn, you can slide one of these little kayaks into the water and be on your way. Keep your Wood Duck on top of the car, ready to toss into all the interesting waters in your neighborhood. Anyone from age 8 to 80 can enjoy a Wood Duck on the water.
Wood Duck designer Eric Schade will lead the class in assembling this Chesapeake Light Craft kit. Students will begin stitching their kayaks together on the first day of class and have assembly finished by the time the class wraps up on Saturday. Eric will discuss outfitting the kayak with handles, rub rails, seat, backrest, and foot braces. Participants will learn the proper ways to sand and paint or varnish the boat. If a student is interested in special features on his or her Wood Duck (typically a compass or hatches), Eric will provide tips and techniques so the work can be completed at home. At the end of the course, each student will have a great looking kayak to take home. They’ll have gained experience with wood/epoxy construction and the confidence to build a larger and more complex boats in the future.
