On my current kayak, which is very wide, I used 11 full length strips on each side of the hull getting well below the waterline. The "football", or fill in area I'm using shorter strips to help with the fitting. On the deck I'm probably looking at using 3 or 4 full length strips on each side...the cockpit, and hatches will eliminate the need of long strips after that. So...it looks like I'll be using around 30 full length pieces. Shorter pieces don't have to look bad, nor are they necessarily weaker. Sometimes you can use the shorter pieces in a particular pattern. I do like to have them at the sheerlines and to work other pieces off of. I also use lesser grades of redwood, pine, and WRC. I really do pick through the piles of lumber. I get enough long pieces along with all the short ones I need. Mostly this is because of the lack of good material that is available where I live.