You'll get a lot of different opinions on Cove and Bead vrs plane strips. I built my first boats cove and bead and the last three were plane strips. I like the plane strips because I have a couple of small block planes that make the plane strips go on quickly and easily.

http://www.amazon.com/Sheffield-58452-3-Inch-Block-Plane/dp/B004FEPBQK/ref=sr_1_24?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1409588990&sr=1-24&keywords=block+Plane

I like using 3/16" thick strips for kayaks and 1/4" for canoes. The 3/16" inch strips are easier to coax into complex curves and make for a lighter boat, but a canoe needs more rigidity which the 1/4" provide.

I would advise reading Nick's books and Rob Macks book and having them as a reference.

Finally, the kit greatly simplifies things. The kit sellers want you to have a good first experience with boatbuilding and between the materials and instructions supplied you will be able to produce a great boat.