See What Our Customers Are Saying!

Just a quick note to let you know that we launched our double yesterday afternoon. WHAT A GREAT BOAT AND FEELING!!!!!! It handled even better than I had dreamed, truly an excellent design!!! . . Thanks again for all the help and support!

This took me 75 hours including the sanding and finishing. Your kit worked beautifully. I think I used all of your shop notes and they really helped. Believe me I am no woodworker but this boat came out nice. Even my carpenter friends were impressed. The boat tracks great and holds a ton of gear! . . Thanks for producing such a great product.

I purchased a Chesapeake 17 LT kit during the October sale and completed the build over eight weeks.  I could not be more pleased with the level of service at CLC, or with the final result.  What a fun project!  Neighbors dropped in on a regular basis just to see the progress.  All were impressed, that a jumble of parts turned into such a handsome craft.  Even though it's now December, I am looking forward to her launch.

Just wanted to thank you for your PAX 20 design.  

As you may recall I compete in Eppie's each year, for the past 3 years.  I'm the paddler on a mens over 50 team even tho I'm 61. We've won our division 2 of the last 3 years but came up short this year, 2nd place. The winning team found a runner that was outta this world.

Anyway, my personal paddle time was 25th of 389 team paddlers and only 10 of 700 Iron Men.  That's 35th of almost 1100. I'm really stoked about the PAX.  The only boats that beat my time were Huki surf skis and one Westside K1 and a lot more behind me.  I started the PAX on Memorial Day and launched it on July 4th. Only had 9 paddles in it prior to the event and of that only twice down the 6.35 mile river course.

I'll have  the Pax20 and the Shearwater 14 LV at Natomas on Labor Day---Hope to see you there.  May even bring the S&G NH also. Thanks again for all your great boats.

Thanks again for such a great product.  It was a joy to build. We made a couple modifications including a spruce mast, douglas fir spars and polytarp sail. She has graphite thickened epoxy on the bottom and is slick and tough.  She was named Heresy, was launched a couple of weeks ago and is sailed in Pensacola, FL.  She has a desirable ever-so-slight lee helm.  I'm already looking forward to the next project.

Keep up the good work.  I had no wood working experience and the boat just came together because of good design and easy to follow instructions.

Just a note of heartfelt thanks to all of you at CLC. Thanks for a great product, great support service, and great instructions. I launched my Ches 18 yesterday. What a feeling, in your own boat, without a leak to be had. . . Once again, thank you so very much in helping me through a very rewarding time. Your product, service and company employees are all of the highest caliber! Congratulations.

I completed this over a year ago and have used it many times, most often for my son's Boy Scout troop camping events. I love this kayak and plan to make other kayaks/canoes/boats.

The Annapolis Wherry is a really nice product & fun to build, and incredible to row.  I've never rowed a sliding seat before & it is just terrific.  What a great non-impact exercise.

Hi Guys, I just thought I’d drop you a note to let you know that AR Navigation Supplies won the Ocean Blue Adventure Race in Half Moon Bay California in the CLC Triple. You can read the whole story at the link below.

http://www.arnavsupplies.com/news.html

We finished the kayak leg a full 10 minutes ahead of the 2nd place team and this set us up the eventual win. The boat was so stable that we were able to paddle through Mavericks while everyone else was fighting to stay upright. This is the race that I built the boat to win and it more than lived up to the expectations. I have attached a couple of the photographs for you. I hope you enjoy the story.

Viewing the world from a kayak quickly puts things in perspective.  It handled absolutely beautifully, and I am looking forward to many years of enjoyment with my new boat.  The only "drawback" is that up here in Alaska, our days of ice-free lakes are numbered!  Thanks for a great product!!

Mill Creek 13 hybrid I built last year.  Great kit….great company !

I have really enjoyed every minute spent working on it. . . I don't know what next year's project will be but I'm sure its gonna be fun and most probably be a CLC of some dimension.

I just finished building a Chesapeake 17 and I love it! I took it out for the first time today and it worked like a dream. I cannot say how much I enjoyed building it over the past few months. It is definitely something I can be proud of and show off to my friends and family. Not only that, but I love the looks people give me on the road transporting my kayak to the nearby lake.

