Edward,

I agree with Bart that if your goal is to get a boat quickly and cheaply, buy a used one. If you think building boats sounds fun AND you want a squirt in a year or two (three?) AND have plenty of time, then have at it. I used a CAD software system, printed station templates, shaped a styrofoam foam plug, laminated the plug with epoxy (won't dissolve it!), faired it, built deck and hull molds, and pulled three boats. The result is very nice and professional. I WOULD like to see that cardboard creation, though!