> I guess I should add my balancing opinion here.

> I much prefer the Pygmy boats (I have paddled both and built a Coho). I
> like the multi-chine deck; it really does make paddling close to the boat
> easier. The hard shear corner and rub rail of the CLC boats tends to get
> in my way especially when paddling in the surf or other challenging
> conditions. The multi-chine deck is prettier to me.

> A friend of mine had his 3mm CLC deck crack when he started to play in
> light surf. That big single-piece deck is much more prone to buckling than
> the multi-piece Pygmy method. The Pygmy deck is also 4mm thick and is
> glassed completely on the outside and has the seams glassed on the inside.
> This is much stronger and stiffer than the CLC deck.

> The Pygmy kits have more glass and more epoxy. Thus their kits are a bit
> higher in cost. They are weight competitive since they have no rub rail,
> no shear clamp, no left-in stiches, no big joint fillets and no nails.
> Pygmy prefers to add weight where it also adds strength.

> I like Pygmy hatches. They fit into a recess, almost flush with the deck,
> and have a seam down the center which adds stiffness. This allows for the
> use of thinner sealing foam. The CLC hatches stick up higher and throw
> more spray into your face.

> I also just prefer the lines of the Pygmy boats. I love the curve of the
> center deck seam as it rises to the bow. The CLC boats seem too
> straight-lined to me (its hard to bend that one piece deck into a compound
> curve I guess).

> I get the impression that Pygmy boats are better optimized and tested
> prior to release as kits. These are just my opinions, of course.

Jon, I have read your post several times. I find it to be very accurate.