> I am a soon to be first time wood kayak builder who is absolutely torn
> between whether to buy the Pygmy Arctic Tern or Coho kits. I live on the
> east coast and paddle primarily in/around coastal waters of both the
> Atlantic and the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay with plans for occasional
> overnighters along the coast or intercoastal and a long term dream of
> paddling the length of the Chesapeake Bay in a kayak which I built. I am
> 6'1", 220 and a size 11 shoe. I guess my biggest dilema in choosing
> between the two designs rests in performance differences of the hard chine
> hull of the Arctic Tern and the multi-chine hull of the Coho. Anybody have
> experience with either of the kayaks, particularly the Arctic Tern? I read
> the Sea Kayaker review of the Coho from last winter. Thanks!

I built an arctic Tern this winter. A fun project and it is beautiful. I have built a Golden Eye which is nice also, but I like the Tern better. It is fast and stable from my point of view. I put in the hatches and bulkheads which is nice also. I am about your size and it fits snug, but comfortable. I have had it out twice, once on Lake Erie and once on a small local lake. I like the hard chine hull for the initial stability and also for the ease of exiting. The soft chine Golden Eye likes to try and dump me on the beach. My wife is 5' 7" and 115 pounds and she likes the Tern also, says paddling it is like flying like a bird, so I guess the Tern name fits! If you go for the Tern and put the front bulkhead in be careful here as I found this installation a little tricky.

Can't speak for the Coho, but it looks great too. Good Luck.