Pygmy Boats Inc.
Ultra-Light Boats
Pygmy Boats Inc.
Ultra-Light Boats
Pygmy's Newest, The Arctic Tern 14
14' LOA * 23" BEAM * 11" DEPTH * 32 LBS.
Designer John Lockwood has done it again! In response to a growing
number of folks who want
versatility, he developed our new Arctic Tern 14.
The initial inspiration for her was to create a small play boat. The end result was much
more. Her crisp hard chines make her very responsive to lean turns, an ideal
characteristic for playing in the surf zone. Teens and smaller adults will relish in the
fact that there is a touring boat just their size. Lower wetted surface makes keeping pace
with larger boats a pleasure, not a chore. At thirty-two pounds and fourteen feet, she is
extremely easy to car top.
Pygmy is leading the pack in innovation. A growing number of
paddlers enjoy playing in rough seas. Almost unanimously, these folks want to lean way
back to alter the trim of their boat. The deck on our latest boat has been cleverly
modified to accommodate obstruction free lay back. A longer cockpit provides more
clearance behind the back strap. Our unique recessed coaming takes the rim further out of
the way. Nothing similar has appeared on a stitch and glue kayak.
| Dear Pygmy,
After months of ever increasing frustration paddling a 55# fiberglass kayak, my girlfriend (Anna) finally
had had enough, and we sold it, intending to replace it with something a little smaller
and lighter. No "conventional" kayak fit the bill, so I decided to try and
build her an Arctic Tern 14, though frankly your claims of ease of construction, and
quality of end product seemed a little exaggerated. I don't have a garage, so built it in my office. My work may have suffered slightly, but in 3 weeks, Anna was out paddling. It went together exactly as it was meant to and it really is stunning! It weighs 30 pounds and, as Anna puts it, paddles like an extension of herself. We've been out the Golden Gate and all around the Bay Area, and it really is an amazing little boat. As soon as I arrange for the space, I will be ordering a full size "Tern" for myself. You have an excellent product. Thank you, Dave Reed Sausalito, CA |
In
her sea trials, the Arctic Tern 14 performed wonderfully with a variety of
conditions and paddlers. On a recent trip to Great Slave Lake, fourteen-year old Betsy, a
family friend of John and Freida’s paddled the Arctic Tern 14. Along
side, others paddled our new canoe, a 17-foot Arctic Tern and an Osprey Double. Betsy had
no trouble carrying her personal gear and keeping pace with the pod of Pygmies. The Arctic
Tern 14 also received high marks from play boaters. On several outings, hotshot
paddlers have raved about the crisp handling and responsiveness in challenging sea
conditions. See the trip report below.
The Arctic Tern 14 is ideal for paddlers 4’10" up to 6’ with shoe size up to 11.
Full Kit Includes:
Precision pre-cut panels of highest grade BS-1088 marine Okoume plywood, 2 1/4 gallons of
System Three epoxy, measuring pumps, fully illustrated manual, the Epoxy Book, 38 feet of
38" wide fiberglass cloth (6 oz.), 31 yds. fiberglass tape plus small building
supplies as listed under prices. The Arctic Tern 14 is also
available as a "Basic Kit" in which you buy your own building supplies.
Bulkhead and hatches, rudders, and all other Pygmy kayak accessories fit the
Tern 14.
Create this rugged wood core-glass-epoxy kayak in about 60 hours. Due to curing times, that effort is spread out over 3 to 8 weeks or so. She's laminated inside and out with fiberglass and epoxy for rugged use. See Stitch-n-Glue for a detailed description of the Pygmy construction process.
Build an Arctic Tern 14 and
Paddle into Adventure.