Hi Dan, Hang in there, man! I know how you feel. I think I understood the plans well enough, but I have a lot of previous woodworking experience. I also read every single site I could find about people building Chesapeake kayaks, so between that and my wood experience, I was better able to fill in the gaps. The instructions have just enough "meat" to give you the general direction. If you're looking for more of a challenge, (as I pretty much was), then the instructions on their own are probably adequate. If you have little-to-no woodworking or boat-building experience and rely solely on the instructions, then you're probably screwed. I have just leafed through Chris's book; (after I built the boat) it might help you. Obviously with about 150 more pages than your instructions, there will be information there that will fill in the gaps.

I know it's frustrating, but your project is not impossible. As everyone else has said, the people on this bbs have a wealth of information. Keep asking questions!

Shawn

> I have to vent some frustration. I can't stand the instructions provided
> by CLC for my chesapeake 17'. There are two manuals and a set of plans and
> you have to jump through all three sources to begin each step. How hard
> would it be to include a checklist of each step in order of completion
> along with notes to refer pages withing the other books? People buying
> these plans and kits are not boat builders, they are marketed to
> non-professionals and should be written as such. It is possible that
> everything you need to know is contained in the package but it should not
> be so difficult to find. I contacted CLC on Step 1 of the plans, scarfing
> hull blanks. Chris's response was that I should remember this should be
> fun and not to get frustrated. The bottom line is this I'm not an idiot
> and I spend more time trying to figure out what to do next than I do doing
> it. The manuals and plans for the Chesapeake 17' are not user friendly and
> should be re-written. CLC should remember that a disgruntled customer is
> ten times more likely to tell people their opinions than a satisfied one,
> and here's the proof.

> That feels better, Dan

> P.S. I will continue to use this board as my source for info because at
> least you answer me without telling me to read more and relax. thanks for
> the help.