: The frame is almost done and I am now considering what to use as a finish. I
: would like to use teak oil or Thompson's. Does anyone have any thoughts or
: experiences with these?

Either one is ok , we are talking a kayak here not a fine piece of indoor furniture! Slap a finish on and get on with it!

: It looks like we will be using canvas for the skin. I am looking for
: suggestions on sewing the skin on. If anyone has a method that worked well
: with a tight fit I would like to hear about it.

In untreated 15 oz canvas you can stretch it 4% lengthwise, sew it on one end then pull it in stages , you don't need any special clamps or pulley systems.

: As for sealing the skin I have a marine enamel that I would like to paint on.
: Will this work to waterproof the skin? Any help would be much appreciated.
: Thanks.

don't use marine enamel it as it dries too hard and will crack the canvas. Instead use a flat oil based paint and add 25% boiled linseed oil, wait several days between coats. This is the method I arrived at after building 3 canvas covered kayaks and it works well. Acrylic latex's have been used and seem to work fine though I don't have personal experience with them.

Canvas has its drawbacks in that does rot and is heavier than synthetics though added weight is not always a problem. Canvas does seem to complement a wood framed kayak better than a sythetic skin , this is due to the canvas being a natural material it breathes a little and stretches and contracts in a way that makes it seem a little alive compared to my synthetic skinned kayaks.

For the record I use synthetics now due to reduced weight and they are cheaper than canvas for me to buy locally.