Chuckanut 15

Description

The Chuckanut 15 is a lightweight, recreational tandem (two-person) skin-on-frame kayak (often built as a single or solo paddler too) designed by Dave Gentry of Gentry Custom Boats (USA); plans are available directly from the designer (often free or low-cost upon request, with full-sized frame layouts provided via email), and the design has been popular among amateur builders since the early 2000s or earlier, with no mass production—hundreds (or more) have been home-built over the years, as evidenced by numerous build logs on forums like WoodenBoat and personal blogs. Special features include skin-on-frame construction (typically lightweight wood frames like cedar/cypress with fabric skin such as polyester, nylon, or ballistic nylon coated in polyurethane or similar for waterproofing), multi-chined hull with a wide, slightly V-shaped bottom for excellent primary stability and forgiving handling, zero rocker for straight tracking, large open cockpit (about 8 ft long) for easy entry/exit and gear storage, very low weight for easy cartopping/portaging, and suitability for protected waters like lakes, ponds, bays, or calm coastal areas—ideal for day paddling, overnight trips (with ~375 lb capacity), or relaxed recreational use by beginners and experienced paddlers alike; some builders add sailing rigs (e.g., leg-o-mutton or small sail setups) for fun hybrid use.