Along with the book you're reading, if you're working from an existing hull you may get to a point where the information at these links might be helpful to you. They're about taking lines from an existing hull for reproduction.

"The Artist"

http://www.outdoorplace.org/paddling/lines/lines.htm

Don Goss, "Cedar Strip Replica" from The Masik:

http://www.qajaqusa.org/newsletter/Masik_Summer_2006_Vol3No4_v3.pdf

It's a good project- I'm sure people would be really happy to help when you get to the tricky stuff.

m