A wooden boat built in the hi-tech manner described here, which is some way removed from traditional boatbuilding, will also be a little more proof against knocks and dents than a foam boat. There are many books available in shops and from libraries that will give you most of what you need. Other good sources of information are the suppliers of boat building materials. Traditionally Cherubs were built out of Aerolite 306 or Aerodux. These still work fine for all wood boats, but the techniques are very different to those described here, and weight is a major problem with this sort of construction.
Home building is usually a rewarding process.
Probably the most discouraging factor is the air of mystery that surrounds boatbuilding. I suppose it has to be conceded that the Cherub, being a very light boat with considerable performance and very high stresses, demands careful consideration in the building process. It means among other things careful assessment of materials, quality of jointing, use of suitable adhesives, and above all finding out what other people have done successfully - and unsuccessfully in the past. There is no substitute for talking to other people who have built new boats or owned second-hand boats. The class association will always be happy to put you into contact with people who have had considerable experience of wooden construction.