I just had to let you know how much I'm enjoying the Shearwater I built. It's everything I had ever hoped for in a kayak and more! I recently spent two weeks out at Smith Mountain Lake in Western Va. I probably paddled over 200 miles. I was out on the water every morning by sunrise and set out in a different direction each day. I found myself getting lost in my own world not realizing how far I was paddling. The Shearwater in calm water tracks like it's on a rail and the ease in which it paddles is unbelievable! I was never uncomfortable in the boat and would paddle for 3 to 4 hours at a time and had to force myself to turn around and paddle back so I could spend time with the family. It's just such a great boat! 

Additionally, the heads I turned as I would pass by other boats or docks was amazing. I met more people who were so fascinated by the fact that I actually built the boat and how beautiful it was. You got a lot of free publicity! Hopefully it will bring you more business. It is a beautiful boat in and out of the water and I am just lovin it!

I would recommend this boat to anyone whose looking for a long distance cruiser that's comfortable, fast and a blast to paddle.

I get lots of compliments on the appearance of the boat, as its so refreshing to see a wooden kayak, and its human nature I guess that people really like the natural wood appearance. People honk and give me the "thumbs up" on the highway when I'm carrying it, and other kayakers on the river always want to stop and talk to me about it. Of course, I give you full credit.

Bootlegger is now in the Bahamas at Deep Water Cay, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas.  Thanks for your help--the kit, design and materials were first class.

I just finished my Chesapeake 17 and thought I would send you a quick note of appreciation for your fine kit. The Chesapeake is the first boat I have ever built, and the fact that it turned out beautifully despite the mis-adventures I had building it, has to say something about the fine engineering and quality of your kit. Completing this boat has truly been a dream come true.

Skerry - I built this boat in 2007/8 and launched it on Martha's Vineyard over Memorial Day weekend this year. I've been a paddler (canoes and kayaks) until now, so not only is the Skerry my first sailboat, it's the boat I'm learning to sail in. So far I've been very pleased. It too has proven to be most seaworthy, easy to trailer and put in and take out of the water singlehanded. I look forward to many days on the water around Martha's Vineyard in the future in this boat. The photo of Cara and the boat on the trailer was taken on Sengekontacket Pond in Edgatwon, MA. The photo of me under sail was taken at State Beach in Edgartown, MA.

[The Skerry and our Mill Creek] draw lots of attention when they are hauled out on the beach and at boat launches. As you might suspect, your company and your boats have received many enthusiastic testimonials from me over the years.  I think you can tell by now that I'm a very satisfied customer.

11 days of wilderness travel in Canada:  Very stable, holds a line like a dream.  Still need to work out what to do with the paddle while pulling in the big one on the fishing rod.

Just a brief note to let you know how delighted I am with the service and assistance that I received from your company during the construction of my WR180 last spring. I would have written sooner but have been busy paddling. . . Speaking as a wood shop teacher, with some 30 years experience, I must compliment you on the quality and completeness of your kit. I spent some time researching the various kit suppliers before deciding on CLC and have no regrets. I was delighted with every aspect of the hardware, literature and support. . . . Thanks again for your great service.

I very much enjoyed building the kayak and found the shop tips section as well as phone support to be great! . . My wife bought a [non-CLC boat] earlier this year which we both loved to paddle. It is one of the most comfortable and better performing boats we paddled until we finished building the Chesapeake. I was very impressed with the performance and was amzed at how much gear the low volume version can carry. We did a long weekend trip and had plenty of room for gear. . . I don't have enough experience in my boat becuase I can't get my wife out of it!

We just launched our triple coffee table! Not only did it float, but it moved through the water effortlessly. For a couple approaching geezerhood it was a relief as well as exhilarating!

Thanks for all of your valuable assistance and for not laughing out loud at my questions. I have never attempted a project of this nature before. In fact the only wood working experience I have had is tossing another log on a fire. A plan is in the works to build another of your kayaks next winter.

A couple of years ago I had two back surgeries, I was heavy to begin with, I gained more weight recovering and outgrew my other Kayak. All last winter I built the Mill Creek and believe or not I lost 40 pounds. When I first got in the kayak I just could not believe how comfortable it was. I fit in it! I kayaked all summer and now the fall in my Mill Creek. I am not a very good kayaker, I just do it all the time. I even did the infamous "Grinder" a 19 mile kayak around Grindstone Island in the St. Lawrence. First and foremost the Mill Creek is extremely comfortable. It has excellent primary stability and better secondary stability than one might think for a boat with a 29 1/2" beam. ( I really have no idea if the beam of a boat has anything to do with secondary stability.) It's quick, turns well and holds its own in the speed department. I beat the hell out of it this year, my camp is on rocks, and it held up great. Thank you so much for making a kayak that a large person can enjoy.

