I first put my Shearwater 14 in the water two years ago. I have a garage full of kayaks and, while the Shearwater isn’t always my choice for speed, camping, or rolling, it is nevertheless the kayak I use the most. Like many kayakers, most of my time on the water is spent on impromptu day trips, sometimes from home, sometimes when on vacation. And for these most frequent excursions, nothing beats the Shearwater 14.

The kayak—built of plywood from kit or plans—is designed by Eric Schade. It is light (mine weighs 35 lbs) and short, but not too short; a boat that is quick and easy to load on the car and then offload to the water. It paddles easily and responds immediately and precisely to the kayaker’s inputs—paddle drive, a shift in weight, a brace. This is a boat that wants to perform, and will suit the paddler who wants to explore a backwater but who won’t be overwhelmed when conditions pick up. It’s a kayak as handy as a jackknife that has a blade for every need. And with its decidedly Greenland-kayak hull form, the Shearwater rewards paddlers who have developed their paddling skills. A newcomer to the sport might feel initially apprehensive as they settle into this lively, single-chine hull, but the Shearwater has strong secondary stability and is reassuring when edged.

The Shearwater 14, a traditional sea kayak for all-around performanceCaroline Dawson

The Shearwater’s shape gives it all-around good performance. The deep V-shaped ends help it to track well, while the single chine holds an edge through turns.

Sixteen years ago I built a replica of a Greenland kayak. The light wood frame is lashed together in the traditional manner, covered with a Dacron skin, and sealed with paint. It’s sleek and fast and moves with an easy grace. Our modern touring kayaks evolved from such Inuit boats but have moved so far from the original shapes that their feel is totally different. Most are reassuringly stable though far heavier and less responsive than the native kayak. The Shearwater 14 stands out from the crowd. When I used it for the first time, I was delighted to find that it had much of the feel of my Greenland reproduction. The cockpit opening is generous, so getting in and out is easy, but once the boat starts moving the Greenlandic heritage can be felt—you are as much sitting on the water as in the boat, and response to the paddle is gratifyingly immediate.

The Shearwater 14 accelerates easily thanks to the combination of a light hull and relatively narrow waterline. At 14′ 6″ with good overhangs fore and aft, this hull won’t reach a top speed equal to that of a 17-footer, but it’s far quicker than, for example, the 14′ rotomolded polyethylene sea kayak we’ve had for years. The single-chine hull grips the water nicely and readily holds an edge through turns. Edging, however, is where the newbie paddler might be nervous. The Shearwater readily heels a few degrees. At rest, it can feel like a nervous Thoroughbred at the starting gate. When a paddler is new to such a boat, their own nervousness can cause the kayak to wiggle. But as the paddler grows in confidence and relaxes, such motion will disappear, even though the kayak remains quick to heel. It is not the solid platform one would want for fishing or photography. On the other hand, secondary stability is good, and once the paddler learns to take advantage of it, carving sharp, clean turns will become second nature.

The plywood panels that make up the hull of the Shearwater 14.David Dawson

Thanks to the full-sized patterns that come with the Chesapeake Light Craft plans for the Shearwater 14, cutting the panels for the hull sections and bulkheads is a straightforward process. Once all are cut out, the next step is to use wire or zip ties and a bit of glue to assemble the hull.

The deep V-shape formed by the ends of the bottom panels helps the kayak track well for its length; weathercocking is minimal. However, after a year’s use, I opted to add a small, fixed skeg so that the Shearwater would hold course while in a slow drift when I wasn’t paddling. It has been a welcome modification—especially when watching wildlife through binoculars—but was by no means necessary. Underway I never felt the need for a skeg or rudder—without either, this boat tracks better than some 17′ kayaks.

Building the Shearwater 14

Chesapeake Light Craft (CLC) is the source for plans and kits for the Shearwater 14. There’s a standard and a hybrid version. The standard boat has a three-panel plywood deck; the hybrid has a strip-built curved deck. Both share the same hull and can be expected to perform equally. The builder can order anything from study plans to a full kit, complete with precut plywood panels and everything else needed to build and equip the kayak. I ordered the instruction manual and full-sized plans for the hybrid version. Because I wanted to finish the boat with custom-patterned fiberglass, I used flexible 3mm okoume plywood for the curved hybrid deck rather than strip planking.

