Choosing the materials
Integral to your choice of design will be the materials required to build it. While it is perfectly possible to build yourself a small tender or sailing dinghy out of GRP (glass-reinforced plastic), for most of us amateurs our first foray into building is likely to involve some form of wooden construction. Those with the ability may well prefer a traditional form of construction in the form of a clinker craft, but for most beginners it will more likely be some form of plywood or strip-plank construction.
This is where epoxy and its accessories offer huge potential for self-build projects. (See ‘Epoxy for beginners’, PBO August 2014-January 2015). I think wood and two-part epoxy glue are aesthetically, economically and practically the natural choice of materials for the homebuilder engaged in a one-off project. However, if you would prefer to lay up in GRP and fit out a boat rather than build one from scratch then that too is a viable option as long as you have access to a mould.
These are not easy to come across and you could make your own mould, but design copyright issues as well as time and logistics rule that out for most of us.
Let me again stress the importance of selecting your design properly before you start. Any design is likely to be some sort of compromise, so accept this and do your research before you pick up a tool. Read the books, look at boats, visit boat shows for ideas and to talk to boatbuilders if you can. Above all, study a variety of designs and building notes in as much detail as possible. This will allow you to make an informed choice before embarking on a project that is always going to take longer than you think. The time you spend on homework before you start will never be wasted and can be an absorbing part of the process.