Hey CLC, 

I went to your boat demo day on Gandy Beach near St Pete this spring and tested several boats on the water. I had built two scale models that I purchased through Wooden Boat magazine, the Shellback Dingy and the Yankee Tender, which came out great and boosted my confidence. I had been thinking about your NE dory because it seemed to be the best of both worlds for rowing and sailing, and decided to order it. I really enjoyed building it in my garage and became much better acqainted with all of my neighbors as they stopped by daily to check my progress. It was my first full size boat build, but it won't be my last. Thank you for such a quality kit and terrific instructions. I have rowed the Dory several miles up the Hillsborough River in Tampa and she handles very fast and easy in moving water, especially for a 17 foot boat. I have also been out in Tampa Bay and was impressed by how quickly the Dory covers water and how shallow she can navigate in the flats and around the mangroves, (where all the big snook and redfish hide!). Everytime I go out, people come over and ask "what kind of boat is that and where did you get it". Thank you for a great experience.

I'm very pleased with the appearance and performance of the boat. It's handy, because of the light weight, and ideal for visiting around the harbor and for river/creek exploring. I've taken it to area wooden boat festivals, where it gets lots of compliments - - - Of course, I always credit CLC. . . Thanks for designing a great little boat, and for supplying a kit with accurately-cut parts.

You sold me the kit for this Shearwater 17 at the WoodenBoat show in Mystic last summer. I worked on her non-stop as soon as she arrived, got some good advice and help from my dad, and finished her in time to go kayak camping with my family in Georgian Bay, north of Toronto, at the end of August. I named her Osprey. I love her very much. She is living in my family's living room for the winter, stacked on top of my dad's Arctic Hawk (which he also built from a CLC kit). Here are some pictures!

Thank you so much. This is a GREAT boat!!!!!

The finished kayak looks great and performs even better. It handes nicely and glides through the water smoothly and quietly. . . Thank you for providing both quality products and excellent service. We are already looking forward to building another kayak.

Just thought I would send a picture of the Wood Duck I just finished. This is a great boat - fast, stable and looks great.  Thanks for a great product!! 

What a wonderful experience it has been to build this boat. I was hesitant, but with a little help and your wonderful directions and plans I completed the project. It actually went together just as you said it would. I also found many of the discussions posted on the forum most helpful. . . Again thanks for a great product and for providing me with what I hope to be many years of happy paddling.

Thank you for teaching the "Jimmy Skiff" class at the Wooden Boat School and helping me accomplish my goal of building a boat. I'm very proud of my efforts.

Today was a very special day for us here on the “east coast” (of the Mediterranean).  Steve and myself both had our launch of brand new homemade wooden kayaks.  Steve launched his beautiful, featherlite Petrel while I launched with my son our handsome Chesapeake Sport Tandem.

Champagne poured like water on both vessels and each of us tried the other boat.  As you can see we also had quite a gathering of wooden kayaks which are becoming more and more popular.

The Eastport Pram got me into college! I wrote my college admissions essay about my experience building the boat, and now here I am!  Thanks again for all of your help throughout the process; it was alot of fun.

I'd like to thank you for an easy to build and beautitul design in the C17. I spent this last summer building 2 of these kayaks with my young friend Beau. Beau is a high school senior at Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He is also a Boy Scout so this made a great scouting project. He used the project to earn his woodworking merit badge. I'd say this is a fitting project for that purpose. As it turned out we launched both boats at a scouting event on Coeur d'Alene Lake at the beginning of October.

This turned out to be a great way to obtain a beautiful boat. We purchased the plans last spring and worked on the boats on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. It was exciting to see the plans come together into such beauty. We have only been able to take them out twice before the cold weather set in, but may yet see an opportunity to get them out on the water before too long. Maybe we'll have a chance to do a New Years Day paddle - well if our chosen destination is not frozen over.

Attached are some photos of our results. We hope you are as proud of the design as we are of our results!

I'm very pleased with the kits, manuals and the building process. Not to mention the use of the boats. I estimate that I used approximately 70 hours on each boat, and they where built on a small arctic island called Jan Mayen. There was one thing that I wasn't prepared for: The silence in these wooden boats compared to fibreglass kayaks. This is a quality I really appreciate, and that you most definitely can emphasize more in your information about wooden kayaks.

