Hi Bert,

While I can't comment on the San Javier or the Pygmy, or handeling characteristics of the boats you are interested in I can pass on my experience(s) with Shearwater plans and instructions. I am building a Shearwater Baidarka from plans. The pans are full size, so you just carefully align the sheets, tape them together, roll them out on your scarfed plywood, use and awl or centre punch to mark the wood, draw lines between the marks you've made and your panels are layed out. Slicker 'n sh*t off a shiney shovel. Although the design I am building is somewhat complex (multipanel hull, with a carved cutwater and skeg) the boat went together beautifully, virtually no shimming or shaving to make the panels fit together with fair lines.
The instructions manual is good, but I do remember wishing that there was more concise information on certian steps of the building process. That said, now that I've finished the steps I just mentioned none of my concerns were serious enough that I can recall what they were.
I called Eric Schade(Shearwaters owner) on a couple of occasions and have to say that I was really impressed with the guy. He wasn't in a hurry to get off the phone and was more than willing to spend the time to answer questions, and offer suggestions to help make my building experience go as smoothly as possible. By the time I finished talking to him, I felt like I was talking to a friend, Eric is definitely not a 'take the money and run' sort of guy.
It seems that the people and company's involved in the kayak building biz are a good lot and I haven't heard much bad said about any of them.

Good luck in choosing a design.

Ken (who is off to do some microscopy, and is trying to keep his mind from wandering off and thinking about paddling).

: I was wondering if anyone has any experience building either of these boats
: I am considering both of them as well as a pygmy double , I plan on
: building from plans and would appreciate any input from anyone that has
: built any of these boats , what I am looking for is thoroughness of
: instructions and full size plans as well as good handling of completed
: boats .Thanks for any input I am a newbie in this craft and can't seem to
: find any info from local B.C. people .