> I'm considering building a kayak, and after some reading and
> investigation, have focused my squinty eyes on the Arctic Tern. I'd like
> to hear what people that have built/paddled one think about it, especially
> in comparison to other boats. How stable is it? how does it perform in
> various adverse conditions (wind, currents, chop, cross seas, following
> seas, etc)?

My previous sea kayak paddling experience was with rotomolded plastic kayaks. I owned a Hydra Sea Runner and also paddled their Horizon (which we still have) and River Venture. The Horizon is several inches wider than the Tern as well as much shorter, but is very stable initially. The Sea Runner and River Venture were both almost as fast as the Tern and the Sea Runner was even better in high winds due to its low-swept bow and stern.

But none of those boats comes close to the handling of the Tern. It glides longer, accelerates quicker and carves tighter curves than either of the similar length plastic boats. It weighs almost 40 pounds less than the Sea Runner with its rudder. The Tern is more "tippy" on the initial stability, but both times it started to roll, I was able to throw my weight out and bring it back upright without rolling. When my Sea Runner started going over, I didn't have a chance of stopping it.

And best of all, it's a beautiful work of art that will never fail to please me or anyone else who sees it. All those hours seem a small price to have paid every time I get in it!

Mark