I finished my Chesapeake 16 about a month ago and it's great! I intended to write as soon as my boat was finished but I've been paddling instead. What a wonderful project this was for me, I'm already thinking about my next CLC kit. Everyone that sees my kayak for the first time can't believe it was home built. Some people need to see all the photos I took during construction to believe I could have done it. All your advice about sanding, sanding, sanding really paid off. The boat has an almost furniture like finish, you can't believe how proud of and happy I am with my kayak. And not only does this boat look good, it's also a pure pleasure to paddle. The light weight and stability enable me to carry it anywhere and to paddle with confidence in less than ideal conditions. Thanks again for all your help with my many questions when I called and thanks again for such great kit with a great instruction booklet.

I am dropping you a note to say thanks designing the Mill Creek 13. We are very happy with the versatility of this boat as Montana has so many different waters to choose from. In these boats we enjoy fishing, camping and watching our eleven-year-old son handle the Mill Creek like it was made for him.

I finally successfully built and varnished the Sassafras-16 with lot of enjoyable struggles.  In addition, I installed a row-wing (with sliding seat), which I designed and built by myself to let it fit to the boat for marine use, on it.  I very much enjoyed rowing it with my 11 years old grandson out of Hiroshima, Japan, during our summer vacation.  The Sassafras-16 runs fast on the sea.

Just thought you might like to see me rowing my new wherry. The row wing is by Palusky Boats in Peterborough Ont. Canada. I made the oars from basswood and cherry, triangular, hollow shafts, leather wraps. The boat is VERY pleasing to row. It inspires confidence. It's quick, beautiful, stable and outperforms my rowing abilities by a nautical mile. I made a Cheasapeake 18 , 3 yrs ago and paddle it 125 to 150 days a year (when the ice is out). My kayaking buddy bought a recreational rowing shell last fall. We started to learn to row with it then.

While his 19', 22" beam shell is faster, my wherry is far more pleasurable to row, and almost as fast. The water temperature is approx. 37 deg. F, and he won't take out his shell for fear of going over. (brrr). I have no worries with the wherry. Just in case you missed it, I LOVE THIS BOAT.

As with my Ches. 18, I found the Annapolis Wherry kit excellent, and the factory support excellent. You folks have really got it together. Kudos to all of you. I recommend your products to anyone who asks about my kayak.  Since I live on a lake in cottage country, lots of people see and envy my kayak. Wait till they get a look at my wherry.

Thanks again for 2 beautiful craft. I am VERY PLEASED. By the way, my yak's name is Nessy ( as in Loch Ness) and my wherry's name is "Grace" because she possesses so much of it.

Here are a few photos of the "Crabcake" the name suggested by my wife and approved by the family.  I tried my hand at a few customizations.  I have enjoyed every moment of the work and thank you for your product and the help you and your colleagues have given me over the phone.  I found that as I got comfortable with the design and flow of construction, I grew more and more confident.  The moment of supreme confidence came when I successfully cut the slot for the daggerboard. Once that was done, there was not anything I could not do.

As I have said before, it has been a wonderful experience. Your product was perfectly suited for my modest construction skills allowing me to gan confidence and new skills as I went along. Your technical staff were always ready to gently explain what to do when I was confused or had a problem. I also found a fellow locally, Steve Miller, who had build one of your kayaks and lives nearby. I found him on your site. He was always available for a consultation and was at the launch. So you see it really did take a village. 

The boys and I wanted to thank you and your crew for the outstanding product.  Our youngest son is autistic and this entire project has really shown how focused he can be.

Again thanks.  We are already thinking about MC16.5 #2 for a fall project.  

I just finished my kayak and am looking forward to using it for the first time.  It required about 90 hours of labor, including finishing, and came together as easily as advertised.  Looks great, too!  Thanks for putting together a fantastic kit.

Just a note to thank you for all the helpful assistance and support when building my Pax 18. The boat has turned out beautifully and gets lots of rave comments when I take it out. I varnished the entire hull and it really is distinctive next to the composite boats i have been racing with. I have raced it twice and won handily both times.

The boat is extremely fast and handles medium chop quite well in spite of the fact that I didn't install the skeg. I can handle most quartering winds up to 15 knots simply by leaning it a bit and using a little more power on the off wind side. . . I appreciated the patience and support I received from all the staff during some trying times along the way. I have never considered myself particularly handy with tools, but really enjoyed the subtleties of boatbuilding and the craftsmanship it requires.

