Chris,

I built a CLC Chesapeake 17 last winter. I really enjoyed the process. I bought your plans because 1) at the time, your literature contained less competition-bashing material, 2) I thought the cambered decks looked nice and 3) your competitor didn't offer plans in the boat design I wanted to build from.

1) This has changed recently. Honestly, this is very distracting and the competition-bashing has (in my eyes) made both you (CLC) and Pygmy look bad. I'm sure all the negative advertising has turned off many potential boatbuilders, who will now probably not build a S&G at all. You are not the only one at fault, however, you are not guiltless either.

2) I still think the curve on my Chesapeake looks better than a peaked deck. I still do. What does that matter? Not a darn thing. It's just my personal preference. Other people like peaked decks. Does that mean I should tell them their boat looks ugly? No. Their finish might be much better than mine, and their deck is probably drier. It's a design tradeoff; you can't have everything, but you don't have to put down another's choice either.

> I've always thought that folks who build boats should get to learn about
> boatbuilding, not just how to glue a few panels together.

3) As for plans vs. kits: I wanted to learn about boatbuilding, true, and you offered a great set of plans. The fact that your competitor does not cost them my sale. This is good for you, but it is arrogant to proclaim that to all. Your kit customers don't learn any more than Pygmy's kit customers. Both glue a few panels together and come up with a beautiful wooden boat. Some people are not do-it-yourselfers, but can really be proud of an assembled kit kayak. Others, like me, love the process just as much as the completed boat.

> As for how many folks here post about pygmy boats versus CLC boats. Its
> simply a matter of who sells more kits and plans. Since more CLC boats are
> built, a lot posts concern CLC boats. No mystery here.

Big Deal, So What? Remember, you offer plans. You must admit, there are more opportunities for error with plans visavis kits. People have problems with the plans, that's one major reason for posting--"Here's my problem, help me fix it" and people on this BBS are more than happy to help each other out. No mystery, but do you want to brag about people having problems? NO, you just want to help them out so that they can get out and enjoy paddling your design.

> One other factor: CLC offers a lot of option and technical tips and
> encourages folks to try new things like graphite bottoms, plexiglass
> underwater windows, various cockpit shapes, kayak carts, etc. Just look at
> the shop tips section of our newly revised web site to see a lot of them.
> That kind of stuff is fun to do and fun to talk (and post) about.

You're right! It's a heckuva lot of fun. Your wealth of available information is invaluable. Keep up the good work.

>So we try to
> give out a lot of information to our customers - it's a way to give
> something back to the folks who have supported our company. (See the new
> kayaking and technical articles on our web site as an example.) And a lot
> of these folks who read our information, and discuss it in forums like
> this, go on to build several boats, because now its a hobby that they
> enjoy, not simply a way to get a cheap kayak.

It's more than a hobby, it's a powerfully addictive drug, and I'll be hooked on boatbuilding for the rest of my life, thanks to you! Your advocacy for wood sea kayaking is an asset to the boatbuilding community. Let your merits speak for themselves; you don't have to put down the competition to make yourself look good.

Shawn Baker

> Chris, Chesapeake Light Craft