What a beautiful boat!! (or is it "fine furniture"?) If my boat looks a 10th that good, I'll be thrilled. First, I have a question for everyone, then a probably "impolite" set of questions for you, but I'll ask anyway.
First question (for all). I've gotten a few responses here and via email that bright finishes are difficult to maintain for working tenders. My boat will definitely be a working boat when it's used, but the nature of our present situation means it won't be used often. However, the warnings have me a little concerned, so here's my question. If I go with a bright finish, then decide to paint over, is this a problem? Common sense tells me no, but I don't want to assume anything.
Now for some "impolite" questions about the kayak speciically and small boatbuilding in general.
Capt Jake - Your website mentioned that you didn't build this out of an interest in kyaks, but rather an interest in boat-buidling and woodworking. What did you do with the boat after you built it? Keep it as a trophy, maybe using it occasionally, or did you sell it? If you sold it, how much did you sell it for?
Now for a few more general questions, and they fall in line with why I asked about that. Is this type of small-boat building something a person can do as an avocation? I work in the computer field, and frankly have long since grown tired of it. I have a plan of 10-15 years down the road, taking an early retirement, and skippering boats as a supplemental income (occasional charters, moving boats for others, etc). Obviously, small-boat building would be another good avocation for someone that wants to semi-retire around boats.