Kevin,

Here is Texas there is no good source of clear cedar.
I use Home Depot and Lowes.
The only thing good about them is that they don't get upset if you pick thru a stack of timber, particularly if you restack it nicely.
When I consider a boat, I go to several stores, pick out the best I can find. Usually 1-2 boards per store visit that will get me about 70% clear stock (notionally one knot).
Then I go back for weeks until I get enough and in the colors I want.

It is still a lot better than $9 a board foot. Around here I can get something like that, but I have to take whatever is delivered and they don't guarantee actually clear nor a color.

Think of it as a scavenger hunt.

Marc, I don't know where you live in TX, but there is a "Cedar Only" yard in Conroe. It's a special order, but you can get lengths of clear flat sawn 1 x. AND, when I last bought they had Sitka Spruce also. Price was reasonable, but I had to pay a delivery charge here to the Woodlands. They have a picture on their board of a canoe someone else in the area made from their cedar, so they understand.