We love our kayak!! Way back in January, we purchased a kit for the Chesapeake 16 but then didn't get started on it until May. . . It's done and it's terrific. . . It paddles perfectly around Lake George, Michigan and is the envy of all the neighbors. We gave your catalog to the most envious, and I expect you'll be hearing from them this winter. . . Another satisfied customer!

I'm 17 years old and just finished my first boat, the Sassafras 12, from CLC for my senior project.

I absolutely love it and really enjoyed the project. Thanks for the awesome kit, CLC!

You just don't seem to have enough women pictured who have built boats. My husband was there for moral support and as a second set of hands when needed, but between your instruction manual and bouncing ideas off my husband, the boat was basically very easy to build. . . Thanks for a great product!

Finally getting around to posting the pictures for you. I've been out a couple of times now, and it is a great boat.  The boat seems very fast and very efficient to paddle, compared to all of the other boats I've tried.  I actually really enjoyed the building of the boat. I took my time, no real time constraints and it came out wonderfully.

I just wanted to send you a note describing the joy of launching my Mill Creek 16 today for the first time. I couldn't be happier with the design, performance and plain ol' good looks of your design. . . Everyone who saw the boat said the same thing - beautiful and where can I get one. It was my pleasure to guide them in your direction. . . Thank you for a great product that delivers what was promised.

The Skerry is a wonderful boat and an excellent first boat project. The manual is excellent and technical support is available. Being 15ft and 100 lbs it's one of the best compromises of seaworthness and light enough to carry with two people or one person with a dolly. After researching many designs I picked this one. Three years later I'm still loving it as much as ever. I consider it to be an excellent oar and sail boat.

With a 10 - 15 knot wind you can sail it as fast as you can row on a calm day, about 3 knots and sustain that speed for 4 hours before it becomes work. I have rowed it up to 14 miles in one day. It's an excellent fishing boat and though tippy compared to a flat bottom boat will not take in water unless you stand on the rail. I have rowed it in 3ft seas with no concern for safety. 

Thought I would send you a picture of my wood duck 12, affectionately referred to as "the duck."  I enjoyed building it and am enjoying it here on the Salmon River in NY.

Just a quick note to let you know that I am still enjoying my WD-12 immensely!!  Thanks again for a wonderful product! 

What a great experience building this boat. I've been amazed at the admirers, even people who aren't into kayaks. Thanks for the great plans and instructions.

I had absolutely NO prior woodworking skills, I can't believe I actually did this! And I will confirm that I did this completely solo, with the only exception of getting someone to assist holding down the deck sections while I secured them in place. This [Chesapeake] moves beautifully and effortlessly! I am truly impressed. THANK YOU for creating such a great kit.

The Chesapeake 18 is a great boat and it's getting plenty of use.

I recently finished building my new Chesapeake 16. Again, it was a very rewarding and satisfying experience and the results are the best yet! The speed of the boat is surprising. . . The boat has exceeded all expectations in the water, and I feel like I own the "perfect kayak" for my requirements.

I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how well my Eastport Pram turned out. I was totally pleased at how the pram easily handled water much rougher than would ever be experienced in any sensible anchorage.

My husband and I have build two CLC crafts (a 16' kayak and a wherry) -- both get drools and ooohs and aaahs everytime we have them on the road traveling from home to our point of destination.

We will NEVER buy a craft from any other company other than CLC. GREAT company...GREAT projects!!

I am not done yet, I have the hatch kit to put on and the varnishing of the deck to do. We could not wait to try it out. It was Great!!!!!! It was a great project for us to do together -- we do not hang wallpaper, but can build a CLC kayak together!!!!

This challenging but well engineered project carried me through the fall and winter of 09/10, commissioned in May 2010 at Turkey Creek.  Turkey Creek is a tidal trib to the Upper Choptank River in Talbot County, MD. This kayak was everything I had hoped for in a kit built boat without disappointment. But do not fool yourself it is a lot of sanding, ha ha.

When paddling with friends, they often remark, “Why are you only taking one stroke to my two??” Or, “Why are you always enjoying a rest while waiting for us??”  

This durable, sleek Chesapeake 17LT workhorse cuts through lakes and rivers with ease & stable with  65 lbs of camping gear stowed in the two hull compartments when this picture was taken.  I weigh 210 lbs. I’ve never had leakage into the hatches, and she tracks well in river currents. I can’t wait to build the next one!

