: If you look at Newfound's strip boat kits, their "basic" kits are
: ~$1200 and their "full" kits (which include essential items
: missing from the basic kits) are upwards of~$1500. When I hear how cheaply
: people here are building their strip boats, these prices seem pretty
: outrageous. Even if you were to buy finished cove and bead strips, you
: could build a complete strip boat for under $800 in parts and materials,
: correct? At least stitch and glue kits are within $150-$200 of the cost of
: buying the materials and plans separately. It seems to me that a kit that
: costs twice the price of the materials is pretty expensive. Unless I'm
: missing something, you're essentially paying $700+ for forms, plans and
: packaging.

I see your point, especially when you compare the cost of the kit with the cost of the materials. Let's analyze this a little more closely:

Cedar Strips (Newfound's price) 1200 linear feet @ $0.35/lf (red cedar) = $420. Forms (1/2" plywood - Home Depot) 2 sheets @ $25/sheet (good stuff) = $50 Plans (Depends on the source) = $50-100 Glass Cloth (4 or 6 oz, plain weave) 24 yards @ $5/yd = $120 Epoxy = $90 Seat, footbraces, rigging, etc. = $150

So the cost of all the materials is around $900 for what is in their "full" kit. A 66% markup for cutting out the forms from the plywood, and putting everything in a box. Nice work if you can get it.

So there is quite a bit of money to be saved if you just buy the strips from Newfound, and source the other items locally.

I just ordered the strips for my next kayak from Newfound - got a bunch of the strips "on sale" - $0.25/lf for 3-4 foot pieces. Also paid regular price for some longer strips for the sheer, keel, etc. Cost less than $300 for all the strips for the entire boat (a 12.5' lake/river kayak).