Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: Which kit to build?
By:Patsy
Date: 9/5/2001, 8:02 am
In Response To: Re: Which kit to build? (Greg Jones)

Wow, you are mighty brave. And you sound like a happy camper. The LT16 sounds like the best option CLC has for me for sure. Your comments about going small sound right to me, which makes me wonder about Pygmy's 14' Tern. I definitely want small as in it feels like I'm wearing it, but I'm just not sure if that's enough length for "touring." I've heard that longer is better in terms of needing less effort to paddle.

The LT 17 is hard chined, correct? Sigh. I think I need to take a weekend trip to Annapolis and test drive boats. I can think of worse things to do with a weekend. :-)

Do you mind if I hang onto your email address and get in touch with you should I want to discuss your modifications expertise when I actually begin building something someday?

Thanks a lot for writing.

Patsy

: Hi Patsy,
: I just finshed a CLC LT17 which is about 17 feet long and 23.5 inches wide. I
: am in no way affiliated with CLC. Here are my two cents now that I'm
: "a one-boat wonder": Overall Size: Take the advice to go small.
: I'm 5' 7" and 165 lbs. The only reason I went for the LT17 and not
: the LT16 is my seven year old rides in the extra-big aft hatch "jump
: seat" I custtom-built. Way too many people "over-boat"
: themselves and regret it when the wind and waves kick up. In fact, I
: paddled CLC's Chesapeake 14 in some pretty steep chop early this year and
: had a blast! I'm supposed to be too heavy for the Ch 14 but it felt
: perfect to me. I felt completely in control the whole time. Go small.

: Cockpit depth: I gambled and modified the stock kit to fit my relatively
: short frame. (First-timers are NOT recommended to modify their first boat
: in general). Anyway, I laminted my own deck beam (much easier than it
: sounds) which changed the cockpit depth from about 12 inched to 10 inches.
: I added some foam thigh and hip braces also. The results are amazing - it
: feels like I'm part of the boat - complete control.

: How many chines? Again, I'll share my experience and opinions for what
: they're worth: Last fall I demo paddled CLC's West River 180 and 162 as
: well as their LT17. I was SURE I'd go away buying the 162 and only tried
: the LT17 "for the heck of it". Glad I test paddled. The WR162 is
: a great boat but would not do a leaned turn for me. The LT 17 on the hand
: was amazing - a hip flick and sweep stroke and the turn just happened.
: Live and learn.

: Hope some of that long-winded sea story helps.

: Good Luck,

: Greg J.
: Columbia, MD

Messages In This Thread

Which kit to build?
Patsy -- 9/4/2001, 11:19 am
Re: Which kit to build?
John Monfoe -- 9/8/2001, 7:04 am
Re: Which kit to build?
Charles Cooper -- 9/5/2001, 10:45 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
pete c -- 9/5/2001, 4:31 am
Re: Which kit to build?
Patsy -- 9/5/2001, 8:13 am
Re: Which kit to build?
Bob Deutsch -- 9/5/2001, 9:50 am
Strip vs S&G
Rick M -- 9/4/2001, 10:52 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
Greg Jones -- 9/4/2001, 9:38 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
Patsy -- 9/5/2001, 8:02 am
Can you attend the Newfound Rendezvous?
Dan Ruff -- 9/4/2001, 5:37 pm
Re: Can you attend the Newfound Rendezvous?
Patsy -- 9/5/2001, 8:21 am
My $.02...
Byron -- 9/4/2001, 3:28 pm
Re: My $.02...
Patsy -- 9/4/2001, 5:29 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
Scott Dollmeyer -- 9/4/2001, 3:17 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
Patsy -- 9/4/2001, 5:23 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
Ted Henry -- 9/4/2001, 1:37 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
LeeG -- 9/4/2001, 12:33 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
Patsy -- 9/6/2001, 8:16 am
Re: Which kit to build?
LeeG -- 9/6/2001, 7:45 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
Patsy -- 9/20/2001, 11:05 am
Re: Which kit to build?
LeeG -- 9/20/2001, 11:33 am
Re: Which kit to build?
Patsy -- 9/4/2001, 1:52 pm
Re: Which kit to build?
LeeG -- 9/4/2001, 4:06 pm
Re: fit
LeeG -- 9/4/2001, 4:18 pm
Re: fit and Piccolo stability
Patsy -- 9/4/2001, 5:18 pm
Re: fit and Piccolo stability
LeeG -- 9/4/2001, 7:38 pm