2 years ago, my "vacation" was to build a Chesapeake 17LT with you guys and Geoff Kerr. Last week, I took a REAL vacation.. first one in 5 years!  To Rhode Island -- Jamestown / Newport to be exact.

I put her in the water...and climbed in...she just sort of quivered like a race horse in the starting gate. What a thoroughbred!!!  She handled all sorts of conditions from bay to coastal ocean with equal grace and amazing speed...as in AMAZING speed!  

I have few words to describe it .. awesome, amazing, terrific (augmented with profane exclamations!) and do you know what the icing on the cake was??? There, in that world of drop dead gorgeous boats???  The number of people who just stared at the boat and commented on her appearance (not her speed! darn it!)---from toll booth attendants on the Newport bridge to folks around the marinas and beaches...boat owners and tourists...what a great experience this has been!

THANKS!!!!

Mill Creek 16.5 – I built this boat in 2000 and use it exclusively on Martha's Vineyard. It's a great family boat – my daughter Cara (now 11) loves to go out in the many ponds and bays on the island to tour the sights and watch shorebirds, particularly our favorites – the ospreys. The boat has proven to be most seaworthy, even in wind and rough chop.  In 2007 Cara and I "raced" it ~3 miles in Martha's Vineyard Sound and Sengekontacket Pond in just over 31 minutes to finish first in the parent and child class of the local season end boat race. This summer, Cara and I easily kept pace in Martha's Vineyard Sound with two high end sea touring kayaks – our fellow paddlers were very impressed with the capabilities of the boat.

[The Mill Creek and our Skerry] draw lots of attention when they are hauled out on the beach and at boat launches. As you might suspect, your company and your boats have received many enthusiastic testimonials from me over the years.  I think you can tell by now that I'm a very satisfied customer.

Here’s another picture of my beautiful boat I built this year. I've taken it all over Maryland and everywhere I go people tell me how gorgeous it is and ask if I built it myself! I always tell them where I got it and how it's put together. I'm gonna help a friend build one soon. Thanks a lot for all your help on the phone!

I must say that I was greatly surprised at the speed and efficiency with which the Mill Creek paddles. There was no way the solo kayakers could keep up with us. It tracks well, the draft remains shallow, it's very quiet, the hatches are a waterproof seal, and it is quite rigid. My expectations were exceeded in all respects. Thanks for the design and the help by phone. We will enjoy this boat. You have a satisfied customer.

Just a quick "Thank you" for the Chesapeake 17 kit and all your help along the way. The boat turned out great and is a real gas to paddle. It tracks straight and is stable and pretty fast. I have had lots of comments about it and people can't believe that I built it. John in the shop was great help and took care of all of my questions and really helped when I ran into problems.

You have great customer service and I have passed your name and old catalog to some friends and family that are interested in making a boat. I am wanting to build a small sail boat and will consider some of your designs. Thanks again for all your help and a great product.

I'm forwarding you some shots of my Eastport Pram that I just finished.  I mean like just now!  I'm really happy with the looks and from what everyone says, she's a great little boat.  Now if she floats (due to my construction) we're in business.

Just so you know, I've never built a stitch and glue boat before and it was really fun.  I wanted to pull my hair out a few times trying to get those little "notches" to line up in the transom and bow but once I cut them flush and said screw it, it all worked out pretty nicely.

I'm addicted and will most definitely be building a larger sailing boat to play around on.  I will be using this pram with my Tartan 27.  A great pair if you ask me.

Some months ago I bought from you plans of the Chesapeake 16. I'm pleased to inform you that I was able to build a very nice kayak despite the fact that it was my very first experience of boatbuilding. The extreme precision of the plans and drawings and the accuracy of instructions made the job a lot easier, and I do declare that it was a great pleasure and a rewarding experience to spend some of my spare time to build that little craft.

Enclosed are just a few pictures of our Jimmy Skiff. It was an absolute pleasure to build with my child, Simon and Emeri. . . We had to build her under the stars but it was a wonderful experience to share with my children. . . This is a truly beautiful skiff and having built some the "old fashioned way" I was amazed at what a true skiff she is.

I heartily recommend this boat to any father that wants to share this type of experience with their children. I can not thank you enough for this design, the kit, and the memories.

