Shearwater Double

Product Description

A fast but compact tandem kayak with sophisticated styling and a functional layout. It has comfortable cockpits but doesn't sacrifice speed.

Tandem kayaks can be big, like our voluminous Chesapeake Double, or they can be small, like our handy-but-compact Wood Duck Double. Designer Eric Schade was given the challenge of creating a tandem kayak that combined the speed of a longer sea kayak with the convenience of a smaller boat. After a long development, the Shearwater Double was the result.

For speed, the hull is multi-chined and plumb-ended, with a long waterline for minimal wetted surface. It has the same handsome deck pattern as the solo kayaks in the Shearwater range to fit two large cockpits and three big storage compartments while maintaining a sleek profile. The Shearwater Double is remarkably fast and comfortable. The most discriminating paddlers will enjoy its responsiveness and speed, while the solid stability and roomy cockpits will reassure beginners.

The hull is Okoume plywood and the deck is made of contrasting mahogany-coloured Sapele. Flush hatches – three of them – are standard in the kit, as are seats, footbraces, deck rigging and hardware. Holes are pre-drilled in advance by our CNC machine for stitch-and-glue assembly. All surfaces are sheathed in fibreglass, inside and out.

The kits include:

• 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
• Fabric covered foam seats and backbands
• Adjustable footbraces
• Deck rigging
• 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 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 solid wood and plywood components pre-cut to the correct size 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 or rigging.

Compare this kayak with others.