(one year, that is). After 11.8 months of building, my Chesapeake 16 finally saw water yesterday. It was a nice 29th birthday present to myself to see that everything floated where it was suppose to, the deck faced the sky, and the pointy end tracked straight as an arrow! I've attached some pictures, including some of the little details that I added along the way. The toggles are hand-carved cherry with a bronze 'hitching post' bored through them. The compass block (sans compass) is a laminate of cherry/teak/ash/walnut.
Thanks for everyone's help answering questions and providing me with a sounding board when I hit a few walls!
~Chris
(oh, and I got my first scratch out of the way early on with a soft sand beach landing... the scratch was from putting my paddle into the deck bungees!)
[IMG]http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab133/casousa81/IMG_2063.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab133/casousa81/IMG_2064.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab133/casousa81/IMG_2062.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab133/casousa81/IMG_2073.jpg[/IMG]
B…eautiful. I see you have a big old smile on your face too.
Ok, let's try that again...
Sorry about that... if anyone wants to see the pics, just got to the photobucket link in the first post. I'm not as good with this tech stuff as I used to be!
~Chris
Chris,
Removing the [IMG] and [/IMG] from the links makes them viewable. Easiest way is to copy the links into something like wordpad and do a "Replace," replacing them with nothing.
Very nice boat, my 17 is one coat of varnish away from the water... can't wait!
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab133/casousa81/IMG_2063.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab133/casousa81/IMG_2064.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab133/casousa81/IMG_2062.jpg
http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab133/casousa81/IMG_2073.jpg
Great job and congratulations!
That’s one nice looking kayak!
Chris—thanks for sharing-great boat. Nice personal touches as well, I like the wood turnings–the compass block is something I am not familiar with…CZ
Thanks guys. I'll be donning my fly rod and paddle tomorrow for a first 'real' outing in the Chesapeake. Last time was a quick 15 minute splash with friends.
~Chris
Where in the Chesapeake are you launching? I'm in Newport News, looking at launching at the Salt Ponds, as well as near Smithfield (inland streams/waterways). I've yet to make my fly-rod holders, but plan to spend some time on nearby streams/rivers with a couple rods on the deck, my PFD/Fly vest on, and casting away!
Beautiful boat; would hate to put mine next to yours... mine has warts!
Larry
Oops! Sorry Larry, I meant to say: "in the Chesapeake 16". I actually live up in NE.
~Chris
Chris, no worries.
Out of curiosity, does anyone put the name "Chesapeake" on their boat? I've got some black letters that look pretty good, but the name runs 18 inches long and I'm afraid it'll look goofy (not to mention covering up some of that wood!).
Enjoy the "16!"
Larry
