"Riches don't make a man rich, they only make him busier" - Christopher Columbus

My first one was built in 1980 and I have not been able to quit. There is simply nothing better than paddling a wood canoe.

 If you have the "want to" enough you can build one of these but  count the cost prior to starting.  Which is a good life idea whatever you start out in. I would suggest that to build a 17' stripper you will have $1,100 or more invested upon completion. Perhaps one could be built quicker but plan on 300 working hours if all goes well. I use Western Red cedar for the hulls, recovered Ash for the gunnels, seats, thwarts and yokes. The gunnels are sandwiched with Redwood for aesthetics and weight. Decks out of Indiana Cherry and  pieces of Indiana Walnut. Gunnels are attached by stainless steel screws capped over with walnut plugs.

This type of project is one that you work steady at knowing ahead of time that this area you are building in has been taken and will remain unavailable until you are completed.