It may not yet be accurately reflected on their website specifications, but for at least the last 1.5 years, CLC standardly supplys fibreglass cloth sheet and reccomendations for glassing the entire cockpit compartment of the CH17LT when ordered in kit form. This leaves just the bow and stern compartments done only with tape seams. Everything is a tradeoff, Tape only on these seams saves weight compared to cloth over the entire area and the tape alone is plenty strong. (remember that the entire outside of the hull is also cloth covered). Tape seams are also likely a bit easier to apply, getting a sheet to conform to the tight corners in the bow and stern is a bit more difficult.
CLC also now supplies glass cloth for covering the entire deck though some of thier older kits did not include the deck cloth. THe quantity of epoxy resin supplied in the CLC kit was sufficient for me to finish the kit and have enough epoxy left over to build 1/2 of my next boat that I did from plans.
I was very happy with the CLC CH17LT kit that I built. Probably the major difference with Pygme and CLC are the asthetics of the deck construction, which you prefere is really more a matter of personal taste so compare and choose the look that you want. Also be sure to compare the additional cost of bulkheads and hatches that are not standardly included in the Pygme kit (provided you want them).

-Jason Gray
Anchorage, Alaska

I'm thinking about building my first kayak, no real woodworking experience.
: I've been looking at Pygmy's Artic Tern and CLC's Chesapeake 17LT. I've
: noticed a couple differences in the construction and would like to know if
: they make any real difference. Pygmy looks like they send fiberglass cloth
: for the inside of the hull also, where CLC just uses fiberglass tape on
: the joints. Are there any advantages to glassing the inside also rather
: than just tape? Also, I think Pygmy uses butt joints, and CLC uses scarf
: joints, is one better than the other? Any advice on these topics, or if
: you prefer Pygmy or CLC and why, or if anyone has any experience building
: from either of these companies, I'd really appreciate the advice!

: Thanks!