Struer Sprintboats are doing something like you describe, but it may be heat involved in their molding.

Here is a short description of their method:

http://www.struer-sprintboats.com/construc.htm

And here is pictures of finished kayak using the method:

http://www.struer-sprintboats.com/knut.htm

I have seen these kayaks in real life. THey are the most beautiful ones that I have ever seen, like carved from solid wood varnished and polished better then the best of furniture.

Struer invite customers to observe their building of the boat, so if you go to their www site, and contact them, I guess they will tell you where they buy their wood. Of course there may be some secrets in their way of boat building, but I guess that such secrets may be hidden in equipment that you will never buy anyway...

Time will show if the Struer wooden kayaks and canoes will survive as Olympic racing crafts. I hope that they will, but I do not feel quite sure. There is money and knowlege involved, and Struer is a very small Danish factory...

Jan Gunnar