Consider this a bit of an introduction. I am a south Louisiana guy and I like making my own stuff. So naturally, when I realized I "needed" a kayak, the search began. Since I am not a housewife from the 1950's, no offense to them, but tupperware kayaks just never gave me that warm fuzzy. So, I am going to be building technically my second boat. The first, built many years ago, was a traditional painted Cajun pirogue with only a very vague set of plans to go on. That little wobbly thing has given up the ghost years ago, yet we still have an abundance of water nearby. So, I have decided to build the JEM Sabalo 12 SOT. With all her parts, should be a piece of cake for a first build, right? I am trying to quickly finish the small honey-do's and prep my already too small and stuffed shop for a kayak build. The 4mm Okoume purchased recently on a trip to Houston is crying out from its flat resting position in storage. It is begging to be marked, cut, and stitched into shape. That said, I have NO experience building kayaks or fiber glassing. After reading many of the posts here, I figure you are the right group of people to slide up next too. Plus, after lurking for quite a while, reading threads here and on the JEM site, I figure finally posting will hold me to my word of actually building this thing. I only posted here first because it seems a bit more active, but I fully intend to post build pics, along with any questions on both forums. Maybe one day we will meet out somewhere, and hopefully I am paddling a Sabalo 12 SOT built with my own three hands.