I think it depends much on the shape of the kayak. Those designs with a re-curve in the bow / stern will be trickier to build using thicker strips and less stations. A simple shape kayak may well be easy enough to build using thicker strips and wider spaced stations, but not all boats will be that easy.

This is also assuming that the builder is able to fair those thick strips or even has the interest in doing that. I own two hand held electric planes and I'm not sure I'd want to try to fair a kayak using one and I've used them quite a bit. The average builder I'd assume wouldn't be happy trying that either.

Bill H.