I guess I'm a weak person, because I tend to take my personal kayaks out well before they are finished. Last weekend I put 17 miles on my current strip built. This kayak will be used for several months, including exploring for and in a marathon race, before I finish it this winter during a slow time. The hatches are not finished, the coaming is not finished, I just installed the bulkheads, only the saturation coat on the top of the deck while I finish everything (the deck is attatched to the hull)...then I'll do more fill and sanding coats. While I do scrape between coats(when the epoxy is slightly green), I don't sand until it has cured out a bit. I do NOT have any trouble with the kayak, epoxy, or finish while doing it this way. I point out that this kayak is mine, built to be used and used hard. HOWEVER....for a show piece, or kayak I build for someone else, I will finish it before I take it out for a test drive.