> I read every message in this thread and here are my two cents worth: I built a Chesapeake 17 last summer and have really enjoyed the boat ever since. Mine came out at just under 40 pounds after a very conciencious effort to save weight. I have glass on the outside, and inside the cockpit (I am building a Cesapeak 16 light for my wife and will leave out the inside glass as I do not think it necessary) I was very carefull with all fillets and fill coats(3) to make sure I only used what was necessary. I did not do the endpours. Instead I used fibreglass tape in the bow (not the easiest method, but much lighter). I only used one layer of tape on the inside seams. In the end I had about half of the kit epoxy left over. The boat is finished bright, with adjustable fottrests, without a rudder, and with all the normal deck rigging. I do believe it pays to squeegee out all excess resin out of the tapes and outside glass and then carefully fill the weave. I hope the ch.16 light will still be a few pounds lighter. This time I will back out the deckbeam screws, etc. prior to glassing. I let you know where it weighs in.