There was someone by the name of Toni that posted the same question a month ago or so. Search the archives and you'll get plenty of opinions.

My personal experience: I only kayaked once prior to building my Tern this past winter, so I am no expert. But after only one season I feel I have already outgrown the Tern (anyone wanna buy it to replace the one your wife stole?) I will be building the Outer Island (cedar-strip) this winter -- it's narrower (21") and longer (18'.) I am 27, 5'10" and #180, and felt that the Tern was too big. The Tern's volume gives a nice, dry ride, but with the cockpit coaming up so high, my neoprene spray skirt rides too high up my waist and pushes up on my PFD. I want a boat that feels like it's under me rather than swallowing me. I test-paddled some 21"x17' production stitch-and-glue boats (Betsie Bay Kayaks and Superior Kayaks) and felt MUCH more at home. The boats felt lower and 'snugger' -- and even with my size 12 feet, I liked it.

Compared to boats in its category, the Tern is excellent. I would still rather build a Tern over a CLC's bang-your-knuckles-on-the-shear kayak. If I were to build another Tern, I would cut 1 1/2" off the hull side panels at the shear and cut the deck panels to match, but this could be tricky.

Dean