: Am having trouble finding good local cedar. The best choice I have found so
: far is Home Depot, but they only have 12' lenghts. Since I am building a
: Night Herron (18'), how important is full length lumber. I realize all
: pieces will not need to be full length. But how important is it?

Structurally, it's not important at all. You can build a perfectly sound boat by using scarfed or butt-jointed strips. Aesthetically, the joints may show if you're not careful. If you cut two strips, then scarf matching ends together, the joint should be nearly invisible since the grain and color should be almost identical. Try to stagger the joints on the hull and they shouldn't be too obvious. Once you get to the deck, most of the strips will be short.