The Shearwater 14 hull prior to being decked over.David Dawson

The hull comes together quickly. The plans call for a partial bulkhead that pulls some hollow into the forward sections, as would be seen in traditional Inuit kayaks. The plans also specify 4mm plywood or strip planking for the decks, but because I would be using 3mm plywood, I added a ring frame to stiffen the deck behind the cockpit where the forward edge of the hatch lands.

I built the hull directly from the full-sized patterns, which are delivered on a single, very long roll of paper. There are various ways to transfer the hull shapes to the plywood. I used tacky spray adhesive to stick the plans to the plywood, and then cut right through both paper and wood. The plans are sold with permission to build one boat. If the complete kit is purchased, all plywood pieces are precut, with puzzle joints to connect the long sections with total accuracy.

There are many variations on how these stitch-and-glue boats can be put together. The instruction manual from CLC is very detailed and has all the photos and tips a beginner might need to get the boat ready for the water. But there is room for customization.

The Shearwater 14 with custom finish.David Dawson

The kayak’s Greenlandic heritage is visible in its graceful lines from the sharp raised ends to the sweeping decks and low freeboard.

After assembling the hull, I finished the deck with printed fiberglass, covered the bottom with a carbon/Kevlar blend, and used pigmented epoxy to paint the trim. Options for customization include the deck rigging, which is supplied in the kit but can be customized if building from plans. Pads and foot braces likewise are supplied with the kits but can be individualized. For a seat I chose a stock Happy Bottom Pad seat from CLC, which fits very well. In place of more commonly used adjustable foot braces, I cut a block of minicell foam to fit against the cockpit’s forward bulkhead—a simple, lightweight, and comfortable solution. The foam block is a press-fit and can easily be pulled out when washing out the boat.

The Shearwater 14 is described by CLC as “an elegant sea kayak for kids or small adults” and rated for paddlers up to 150 lbs. My weight falls just short of that limit, and the boat works very well for me. If the design appeals but you need a more capacious boat, there are several options. There are 16′ and 17′ versions for larger paddlers, and a Shearwater Sport that’s the same length as the 14 but wider and able to accommodate up to a 240-lb paddler. All can be built as standard or hybrid models. I have paddled the 17, and the extra length does give it some of the big-boat feel most sea kayakers will be accustomed to.

Man paddling the Shearwater 14Caroline Dawson

The cockpit opening in the Shearwater is generous so that even for paddlers nearing the kayak’s maximum recommended size, getting in and out is easy.

CLC classifies the Shearwater 14 as a “light touring kayak.” This seems about right. I have met people who manage to put several days’ camping gear in a boat this size, but I need something bigger. The 17 is rated to take up to 270 lbs of paddler and gear, and would probably be the better choice for overnight trips for all but very light paddlers.

All in all, the Shearwater 14 is a capable and fun kayak, and a good choice for the single-boat owner. For that light, go anywhere, dance-on-the-water experience, you won’t go wrong with the Shearwater 14.

David Dawson is a retired newspaperman who has built a half-dozen kayaks over the past dozen years. He lives in Pennsylvania where he teaches kayaking skills and leads paddling trips for regional kayak clubs.

Shearwater 14 Particulars

LOA:   14′ 6″
Beam:   23″
Weight:   39 lbs
Max capacity:   200 lbs

Plans and kits for the Shearwater 14 are available from Chesapeake Light Craft.

Is there a boat you’d like to know more about? Have you built one that you think other Small Boats readers would enjoy? Please email us your suggestions.

More articles by David Dawson…

The Shrike Kayaks, CNC’s modern sea kayaks steeped in Inuit tradition.

The Hornet Lite, a packraft from Kokopelli

Different Ways to Style your Kayak, bringing unique flair to plywood and strip-built kayaks