Recent kayak plans

Wood Duck Kayaks

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 creeks in your county. Sheathed in fiberglass inside and out, the Wood Duck will withstand real-world abuse on gravel or shell beaches, and will bounce over submerged stumps without harm.

Capacity is ample and meant to accommodate a broad range of paddlers. Cockpits are 38 inches long, for easy in and out, and your legs and knees will not be confined. The Wood Duck 10 will carry paddlers up to 200 pounds, and the Wood Duck 12 will easily handle a 275-pounder, plus gear. A flush hatch for the rear compartment is standard, an airtight oval VCP hatch is an option. In either case, both boats can carry a heavy payload in the fore and aft compartments, enough for picnicking, camping or a whole lot of fishing gear.

CLC commissioned designer Eric Schade to draw and prototype the Wood Duck 10 and 12 to our specifications. Eric had a huge hit with his Shearwater kayak designs, also designed for CLC as fast sea kayaks. We think he has another huge hit on his hands with these fun, good-looking recreational kayaks that anyone from age 8 to age 80 can enjoy on the water.

Matunuck Surf Kayak

Yet another boat that's hard to find: a kayak designed expressly for surfing. Nick Schade has applied his formidable skills in flat-plate-geometry design to the Matunuck, and we are pleased to be the first to offer this beautiful kayak to the public.

Even sturdily built -- for survival in violent conditions -- the Matunuck weighs only 20 pounds. The Matunuck has the speed to catch the big waves, and the low moment of inertia means terrific responsiveness for spinning and cutting. Fins are optional: you'll only need them in the truly gnarly stuff, but ordinary fin boxes may be 'glassed into the hull.

Construction is straightforward, it's suggested that you carve your own seat for a tight fit. Hulls are BS 1088 okoume. The Matunuck in the photos has been stained and varnished - you may finish the boat in whatever livery suits your fancy! Although it bears a passing resemblance to a whitewater kayak, the Matunuck is for surfing only.

John C. Harris
Chesapeake Light Craft
Annapolis, March 2008
http://www.clcboats.com