: . . .
: I'm wondering if I could do a hybrid strip/skin boat. I'm imagining
: a strip-built bottom that copies as exactly as I can a typical
: longboard shape with a skinned upper portion. Imagine a flat
: bottom, solid wood or foam rails, ribs that bend downward into
: the rails, and a skin that gets stapled to the rails.
: . . .

I am working on an experimental hybrid build; ply bottom with half-ribs glued to it, stripped around the bilges with ply sheer planks - http://theancientkayaker.weebly.com/uploads/4/1/4/3/4143961/4818468.jpg

I messed up the first batch of ribs and had to remake the entire set, so now I have all these spare ribs (cackle) that I have time invested in. I am considering another canoe, with ribs glued to a ply bottom as in the pic with a few more stringers added and a fabric skin over all. No reason why it shouldn't work, and the ply bottom will act as a floor.