Yo Jess

Sure you can build a kayak - and a good one too. The easiest way to kick start your project would be to buy a kit from a company like Pygmy: www.pygmyboats.com They provide stitch and tape kits with detailed instructions and everything needed to construct a mighty fine kayak. They provide plans with the same good instructions for some of their designs too (so you can do it all yourself if you want to).

By starting with a kit you will save yourself lots of time and angst by avoiding the details like: deciding what sort of ply, glues/epoxy and cloth to buy and how much you need and where to get them from. Nobody admits it, but this can take a lot of time. Also Pygmy kits have the panels pre-cut so all you have to do is just start and before you know it you will have a kayak - how simple can that be.

The hardest part is chosing which design to start with!

Be warned though, once you have made one kayak and have a feel for what is involved and experienced the delight in paddling something that you made yourself: you will likely build another and then another and then another.....

So a kit is an honourable and efficient way to start your kayak building journey. Not that I have completed the journey yet, but I guess a Nick Schade patterned stripped Guillemot expedition would be a great way to finish. However, quite a few people would have started with a Guillemot expedition stripper and there is nothing to stop you starting there either.

Good luck

Pete