Sue,

I have an Arctic Tern that I built this year and like it a lot.

> I have narrowed my choices for a first attempt at building to Pygmy's
> Artic Tern and Osprey Std. but am still researching other possibilities
> and now have 2 concerns about the Pygmy technique. CLC claims that using
> sheer clamps is the way to go. Any comments on difficulty of gluing deck
> to hull in a Pygmy boat or problems attaching deck rigging?

Both methods work fine, but I have heard of more deck problems on CLC kayaks than Pygmys. The Pygmy more be a little more work, but I think it is worth the effort to get a more sweeping bow. I had no difficulties gluing the deck on. CLC and Pygmy both make good kayaks, go with what pleases you. I fell in love with the Tern's lines.

> CLC also uses scarf joints as opposed to Pygmy's butt joints. I have read
> the pros/cons of each from both companies but would appreciate some
> hearing from experienced builders on the subject.

The both have their pros and cons, but on the Pygmys you don't have to worry much about flat spots. The butt joints are easier and work fine. I have yet to see one fail, but I have messed up a scarf joint before.

> Also can't decide between HC and MC. I am looking for a stable enough boat
> that I can paddle along the shore (creeks, estuary, bay) and be able to
> use binoculars for wildlife watching. Any recommendations or votes for
> either the Arctic Tern or Osprey?

I just went paddling in some sloughs in it last weekend. It manuvered nicely through most ares but was a little bit long at times. The Tern turns sharper than the Osprey (4' shorter turning radius), but the Osprey will fit into tighter quarters (14" shorter). The Osprey also has slightly higher initial stability than the Tern, but I think the Tern has higher secondary. As a novice you want high initial, but the more you paddle the more you can see the benefits of high secondary and initial become less important. After paddling the Tern for a summer I find it more than stable enough, so does my wife. When you get in it for the first time it will feel tippy, but soon it becomes an extension of you and only leans when you want it to. The upsept bow and stern on the Tern help keep you dry. It is the driest single I have ever paddled.

Either boat would be fine. I have heard Pygmy has an Arctic Tern 14 out now, if you are a smaller person it might be a wonderful kayak for what you want. Very manuverable, fits in tight quarters, and still quite stable. Pygmys are faily high volume kayaks so their smaller kayaks can handle larger people. Talk to the folks at Pygmy and see what they recommend, I found them very helpful.

Hope this helps, Mike