I have been watching this thread and wanted to correct a few errors in the post below.

1) CLC includes 2.5 gal of epoxy in most kits. I think that's more than the competition gives.

2) All but the ultralight Patuxent series have 4mm decks. we can achive the same strength as a 'glassed multi-chine deck due to the arched shape, but we will gladly include glass for the deck for $10 extra if you just ask.

3) Multi-chine decks must be glassed to hold them together - no choice here.

4) CLC multi-chine hulls are fully glassed inside and out to make assembly easy, not for strength. It's the same with all multi chine kayaks.

5) If a certain CLC model weighs more its because hatches, bulkheads, a real backband and seat, and deck rigging are standard (not extra cost options) and they are included in the weight.

6) Any company that would offer a hard chine boat without fillets (and I don't know if any company does) has probably not done strength tests on the joints.

7) Any high end or custom boat builder who substituted butt joints for scarfs in a sailboat or most other type craft would be laughed out of business.

8) A deck seam does not make a boat stiffer than a true cambered deck. Cambered decks have the highest stiffnes to weight ratio.

9) Rubrails are a pretty and practical option that a lot of folks pay extra for. It beats putting a strip of electrical tape over the sheer joint to hide it, as you will see in the catalog from our esteemed competitor.

10) CLC kits are cheaper because we buy full containers of wood from European mills. Do our own cutting on our own CNC machine, and buy massive quantities of epoxy. We also sell close to 2000 kit a year. But maybe the real reason is that I am not greedy enough - we make a very nice profit as it is.

Now I'd like to offer three opinions.

1) Negative advertising (as practiced by a certain competitor) often attracts and sells to people who have a negative and aggressive attitude. I certainly don't want to deal with customers, or anyone else, with that sort of attitude.

2) It's only a kayak. If you spend all you're time concerned about which one is a pound lighter, 2% faster, or 4% stronger you'll turn into one of those silly obsessed gear-heads that just sits around reading spec sheets and playing with his equipment. THESE ARE ALL GREAT BOATS; JUST TOSS A COIN, BUILD THE DAMN THING, AND GO PADDLING!

3) GO PADDLING! (in case you missed this in opinion #2)

Feel free to e-mail or call if you have questions.

Chris Kulczycki, Kayak Designer Chesapeake Light Craft Inc.

> 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.