OK guys. Thanks for the advice. I hear loud and clear a unanimous vote to build my own. And yet...

I'm not really worried about the money. I don't have a shop to build one like I'd like to in. As I said at first, if I were to attempt to strip outer "candy shell" and redo it, I'd probably build a temporary tent structure in the backyard and do it in nice weather.

But based on recommendations, I'll buy this boat and only do the necessary patch work to make it seaworthy, add comfort/fit modifications, rig the deck, and just enjoy it. I know ya'll are screaming about the price, but seriously, $900 seems like a deal to me. It's only a couple hundred more than the kit. And yeah, I'll probably dump a bit more money in it to patch and rig. About a quart of epoxy and hardener and what looks like a plenty of glass is included with purchase. I could not buy a new or used boat for that price (least not around here) that has the weight, strength, speed, and handling qualities this boat has, and that's not something I was told, that's what I've researched. Believe me, I've looked.

I paid $1200 for a new Necky Eskia polyethylene last January, and it's a fine boat, very seaworthy, lots of nice features, but this Arctic Tern surpasses it in a lot of areas, I think it will be a really good boat to further my learning of paddling techniques in. Most all of the braces and strokes I've tried in it seem to work better and easier. I'll probably reserve the Eskia for really demanding conditions, but will get a lot of use from this Tern for short paddles on the calm river and in coastal areas where I don't have to put a lot of faith in unknown structural stress limits.

Maybe my description/tone was misleading in my original post. There is no doubt the boat has some baffling and serious problems, like the gap in the rear bulkhead and the offset foot peg racks. And it's certainly true that the finish is lumpy and bumpy and has many runs and that the glass job on the vertical freeboard butt-joints are ugly. I also have to question the structural integrity based on three 12-16" long areas where the edges of the fillet tape are exposed, although the boat shows no other signs of weakness. But it's far from a complete disaster. Also it is the only wooden kayak I've ever seen close up in person. Maybe many of them have blemishes and WTFs. Overall, it seems a sound boat, tracks great, handles great, and is much faster than my Eskia.

Sure, it's below cosmetic and safety standards for what I'd hope to build for myself. But the safety issues can be rectified, and I am seeing and feeling the qualities of a fiberglass or kevlar hard-chine boat for less than half the price. That is why it makes sense to me to buy it and enjoy it.

I asked about refinishing strategy ideas after I'd already decided to buy this boat, thinking that maybe it would only take a few weekends and evenings to set things right (I thought if I could use heat or steam to lift off the shell in a reasonable amount of time, I'd be at finishing stage ). Not really worried about time either, it's got to be less than building from scratch, but even if it ain't, I'd still enjoy piddling with it for the experience. I'll probably sell it and the Eskia next year and buy a Valley or NDK anyway.

If it's any consolation, I do plan to build my own boat, and I hope not just one. I want very badly to do that. But I just don't have the dedicated workspace to do it like it needs to be done right now. So maybe I likewise don't have the space to refinish properly either. What the heck, I'm just going to enjoy this boat, and plan one day to build my own. At least I won't feel so bad when I scratch it on the inevitable oyster rock.

If I do decide to attempt a refinish at some point, and if it works out, I'll post back and record what I've done with pics. Even it it goes awry, maybe pics of process would still help another stricken soul down the road!

If anyone here still thinks I should not pay $900 for the boat, speak up and say why. I'm still in "test" mode and although I've said I woud buy it, I have not actually turned over the money yet. Considering that I'm not going to build one at this point, is it or is it not a good price for the qualities of the boat in question--a model many of you apparently own.

Thanks for the input!