Enclosed are pictures of the Chesapeake 16 I completed in June for my high school's Senior Thesis project. Needless to say, it turned out beautifully! . . Thanks to CLC's expert staff for their time when I've called for technical support!

I built my wherry with Dave in late March up here at Port Townsend.  Got it in the water July 4th weekend at Lake Wenatchee in the Cascade Mountains. Never underestimate the time to finish the boat...7 coats on the bottom, and 7 on top.  I put a custom mahagony trim on the transom and seats, and stained the railings, seat supports and trim a red mahagony color.  The varnish really sets it off.  I get a lot of very positive comments.

Thanks for a great start point with your kit and excellent instruction. 

I really enjoyed building this project. When working on it, I was indeed removed from some of the daily work pressures we all face. Everything in the kit fit well and nothing was missing. . . The kayak is extremely stable and tracks very straight. Many power boaters stopped their boats to comment on the kayak and ask questions.

Sunday morning, I paddled for about two hours and my previous days nervousness disappeared. The boat just seemed to glide effortlessly through the water.

I suspect you receive a lot of letters from builders enthusing over your products. Well here I another. I have enclosed a few photos of a West River 18 a friend, Tom, and I built over three weeks in August of this year. . . . Granted we worked essentially every evening and most of three weekends but she was complete, all be it without hatches, in time. I wish to thank John for the telephone advice and reassurance I received.

I must say I was and continue to be pleased with the quality of the kit. Everything arrived in perfect condition. None of the feather edges of the scarfs were damaged in shipment. More than enough materials were provided. . . I find that when paddling without any serious effort, I leave everybody behind. . . The boats invariably stop traffic wherever we go.

I will never appreciate why anyone would spend three times as much for a heavier plastic boat when they could build something better on their own.

I am writing to sing the praises of the Chesapeake 16 kayak that I built in my garage from your kit. Although I had no previous experience with boat building, fiberglass or epoxy, the excellent design, clear instructions, pre-cut pieces, and inclusive collection of hardware, etc. all helped make a successful project. Indeed, building the boat provided me with so much satisfaction that I feared using it might be anticlimactic. Fortunately, this was not the case. . . Thanks for designing such a wonderful boat, and for marketing such a great kit. You will hear from me next spring.

I had a great time building and then rowing my Chester Yawl in Farmers Cay, Exuma, Bahamas.  We brought down 3 kits....one is complete, one half built and the third is still in the box....we're looking forward to many rowing adventures around the Exumas.  Thanks for putting out such a fun and beautiful product.

Enclosed are a couple of pictures of my Chesapeake 16. I've had it on a number of rivers and on Lake Michigan twice since I finished it in early February. I love it! 

I loved working on it and had little trouble figuring out the directions. When I did, you were quick with the replies to my questions which I really appreciated. . . Thanks for everything.

I've finally finished my boat and the experience has been worth every penny I've put into this beauty. I love the lines and when I take it to the launch in Suisun City, CA. People come to see and touch. Everytime people see this boat I find myself spending more time talking than rowing. But what the hey, I'm proud! . . Thanks for your good work!

G/day everybody at CLC.   Just thought I would send you some pix of my SEA ISLAND SPORT -- I believe it may be the first built of its kind down here in Australia.  As you can see I have made a fish box with a fold back lid that can hold a fish of approximately 10 kilos and I have also fitted four rod holders.

I fish mainly offshore (up to 10 kilometers) chasing pelagic fish such as Spanish Mackerel, Cobia (black kingfish), Snapper, Tailor (Bluefish in U.S.)  As for the yak, I couldn’t be happier with it and am the envy of my fellow fisher folk.  It certainly is faster through the water than a tupper ware boat and much more stable.  I can stand up on it ( only to prove a point, but it can be done easily).  Have had a few issues with a rather large tiger shark lately -- came in so close on one occasion I could have almost touched it.  It hasn’t worried me though probably too pumped full of adrenalin.

Once again thanks for a terrific kayak; Nick really knows his stuff.  Cheers for now, hope you like the pix.  Wal from Aus.

As promised, here are some photos of our event held the last Saturday in June at the annual Gwynns Island Festival. All pictures were taken by Mathews Maritime Foundation member Michael Swiderski.

We had six families. Groups built six peace canoes in one day. We helped things along by pre-assembling the bottom and sde panels as well as the scarfed lengths of spruce for the chine logs and the sheer clamps. These pre-assembled parts were all epoxy glued.

