You really have two conflicting questions.

One the one hand, it is MUCH cheaper to build from plans (for me $250 vs $750+. A few things to think about when using plans:

Woodworking skills - You do not need a lot but you better know how to use a jigsaw and plane. All other skills are needed for both ways.

Source for Okume(sp?)I found some locally for $33 per sheet. Call around to specialty lumber yards or ones near nautical areas.

Epoxy and fiberglas source. Raka was more than 50% cheaper here than the competition.

Ability to read plans and tranfer patterns. You do not get full size plans which means you will need to transfer points somehow. I transfered them to AutoCAD and plotted them full scale.

On the second hand you said you did not have much time. If your woodworking skills do not allow you to accurately lay out a pattern and cut with a jigsaw, you really have only one choice. Buy a kit. But ... if your skills do not allow you to use a jigsaw, they probably will not allow you to do some of the other tasks required to finish a kit such as lining up panels accurately, blending the transition from hull panels at the ends, doing the cockpit, getting the 'twist' out, etc.

Time wise, the plans route is not that much longer than the kit and it is 1/3 the price. Your call

> I have abandoned my plan to build a strip kayak. I really wanted to build
> one, but I work pretty late and have a long commute, which leaves me with
> little building time, let alone kayaking time. But yet I still want to
> build and paddle my own kayak. So as an alternative to a srip built, I am
> considering stepping down to building a stich and glue kayak from
> Chesapeake Light Craft, which I understand requires much fewer hours to
> complete. I was wondering if anyone has an opinion of CLC and it's boats
> and also whether or not its cost effective to buy the kit as opposed to
> buying the plans and then locally buying all the material. I would
> appreciate any advice. /David