If you're seriously thinking about building your own canoe go here:   (You need to Login or Register
I doubt if there's anyone alive who knows more about cedar strip canoe building than Ted Moores.  He's literally built them for Prime Ministers (Trudeau) and Kings (or at least kings in waiting - Prince Charles.)  If you really want to go whole hog and can get yourself up to Peterborough ON, Ted offers hands on canoe building workshops.  In any case, as you can see on the web site he offers a nice selection of plans plus he offers videos and at least one book that walks you through the process step by step.

PS: The Freedom 17 makes for an excellent flat water tripping canoe.