BUILD YOUR OWN SHEARWATER SEA KAYAK
A sleek, great-looking kayak offering speed and versatility. Chesapeake Light Craft Shop, Annapolis, MD.
- ERIC SCHADE — September 22–27
The Shearwater sea kayak, designed by Eric Schade, is an elegant, performance-oriented touring kayak, perfectly suited to the experienced paddler. The “tumble home” sheer panel reduces wind age and greatly improves paddle clearance. The design features a cambered deck and a West Greenland-style hard-chined hull. This hull shape leads to a naturally easy and controllable handling for the skilled paddler even in windy and rough conditions.
The deck is cut from Sapele mahogany plywood for extra good looks and it proves to be a natural contrast from the Okoume hull and sheer panel. The clean lines of the Shearwater make it one of the most eye-catching kayaks on the water. Your instructor for this six-day course is boatbuilder David Fawley who built the prototype Shearwaters and knows the boat inside and out.
The very popular stitch-and-glue method of construction will be used throughout the creation of the kayak. Beginning with pre-cut cut plywood parts, David will guide students through the assembly of the hull and deck using copper wire and epoxy glue. The fiberglass cloth will then be applied inside and out, hatches cut and trimmed, and the cockpit coamings fitted and faired. During construction, David will explain options for outfitting the boats with seats, back rests, foot braces, hatch covers, and deck rigging. At the end of the week each kayak will be ready for sanding and paint or varnish.
In addition to building your own kayak, everyone will take home plenty of new skills and shop tips one can use on many future wood-epoxy composite boatbuilding projects.
Tuition: $700
Kit Price: $999
Note: This is a six-day course ending Saturday afternoon.