Toni,

I'm no expert by any means - but I have built two stitch and glue boats. I built a little double paddle kayak from plans (Glen-L Rob Roy) and I'm just finishing a CLC Ches. 17. I've had a blast doing both and neither were very difficult. I decided against Pygmy because I thought building the multi panel deck would take extra time. For me working the gooey somewhat toxic Epoxy fillets is the least fun part - so I wanted to minimize this effort. I can highly recommend the CLC product - although I'm a bit of a klutz and had trouble gluing the pre-cut scarf joints together at the beginning. I found a small Canadian company that offers a good looking design similar design. He uses tongue and groove joints to join his panels. I'm trying to talk my paddling buddy into building one to see if it is any good.

As for me - I think I am going to build a strip built or a frame / skin boat next.

If you have wood working skills - you won't have any trouble building a stitch and glue boat from any manufacturer - or building one from plans.

Go for it. It's a blast.

PC
> There seems to be a lot of rivalry among the major kayak kit suppliers and
> for a newcomer it is difficult to sort through the information. For
> example, one major supplier recommends scarf joints, the other disagrees,
> one uses cambered multi-paneled decks, the other not. Unfortunately, there
> is no way for me to try out the various models before purchase, so I feel
> as if I am guessing before spending a substantial amount of money on a kit
> for my husband's birthday. Our kayaking involves launching from
> pebbly/sandy beach into light surf on Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay.I
> realize there are probably good virtues to both Pygmy and Chesapeake Light
> Craft designs but don't know how to choose. My husband is a very competent
> woodworker and advanced beginner kayaker.He is 5 foot 7 inches and a
> slender build. Does anybody have any suggestions? Experience with both?
> Strong feelings about the design differences? Thanks for the help.