Hi Mary,

I just finished a Chesapeake 17 a couple months ago. The one thing that took me the longest was straitening out the keel at the stern. Take all the time you need (and then some) to make sure the joints you have stitched together are lined up properly before doing the fillets.
I will be building a stripper next, as soon as I finish building my shop. Of course, then there are the shelves, end tables and sewing table my wife has been bugging me to build for several months now. Oh well, as long as I finish the stripper before next summer. :-)
You will have even more fun paddling the Chesapeake 17 then you will building it.

Good luck,

Jim

: Welp,
: I (and a friend) just started my second kayak tonight. Started with a Cape
: Charles 16, and have graduated up to a Chesapeake 17. Very different
: plans...I was not expecting that, but am pleased and excited about the
: challenge.
: We have the blanks cut and ready to scarf...two scarfs per panel this time,
: and the panels are curved! (someone mentioned spokeshaves...this is where
: they come in real handy) Stuff to think about, information to absorb.
: Brains to exersize.
: It's wonderful!

: Someday, I'll possibly try a strip built, etc., like many of you, but I'm in
: the kindergarten learning stages of this and so far so good.

: Wish me luck, and any advice or thoughts from those of you who have built the
: Chesapeake 16, 17, or 18 are especially welcome.

: Mary Martha
: PS: I'm trying Maranti Mahogony this time vs. Okoume. Supposed to be darker
: and more interesting grain. Has anyone worked with this before?