Here is my $.02 - your mileage may vary.

I think of this as a hobby, and enjoy spending time working with the wood. There is a local lumber yard that stocks clear WRC at decent prices. Ripping strips is not my favorite part, but I do not (yet?) see it as a chore. I found putting the bead and cove on to be fiddly ( at least with my cheap table router) and no fun at all. I actually had a lumber mill cut a boat's worth of bead and cove for one boat, but prefer ripping the wood and using a rolling bevel. It is eaiser to get the wood to match up if you cut a few strips at a time, keeping them sorted as you strip. Cutting and shaping the forms is also not my favorite part, but also not a chore. I also used KayakFoundry to layout the boat, and had some fun doing it.

At the end of the process, when somebody asks you about the boat, you can say "I designed it, bought 1x8 lumber, cut away what did not look like a boat and then put it all together". Sounds better than "it is a kit". (8-))

Having said that, if you have the extra $300-$400 to have somebody else do the grunt work - you can save quite a bit of time and frustration. For me, cutting the forms and ripping the lumber is less enjoyable than the actual stripping and finishing. This is particularly true if you plan to use bead and cove.

It is all good, jump in and build a boat either way.

bvs

: I want to build a strip kayak. I have built one SOF-F1, working on
: a CLC kit and hoping to build a bidarka this summer in a class
: with Mr. Brinck.
: So I figure I should have a strip built boat in the fleet.

: How does the cost compare between a complete kit, and buying
: supplies in the amounts for just one boat. I live in the LA
: area,
: I would consider kits from Guillemont, which means CLC if I
: understand correctly and Joe Greely and One ocean.
: I am fat and short belong to a club and don't get into the boat
: very often. Still have not got a roll down, but it is coming.
: I am looking for a day touring boat that has some stability and
: good speed. I know that is a trade off.

: I don't have a great deal of equipment, table saw, and skill saw
: and a bunch of clamps. I have a hunch getting the whole set up
: would minimize mistakes. The CLC kit is a stitch and glue Arctic
: Hawk, which has taken a long time to get to where I am in the
: process. Found out my skin does not like fiberglass so now have
: pretty good protective gear and will always wear it. (Takes a
: long time for rash to go down once I get a skin issue going).

: After the strip or may as a work up to it I think I will try a Yost
: boat the frame less /blow it up (Sonnet?) sounds very
: interesting and a lot easier to get to the water. Water so far
: has been the Colorado river and some harbors around LA, still
: taking classes and learning.

: But I found I love building boats too.

: Thanks for all the wisdom and smiles this forum has provided.

: Thoughts are welcome. One of my consideration is the cost of
: shipping and buying more tools. (Love tools,but they do cost
: money :(
: Thanks.