Sea Island Sport

Product Description

A sit-on-top kayak with style – traditional sea kayaks are elegant and sleek but their cockpits exclude a lot of people who paddle where it's hot and almost anybody who has stiff knees or who doesn't want to be confined in an enclosed cockpit.

Not many people can combine the art and science of boat design as seamlessly.

John C. Harris, CLC president

This wooden sit-on-top kayak performs well and is relatively easy to build using the stitch-and-glue construction method. It has sponsons above the waterline which provide a lot of stability while still allowing an efficient shape. The cockpit is completely self-draining so any water that does find its way in will drain directly out.

The Sea Island Sport kayak is fast and efficient for a boat of its length. With the sponsons it is also quite stable. This is a straight tracking boat: if you stop paddling it will keep going in the same direction.

The Sea Island Sport is 15′6″ long and features a pleasing shape, attractive from every angle, with a red Sapele deck that contrasts with the honey-coloured Okoume hull. Sharp-eyed observers will notice the similarity to the popular Shearwater kayak line, designed by Nick Schade's brother Eric, which have a similar cambered Sapele deck and tumblehome sides.

The open cockpit is easy to get into and for fishermen stability is sufficient to drop the paddle and reel in. In the hot months, you sit in the open air so your legs won't cook. In cooler weather, the Sea Island's dry ride will extend your season.

The Sea Island Sport includes puzzle joints for rapid assembly of the computer-cut hull panels and computer-drilled holes for most of the copper stitches used in assembly. Parts are located in the hull with pre-drilled holes, so in theory you could build the entire boat without picking up a tape measure.

Large hatches for bow and stern are included in the kit and will carry fishing gear and lunch for a day's outing, or camping gear for a week. Adjustable footbraces are standard, as is a comfortable seat and a fully adjustable back band for high lumbar support.

Thanks to the sponson keel, tracking is very strong and many paddlers will use the Sea Island Sport in the surf. The stability and self-draining cockpit makes beach launches and landings safer and easier than in a traditional kayak. Build this boat if you would like the convenience and comfort of a sit-on-top kayak but with better-than-usual speed and handling or if you often paddle in warm water and waves.

The kit includes:

• Pre-cut wooden panels with pre-cut joints and pre-drilled tie holes
• Epoxy resin and activator
• Epoxy fillers
• Copper ties
• Woven glass fabric
• Woven glass tape
• Foam-padded seat with adjustable backrest
• Adjustable footbraces
• Hatches
• Comprehensive building manual
• Free technical support from a competent builder

What else do I need?

Plans and manual (not required by kit purchasers)

These plans and manual contain sufficient information on the cutting of the panels to make it possible to build the boat from scratch rather than a kit. The plans include full size drawings.

Study manual

This is intended for pre-build study or to help with the decision to purchase. This is the comprehensive manual that accompanies the kit; reading it will help you decide whether or not you can build the boat. It describes all of the techniques that will be used during the build and also a step by step guide to construction. It contains a photograph or diagram of every step.

If, later, you decide to purchase the kit the cost of this will be deducted from the kit price.

The manual does not contain the cutting instructions so it is not possible to build the boat from scratch using only this.

PDF study manual

The construction manual for the boat is also available as a PDF download. After credit card authorisation a download link will be sent to the email address put on the order form.

PDF study plans

These study plans are intended to give you an overview of the construction of the boat. They are in PDF format that can be viewed using Adobe Reader. There are two pages and they measure 279 × 216 mm (11″ × 8½″). They can be printed for carrying around.

After credit card authorisation the plans will be sent to the email address put on the order form.

When you have studied the plans, your next step might be to order the printed instruction manual, which will walk you through the project step-by-step.

Wood only

This option contains the pre-cut plywood components with pre-cut joints, plus the construction manual. It does not contain the plans (these are not required because the wood is pre-cut), any of the epoxy to glue and coat the boat, the fabric or tape nor any of the hardware.

Compare this kayak with others.