It only took me about four months to build the boat. While one overcomes many small challenges in the process, the manual is very comprehensive and informative. I don't think any of the challenges I faced rose to the level of a "struggle." They were just problems to figure out. And if I had questions, I could consult the staff at CLC or the very helpful and experienced builders on the CLC website Builder's Forum. I thought it was all addictive and fun -- with some nervous moments tossed in. (Getting a final smooth varnish coat was possibly the greatest challenge.) The building process is very forgiving and virtually any mistake can be fixed with a bit of effort. I found it thoroughly rewarding. After nearly three full seasons of use, my boat still looks almost new and is an absolute delight to row and sail! There is a lot more information about my building experience in my blog. See the notes above.
The boat took a little over four months to build, but I had it in the water for its first sail in two months. The dory has been a lot of fun to build and to own. You can find out more on my blog: lakenorforkadventures.blogspot.com/search/label/boat%20building
