> __________________________________________________

> Hi Steven,

> I built the Pygmy Coho and yes it is almost as easy as they say it is.
> Some things you will need: Small block plane to bevel 4 edges to about 45
> degrees. Pygmy neglects to tell you about this step in the promo
> materials, but that is the most complex woodworking skill you will need
> and it is not hard. Good to have (or borrow)a jig saw to cut hatches if
> you want them. You can do it by hand but it will take a lot longer. Get as
> many clamps as you can (like 30) . You can get by with 10 but it will take
> you longer as you can do several clamping steps at once if you have
> enough. Also the kit comes with only a few Gloves. Go to the drug store
> and get a box of 100 latex gloves($12). You will use them all before the
> boat floats. Get lots of mixing cups and stir sticks. Popsicle sticks work
> well. Also save all your butter dishes etc. for mixing. You will want more
> of the dental syringes than come with the kit also. You will need at least
> a dozen of the thin yellow foam roller pads and it is nice to have some
> cheap foam brushes on hand for application and tipping out bubbles in the
> epoxy. Running out of any one of these little items can bring your project
> to a screaching halt and require a trip to the hardware or marine supply
> store. Oh yeah, have a couple of extra 1/16th inch drill bits on hand. If
> you do not break one drilling the holes I will buy you a steak dinner! :)

> 10 X 20 feet is about right if you have figured out how you will get 17
> feet of finished Kayak out of the space.

> You will not regret doing it. What you have at the end of a very enjoyable
> project is a lovely and seaworth craft that people will stop you and ask
> you about when they see it.

> Bursting with pride in Seattle

> Mike

Mike (in Seattle),

Where is my steak dinner? I didn't break any drill bits on my Arctic Tern. ;-)

I also rinsed the syringes out after each use and I am still using the same two on my third kayak.

I reuse my mixing/measuring cups by leaving the mixing stick in overnight and pulling the hardened epoxy out the next day. I use three graduated cups for a kayak now.

Don't go too cheap on the foam brushes or you end up picking specks of foam out of your fresh epoxy.

One other thing you will have when you are done, is the desire to build more kayaks.

The Pygmys are very easy to build, and a building table 2'x16' is a very good idea.

Mike (in Tacoma)