: My clc 18 LT is not LT after all, but I have not weighed it. I did glass the
: deck and pit, taped everything, have white plastic pop outs in the
: bulkhead, and flush hatches screwed down into rubber mounted brass bosses,
: foam seat and nothing else. Stock is 44lbs, probably weighs 55 or more.
: Still less than a rotomold, and stiffer. It paddles fine, just hard to
: carry.

: Next boat gets tiny fillets, 40z glass on hull, no tape anywhere. Squeegee is
: a good idea, used a roller last time which was easy but maybe not leanest
: approach.

: Also will get less copper, I wired with 15" spacing to get it started
: and it is sitting there all straight and nice. I may not put in more wires
: after all.

I could imagine that glassing the deck probably adds 3-5 lbs due to the massive amount of resin that cloth soaks up. The plastic buckhead hatches ain't light either especially if you use screws to mount them. Maybe a lb each or so when all is said and done.

I don't think I would be a fan of 4 oz on the hull but it all depends how much abuse your hull gets (mine gets pretty scratched up). I know lots of strip builders who used 2 layers of 4 oz on their hull though in the interests of abrasion resistance.

Don't know if I agree about no tape either. You can get lighter tape though (like 6 oz atleast via Raka) or cut your own and you can go as light as you want. I think 9oz is standard in CLC kits. get or make less wide tape too - like 2" or 1.5" maybe.

As for sqeegieing, I roll my epoxy, then sqeegie, then tip out the first coat. fill coats are only rolled and tipped although some people sqeegie those too. Funny how much epoxy you sqeegie off. Often a few cups worth.

Don't put in more wires if the seams are all good and you don't need them. also consider filleting between wires, then pull wires and then fillet where you missed so all that metal ain't left in the boat.

The mill creeks are also heavier boats sincew they are multichine and require that much more tape between panels to keep the hull stronger and stiff.

Hope this discussion is useful or validates your thoughts atleast.

The merganser i am working is is purposely lighter weight than my boat since its for my SO and she is 5-7 and 135 lbs verses my 6-2 and 200 lbs in my Chessie 18. she can lift mine but it is a bit tough. hope that hers is about 35-40 lbs with our modifications.

PS, make lightweight non-adjustable footpegs rather than yakima aluminum ones if you want to save extra weight. and consider drilling some holes in your deck beams to lighten them up as well. Holes in the shear clamps would be useful too although I had never thought of either of those ideas until just now.

Pete czerpak albany, NY