When I was where you are now, I chose CLC in part because they put me into contact with the most customer/builders. But more importantly, I chose CLC because they happened to have the boat design I wanted. At any rate, from what I hear Pygmy takes excellent care of their builders as well.

Looking through CLC's listings of customer project websites, it became pretty obvious that if some of them could turn out a nice boat with no prior woodworking experience at all, then so could I with some. And so I did. And I am now about to go paddling in my wood yak after I write this, thank you very much.

Also, I have heard of and seen too many strip-built boats completed by total novices to even doubt that I could do one of those, too. Or a SOF. With the books available to you, the internet and these forums, it is nigh unto impossible to fail. So I say: get after it, and send us pictures of your new boat!

Cheers,
Kurt

A photo of one first-time builder's results.