> Any recommendations for a QUALITY kit to build. I have a Kevlar kayak and
> want to build a kayak for my wife. Some kits are $1400 + while most are in
> the $600 range. What's the differance? Will be paddling mostly quiet
> lakes. I know that a lot depends on the size of the paddler and storage
> needs, but right now I am concerned about quality (read.. no missing parts
> and good manual), reliable, and caring company. Also,I have heard some
> poor publicity about Chesapeake Light (actually a WEB site downing the
> company and providing resources to "quality" companies).
> Anything to that? How about Pygmy, they seem reliable. Any help would be
> appreciated. Thanks.

I built a Pygmy Arctic Tern this spring and love the boat. My only experience with their customer service was them helping me decide what boat to get. I am very pleased with the one they directed me to. I did not need to call them about anything in the building process. It was a very easy boat to build. I highly recommend trying to paddle an example of the boat your going to build before you purchase a kit. See if there are people in your area that have built some of the boats you are interested in.

Pygmy has had some incredible reviews from Sea Kayaker magazine, while CLC's reviews from them have been less than stellar. (mainly fit and finish issues that were caused by the builder. Check out the review of the Coho on Pygmy's website at http://www.pygmyboats.com

I have not paddled a CLC boat so I cannot give an opinion of them, only what I have heard. I may get to paddle some CLC kayaks in a week at the West Coast Wood Canoe and Kayak Rendevous, I'd like to see how they compare. I'm still undecided as to what kayak I will build this winter.

My only complaint about my Pygmy Arctic Tern is that I never get to paddle it because my wife uses it whenever we go out together, she is starting to refer to it as her boat.

Pygmys do have large cockpits, but I found it easy to get a custom fit with minicell foam. I'm 5' 11" and my wife is 5' 2" and we both are comfortable in our Pygmy.