Some of the photos and information applies to all Chatham kayaks, but have not be reproduced one each page. If you are interested in any Chatham read all of our pages to get the complete story.

Want a fast kayak that edges well and is outfitted great, then this is the boat. Only 20" wide but stable and has good secondary stability. The fore deck is flat which is good for navigation and holding equipment, but stiff which is good for rescues. The skeg is standard equipment and has a non kinkable cable. The slider is on the starboard side and back enough that it does not hit your knees like on many VCP boats. This is a new design so we have not yet put it through its paces. So far we have not kinked a Chatham Cable, but a few have gotten jammed because of debris. The cable is stiff and harder to move then the stranded cables that everyone else is using. This is another step in the right direction for skegs, but still not perfect. Skegs will always has some type of trouble, but the Necky system is the best yet.

For only $550 more you can get it built in what Necky calls Advanced Composite. We have been waiting for the kayak industry to start building kayaks using the material and construction techniques of the aerospace industry. Other kayak manufactures have tried, but failed. Most composite Necky Kayaks are available in regular fiberglass or Advanced Composite. The bulkheads are made with a honey comb material called Xeric that is super light and strong (see photo). This same material is used to reinforce the kayak where needed. This is not a Kevlar kayak. Necky is the first company we know of who is building the kayak from Carbon Fiber. In the past, the common thinking was that Kevlar is strong, but too flexible and Carbon is stiff but not strong (and too expensive). Using an infusion process Necky has found a great construction technique. Necky is using Vinylester resin in the advanced composite kayaks instead of polyester resin, which is a more flexible and expensive resin. The photo above is proof of the strength of the Advanced Composite construction. This is not your fathers Necky!

The Chatham line is a very different kayak for Necky Kayaks. The hull has a flat bottom with soft chines giving it a narrow, but stable design.

The outfitting on the Chatham is outstanding. Necky took their whitewater outfitting and put it into most of their kayaks. The foam seat mounts to a hung aluminum sling. The sides of the sling has holes to reduce weight. A couple of the holes are threaded for mounting the included hip pads. We keep the hip pads out of our demo Chathams to allow wider bottom paddlers to fit. For thinner paddlers the hip pads make a big difference. If an even narrower fit is needed, just shim out the hip pads by putting dense foam behind the pads. Longer screws would be needed to shim out the hip pads.

The backband is easily adjustable from the cockpit (see photos below) and even the thigh supports can be moved fore/aft and tilted. Not all the parts of the backband adjuster was made out of stainless steel in the 2004 Chathams. These would rust and stop working after a few months of heavy use. Not to worry, Necky will send out replacement adjusters free of charge. All newer models use all stainless steel and we have not had any more problems.

Everyone says a kayak should fit like a glove, and now Necky has a line of boats that will fit most paddlers perfectly. Other kayak manufacturers have promoted their fit better then Necky has done, but at this point Necky's outfitting is superior to everything else on the market.

While the Chathams do compete with many British kayaks, there is a difference. The Necky Kayaks are lighter, the British kayaks have thicker gel coat. The thicker gel coat is better for scratches and does not crack as easy.

The Chatham 18 should appeal to kayakers who like the NDK Explorer or the VCP Aquanaut.

Make sure you also read the information about the Chatham 16 and Chatham 17. While these kayaks are similar, we have different information and photos on both pages.

Necky Kayaks says: At close to 18' in length and with a very narrow beam, the Chatham 18 is an extremely capable "passage-maker" with a good turn of speed, great sea worthiness and surprising stability for such a slender craft. While still very nimble, the 18 is somewhat stiffer tracking and a little less maneuverable than her shorter sister, the 16. Minimal windage and a drop skeg result in good directional stability even in high winds and big seas. Three bulkheads and VCP rubber hatches provide decent cargo space for expedition work. The snug cockpit and adjustable outfitting afford a superb interface between paddler and boat.

Download Necky Chatham 18 Data Sheet PDF (High Quality 375KB)

Download Necky Chatham 18 Data Sheet PDF (Low Quality 135KB)

Necky Chatham 18 Standard Equipment

Material: Fiberglass or Carbon

Three Watertight fiberglass bulkheads

VCP Hatches

Day Hatch

Recessed deck fittings for deck lines and bungee cords

Compass recess

Yakima foot braces

Retractable Skeg (?Necky Wire?; Self-Healing, Kink-Free Wire),

Adjustable Thigh Braces

Adjustable Hip Pads

Backband with Forward Seat Adjustment (features easy to use ratchet system)

Low Deck Profile for Reduced Windage

Specifications

Length: 17', 9", Width: 20"

Cockpit: 31" x 15"

Hatches

• Front : 16"x9"
• Rear: 16"x9"
• Day Hatch 7.5"

Weight

• Fiberglass: 51 Lbs.
• Advanced Composite: 47 Lbs.

2007 MSRP

• Fiberglass with Skeg $2,999
• Advanced Composite with Skeg $3,649

Images courtesy of Necky Kayaks