Well, I went back to REI today, and had them get the "1st quality" OT
Penobscot down from the rafters. It too had a few dings and scrapes. Those
were minor compared to the ones on the "blemished model". But, after getting
several reassurances that REI would stand behind the boat for as long as I
own it, and that I could return it at any time, for any reason, I went ahead
and got the more dinged up one. By that time, I had the cart full of 2 new
PFDs, and 2 new laminated Bending Branches paddles and by getting the more
dinged up one, I essentially got some of the accessories for free. That's
one way of looking at it, anyway. I figure if this boat gives me any grief,
I'll take it back. But, honestly I'm not expecting it to. In fact, after
being on the roof rack of my vehicle in the sun all afternoon, it almost
appears to my deceiving eyes that the depressions are getting just a tiny,
tiny bit shallower.

Thanks for the responses to this query. This boat is already such an
improvement over my previous 85lb plastic bathtub, that I bet I'll be out on
the water more often. And no matter how one looks at it, that's the main
thing.

Mike Swaim