Here it is, yet another January, and I'll be wanting a kayak soon enough.  Be it that I'm too stubborn, or cheap, or just can't stand all the plastic stuff out there,  I have embarked on a mission to build one out of cedar strips.  While I've had a cedar timber laying around for 20 years or so, I have had opportunity to have it ripped into boards, and I have ripped those into strips.

After a couple attempts to find a straight 2 x 4, then laminating one out of plywood, then routing parts to build a box beam...none were satisfactorily rigid or straight, I came across a piece of aluminum rectangular 2 x 4 tubing.  This will make a straight and stable strong-back with which to  fasten the frames.   I'll use the failed laminated beam to fashion the tapered ends and attach them to the aluminum tube.