I live in the intermountain states along way away from marine wood sources. After building one boat from a kit I wanted to try my own design. I used birch furniture grade plywood. I sanded through the venear on edges and added about ten pounds in wood but it is a great boat to paddle and I get a lot more comments on it than my other boat. I think it is a little stiffer and stronger than the kit boat. Get the finest blade you can when you cut it out or it will splinter more. My solution to the ten pound gain was to paddle more taking 25 pounds off my gut. This is clearly the most overlooked method of reducing total craft weight for most of us.