What We’re Watching
John Harris is a true practical artist — a trained musician with a wide appreciation for music who also founded Chesapeake Light Craft, a company that specializes in kit boats and boat plans. Chesapeake Light Craft offers a broad range of stitch-and-glue kits and plans for everything from kayaks and rowboats to pocket sailers and compact power skiffs. Their official YouTube channel is a rich resource for anyone interested in small boatbuilding, whether you are a novice or an experienced amateur builder.
The channel features clear, hands-on instructional videos that demonstrate essential techniques such as framing, fiberglassing, fairing, and finishing. Viewers will find tips and tricks that shorten the learning curve and help avoid common mistakes, plus practical advice on selecting materials and tools. One particularly useful series follows Harris through the complete process of building a kayak from start to finish, making it easy to follow along if you plan to attempt a similar project. For boatbuilders, sailors, paddlers, and DIYers, the channel is an accessible way to learn methods, see real-life progress, and gain confidence before committing to a kit or a full build.
Whether you’re interested in a weekend project, a new hobby, or improving your traditional boatbuilding skills, Chesapeake Light Craft’s videos deliver step-by-step demonstrations and thoughtful commentary that help preserve and spread small-boat craft traditions.
More Salty Reads
Thar She Blows
When people picture American whaling, New Bedford and Mystic often come to mind. Yet Maine also played an important role in the industry. Charles H. Lagerbom’s new book, Whaling in Maine, explores how whaling shaped the state’s coastal economy and maritime culture. Over nearly two centuries the whaling industry supported shipyards, built specialized boats and tools, and stimulated related trades such as oar making, sailmaking, and ropework. Communities up and down the Maine coast supplied sailors, craftsmen, and provisions to whaling fleets and developed local economies tied to the ocean.
Lagerbom’s account traces how whaling helped spawn towns and industries around the Pine Tree State, and how that legacy influenced later coastal commerce and maritime skills. The book provides historical context for a practice that once supplied whale oil for lighting and industry, while also acknowledging the broader economic and social impacts on coastal New England. (Price: $22, The History Press)
Tie Yourself in Knots
If you’re looking for a new, practical challenge, Nic Compton’s A Knot a Day: 365 Knot Challenges for All Abilities offers a year’s worth of daily practice to build and refine knot-tying skills. The book is designed to guide readers through essential seafaring knots as well as decorative and practical patterns for everyday use. Each entry provides clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions so you can learn hitches, bends, whippings, and splices at a comfortable pace.
Beyond basic sailing knots, the collection includes patterns used for small craft projects such as key rings, bracelets, and decorative mats, making it valuable for both mariners and crafters. The daily structure encourages steady improvement and is ideal for anyone who wants to develop muscle memory and confidence with cordage. (Price: $20, Adlard Coles) — Gary Reich
Lazy Afternoons with Fairline
Fairline Yachts, the British builder known for combining performance with luxury, has curated a set of five themed Spotify playlists to match different moods on the water. The collection includes “Lazy Afternoons,” “The Lounge,” “After Sunset,” “Miami,” and “Chilled Balearics.” Each playlist is crafted to create an atmosphere suited to a variety of cruising experiences — from relaxed daytime drifting to evening cocktails aboard a classic motorboat.
These mellow selections are ideal whether you’re relaxing on a 60-foot yacht in the Mediterranean, enjoying a quiet day in a poling skiff, or simply spending a sunny afternoon on a local lake. The playlists provide an easy way to set the tone for a cruise, a social gathering, or a solitary moment aboard, and they’re accessible by searching for Fairline Yachts on Spotify. Curated music like this can enhance the onboard experience and help turn ordinary time on the water into memorable moments.