Just in case people have missed my previous messages, I'd like to ask again for the recommendations, positive and negative about pygmy kits: Coho, Osprey HP and Arctic Tern. I have received very few responses. I can't believe that so few people have built or used these boats. Must be everyone is too busy paddling or putting the perfect finishing touches on their boats to waste their time checking e-mail... ;) Thanks for listening, Bill Oetjen woetjen_at_zoo.uvm.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
William J. Oetjen wrote: > > Just in case people have missed my previous messages, I'd like to ask > again for the recommendations, positive and negative about pygmy kits: > Coho, Osprey HP and Arctic Tern. I paddled a Coho briefly during a class on Saturday. The boat has a lot of rocker for a sea kayak, so it was very maneuverable. A 135 degree high brace turn was easy. I could even do decent bow draws. Also rolls nicely. I didn't have time to really test the other side of the coin, tracking, so can't comment about it. The owner of the boat said that assembly was pretty easy. He said he needed more epoxy, but otherwise the kit was complete. Steve -- Test Scoring and Reporting Services University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-5593 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Steve Cramer wrote: > > William J. Oetjen wrote: > > > > Just in case people have missed my previous messages, I'd like to ask > > again for the recommendations, positive and negative about pygmy kits: > > Coho, Osprey HP and Arctic Tern. I think part of the problem is that your original post seemed to want a comparison between the models, while most people have only built 1, maybe two models. > I paddled a Coho briefly during a class on Saturday. The boat has a lot > of rocker for a sea kayak, so it was very maneuverable. A 135 degree > high brace turn was easy. I could even do decent bow draws. Also rolls > nicely. I didn't have time to really test the other side of the coin, > tracking, so can't comment about it. I'm completing building my second coho (his and hers). I've really only been able to get out on mine (the finished one) a couple of times. I think the boat tracks well. Low primary stability, good secondary stability. > The owner of the boat said that assembly was pretty easy. He said he > needed more epoxy, but otherwise the kit was complete. That sounds about right. Since I had two kits, I found myself dipping into the second kits epoxy to finish the first. Some of that was waste on my part, but also I think the instructions could be organized better to let you minimize waste. Combine several epoxy steps on all the small parts, rather than mix up a batch for each part, use half, etc. Pygmy's instructions do pretty well, though could use a good proofreading. By their own admission, since they have so many models, its hard to make sure all the latest changes are in all the instruction manuals. Phone or in person help has been very good, email support is not really there yet. I also might have liked a little more fiberglass tap supplies for the bulkhead kit, which assumes you have enough scrap fiberglass left over. There seems to be a lively debate from time to time regarding the merits of different kayaks on the kayak builders bulletin board: http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/cgi-bin/KBbbs.cgi There seems to be some feeling that the multichine hull goes a little slower than the hard chine (less seems). More of my notes on building are available at: http://sptddog.com/daveu/kayak.html though still in draft form. -- Dave Uebele (daveu_at_sptddog.com) Spotted Dog Systems http://sptddog.com/daveu.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bill, I have built the Pygmy Queen Charlotte, which has a hard chine hull. Building it was easy, except for a lot of sanding. The kayak performs better than any other kayak I have ever paddled. It doesn't need a rudder to behave in the wind, and it performs great in rough water. You put it on its edge, and it turns nice and sharp with the hard chine. The QC is an earlier Pygmy design, and it performs so well that I am willing to bet that the newer Pygmy designs are just as good if not better. You really can't go wrong with Pygmy. By the way, I have no affiliation with the company. Duane Strosaker Irvine, California *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have limited personal experience with Pygmy boats, but I have paddled a couple of them, and have seen a couple more. All of the boats you asked about. the Coho, Osprey HP, and Arctic Tern, are fine boats. My favorite of them all is the Arctic Tern. It's a very good-looking boat, very maneuverable, and easy to paddle. The Coho is just as nice - it really depends on whether you prefer a multi-chine boat (very slightly faster, slightly less maneuverable) or a hard-chine one (minimally slower, a bit more maneuverable - sometimes a little harder to roll) The Coho might be my choice for longer trips; it's got *lots* of storage room. The Coho has had rave reviews from everyone who's paddled one. I haven't had that privilege (of paddling a Coho). The Tern might be my choice for a general-purpose fun boat. The Osprey HP is a great paddling boat for those of us who like a narrower hull. It's fast, light, and really has plenty of storage room for long trips - though maybe not quite as much room as the Coho. The Tern and the Osprey track very well without a rudder, and I strongly suspect that the Coho does too. If I were to plan on paddling longdistances over open water and/or "in conditions", I'd probably add a retractable skeg to any of these boats (but then I have a personal "thing" about retractable skegs - I just like them a lot. I also have a strong personal preference for bulkheads in any kayak. If I were to build a Pygmy kit, I'd make sure that bulkheads are supplied. They aren't described in the Pygmy site. Unfortunately, all of the three boats you mentioned are available only in kit form - plans are not sold separately. Bill Hansen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Several years ago I was contemplating building a plywood boat and drove up to Port Townsend to try some of the Pygmy boats. I liked the Coho the best. Since then they've come out with the Tern and - though I've never paddled it - this would be the boat I'd build. Its easier to build and, being hard chined, will be easier to control without a rudder. From what I've read, the top speeds of the Tern and Coho are almost the same so, unless you're a speed demon, that shouldn't be much of a deciding factor. The plywood bits are CNC cut and the front /back joints are butted so everything ought to fit up nicely. Putting on the epoxy is probably the trickiest part of the whole process. Best of luck with your boat project! Jeff Portland, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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