Eric,

Those are two VERY different kayaks.

The Arctic Tern is quite strong tracking, fairly high volume, hard chined kayak that carves crisp edged turns, and is very balanced in windy conditions. It is also stitch and glue from a kit that is very easy to build. I built an Artic Tern as my first kayak, and think it is wonderful. I love taking it out in rough water. The only things I don't like about it are that it is bigger than I want for day paddling (it is great for camping) and it doesn't turn quite as sharp as I would like. It doesn't feel quite as big as it is though, and it still turns better than most kayaks. It does not need a rudder or skeg. Cost of building is just a little more than the kit. If you are under 150 pounds it is a big kayak, and I would recommend the AT 14.

The Guillemot is loose in the water, it doesn't have a strong keel, and has rounded chines. It is highly maneuverable, and responds better to paddle strokes than edging compared to the Arctic Tern. It is much lower volume than the Arctic Tern. It is also a strip-built kayak that takes considerably longer to build. It lends itself to creative stripping for some extremely beautiful decks. It is one of the most beautiful kayak designs that I have seen. I have paddled a few guillemots and they didn't respod as well to edging as the Arctic Tern, but combining edging and sweeps, it turned on a dime. I prefer a hard chined kayak for the crispness of their turns. Many people feel it needs a skeg or a rudder to keep it going straight, but good technique can accomplish the same thing. Cost of building varies from builder to builder.

Both could be great kayaks, depending what you want. Both will help you to develop your paddling skills. Good paddlers can really show off their skill in either kayak.

Mike

: I am looking at building a kayak and have narrowed to these. How do they
: compare, in the opinion of somebody who doesn't work for Guillemot or
: Pygmy? Am I missing good options? I have no woodworking experience, so I
: am only looking at kits.