Ben Grenet built a 14 ft Creekboat and a 15 ft Sportsman. They were his first two boat builds. Here’s what he noticed in the shop and what surprised him once he got them on the water.
Which Sitka kits have you built?
I’ve built the 14 ft Creekboat and the 15 ft Sportsman.
What was the build experience like?
These were my first boat builds and it was an extremely fun and fulfilling project. Day one you tack it together and you feel like you’ve just built a boat in a day. The kit went together really well. Pulling the bow together really showed off the precision the kit was manufactured to. No trimming panels, no filling gaps. The kit went together as intended and made for an enjoyable build.
What have the boats been like on the water?
Oh boy, the Creekboat was such a good boat. Fourteen feet but still an absolute weapon of a mini boat. The long bow keeps the spray outta your face, and is damn near impossible to stuff into a wave. Plus all that extra storage up front. Great boat for camping out of. Handled amazing and is a fast hull. The Sportsman also went together without any trimming or filling, another fantastically designed kit. While only a foot longer than the Creekboat, it is a much, much larger hull. Roomy cockpit and storage for days. It’s a bigger boat, and I miss the razor sharp handling of the Creekboat, but it has taken an absolute beating and kept coming back for more. An amazing all around adventure boat.
What would you tell someone considering a Sitka kit?
Take your time aligning the panels when tacking it together and you won’t have to trim or manipulate anything. Utilize clamps, straps, and temporary struts to keep things in line. Weld it out with distortion in mind. Jump around and keep as much heat out of it as possible.
