Choices

There was a lot of over-researching in deciding which direction to go: buy plans only, buy a kit, figure out what board type, etc.  I bought plans and instructions only:
1) I wanted to be forced to figure out the whole thing rather than have someone ship me pre-cut parts that I'd assemble.
2) If I wanted to do the whole thing, I had to make choices re: construction method. The way the rails are built by Grain and a few others is elegant and the way I'll do it next time. Those approaches use cove-and-bead strips and stack them for the rails.  I'd have to buy and setup a router table, jigs, etc. to make the strips. Instead, I chose plans from Chad Stone at timelesssurfcompany.com. The rail buildup was unique and I could make the triangular rail strips with my table saw..  
3) I decided to do an ~8' egg b/c an egg is a safe shape from a rideabililty standpoint. The shape is also fairly straightforward - no concaves or swallow-tails for my first effort. It had a lot of rocker which was a challenge - there were a few screw-ups figuring out how to make wood bend that much.