This is the complete Chesapeake Light Craft kayak building video, filmed in 2001. John Harris walks you through every step in the construction of a Chesapeake 16 kayak. Straightforward to build, handsome, and with famously benign handling qualities on the water, 8000 Chesapeakeseries kits have been built around the world, with countless more from plans.

The techniques here are showing their age; kayak kit technology has moved on a bit from 2001 and construction has gotten easier. (For example, since 2005 or so we've been using simpler puzzle joints rather than the scarf joints seen here..)

The goal of the Chesapeake Light Craft team was to create a boatbuilding video of unprecedented clarity. High production values and an emphasis on watchability has made this one popular. The droll sight gags and general levity of the piece were deliberateprior to 2001, boatbuilding videos seemed to specialize in somnolence, taciturnity, and cheapweddingvideo visuals. It seems to work. You can purchase a copy of the DVD here: http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boatbui...