If it's any help, I just this afternoon put the last strip on my first boat Finally!! :)

I had this same question before I started. I have never built anything even remotely close to something like this before, don't have a router or table, had never used a hand plane in my life... I opted for hand beveling the strips. Mostly because I'm also on a very limited almost non existent budget. A plane was much cheaper than a router/table/bits, or buying pre-milled strips.

I did find it kind of tough to get a good fit when I first started in on the hull. By the time I got to the deck I was pretty good at it and only took a minute or two to get a good bevel and satisfying fit. There are some gaps on the inside (see pic), but once I slowed down and just took my time those gaps got smaller and smaller. You can certainly tell where I started and where I finished.. And as the other guys said, the sharper the tool the better. Made a huge difference when I sharpened the used plane I picked up.

If you do decide to hand bevel and if you've never used a plane before, WEAR A GLOVE or something on the hand holding the strip. Whacked off the end of my finger twice before I figured that one out. Those planes don't mess around.

The boards I started with were rough cut. I opted to just go with it instead of getting it finished with smooth edges before cutting strips. This made it very hard to get a decent straight edge beveling. From here forward I will never again use rough cut planks, spend the couple bucks to get someone to run the boards through a planer.

Other than that, go for it man. either way you'll have fun building it!