> I have learned through experience that CLC expects customers to toe their
> line strictly and absolutely. Deviation will be severely dealt with.

> If you wish to verify this, mention to anyone at CLC that you are
> considering using luan to build a boat with. The reaction will be most
> unpleasantly enlightening.

For what it's worth, I have found CLC to be supportive of my crazy ideas which deviate from their design. They don't agree that I needed some of the modifications I made to my North Bay, but they were interested in following my progress, wanted to know the details --- forward bulkhead beefed up and moved aft to accomodate a foot pump, added deck support aft of the aft bulkhead, added deck beams for strength, etc. --- and gave me a lot of positive feedback, along with a scrap or two of plywood to play with in the process (I live in the Annapolis area).

Yes, they seem to have a strong aversion to using luan plywood and any sort of doorskin, but that seems to be because they don't think it'll hold up, not to sell more okume. While Chris and John have strong opinions on some issues, and both do tend to call it as they see it --- which might seem abrupt to some folks, I guess --- I'm surprised at the number of folks who've weighed in on the negative side of the "buying experience". Sure runs totally opposed to everything I've seen, and directly opposite everything I've seen in terms of interpersonal interaction in this part of the world.

Jack Martin