: Bill,
: This comment seems like a bit of a stretch. Pygmy is one of the
: world's top kit manufacturers and has sold thousands of boats
: with butt joints. It's not likely they would continue if it were
: not an effective technique. Once sheathed in fiberglass, a butt
: joint is no more likely to fail than is any of the joints in a
: stripped boat.
: -Wes

Assuming both sides are covered in glass you're right, but I've read many times of people that saved time and materials by not covering the whole surface with glass on both sides. If you use the boat for an hour a month it probably never will matter, if you use all day several days a week it might.

Bill H.