All in all we had a great day. Got lots of press and plenty of onlookers. The 35 individuals who saw to it that the six canoes got built had a wonderful time, made new friends, and learned something about boat construction. Thanks to all our help toward making this event a success.

What a thing of beauty it is! All the parts are beautifully cut out and the included plans and documentation are very thorough. You should all be very proud of your efforts. I know I am proud to be the owner of a CLC kit and I will tell everyone I meet just how well you have treated me. I could not be more pleased. Thank-you all so much and a huge, huge thank-you to John Harris. John, you are one of the good guys in this world and you have really helped to make my simple dream of building my own boat a reality. Thanks!

About this time last year I bought a set of plans for the 'Jimmy Skiff', the plans and drawings are excellent and cover the building procedure very well. Over the next three months my boys (ages 12, 10 and 8) and I worked on it here and there as time allowed; it came together quickly, so much so that we took it out on it's maiden voyage during april. We made it as the sailing Jimmy Skiff using a fifty eight square foot sail that I had built several years ago for a canoe; it sails wonderfully and is easy and light and comes up on step quite nicely.

We sailed it through out the summer and found that it works well in a wide range of wind speeds, I do not consider myself to be that good of a sailor but this little boat makes me look like I am. 

Thank you for all the research and development that makes the plans so complete and reliable, it was a fun family project. We have just ordered plans for the Sassafras canoe and look forward to another season of building.

Thought I would send along pictures of the Eastport Pram I built last winter-spring. I have been using it since it was launched in June to commute across Spa Creek; I live in Eastport and work on West Street. It is so nice to get on the water early in the morning, not get caught in the rush hour traffic and save fuel all at the same time.

I would like to thank everyone at CLC for conceiving, designing and producing plans for such an elegant and pleasurable craft.  I really enjoyed the building phase, the looking phase and now the paddling phase.

Many, many thanks for a fascinating design, fine materials, and good instructions. Making your boats could easily become a lifelong habit.

I did my longest paddle yesterday of 26 km -- very much feeling it today, but it was well worth it. I spent the day trawling a soft bait and caught my biggest haul yet of 8 fish. 7 Kahawai (a local predatory fish that is the most fun on light tackle) and 1 Snapper. Every time I go kayaking I go fishing and have yet to come home empty handed.

Kayak fishing has taken off here in a big way and on a beaut day you'll see a lot them on the water. I've had nothing but praise and all sorts of questions about the kayak. It's a real head turner for sure.

Thanks guys for all your help and I'm happy to say wifee is keen for a double so will be contacting you soon for a quote. 

I just completed my Chesapeake 17LT and wished to thank everyone at CLC. Every aspect of the project, from the demo to the last coat of varnish, was enjoyable. The supplies provided with the kit were complete and generous. The materials were flawless. I had never built a kayak (or a boat) before and all the information you provided helped me through the project with no problems and very few questions. The kayak came out virtually perfect.

Finally launched the boat today. It was very windy, but I couldn't wait any longer. It looked & felt great - in fact it exceeded my expectations in the way it handled. Thanks for a great boat - I really enjoyed building it and equally enjoyed getting it wet.

I took some liberties with the Chesapeake 18 kit I bought from you guys. Right after it came I received a Shearwater hybrid brochure from you. So naturally I thought, what the hell, lets try it on mine. I put a deck beam in every 12 inches, scarfed  a poplar rim piece, and planked it with oak and poplar strips in an arrow head pattern. I also swapped the hatch covers for oak and bought after market webbing and shock cord. The dragon was designed by me and the Chinese symbols mean "world peace". All of the graphics are painted right on the wood so they are under the cloth and epoxy.

The boat now has many kilometres under its keel as I use it mostly for exercise with the sliding seat installed. The boat performs very well in all conditions and stays fairly dry even when punching through half meter swells. One of these days I will go out when there are some decent sets coming through from the NE at Bonnells Bay and see if she will surf!
 
The boat has exceeded all my expectations.

We just took the newly completed Mill Creek 16.5 out this past weekend for its maiden voyage – it was awesome!  The boat was by far the nicest one out on the water.  We are at Harvey Creek Reservoir located in Silt, Colorado.

This is the 4^th boat of yours that I have completed – 2 Wood Ducks, 1  Chesapeake 17LT and the Mill Creek 16.5.  My next project hopes to be your stand-up paddleboard. 

Thanks for your amazing kits – they are a blast to build and even more fun out on the water.