".......this winter? I wont be needing the floats until then."

Heck, a Kadet LT is an ARF, and all you have to do is cover and mount Seaplane's floats. You could be flying next WEEKEND!!!
If you wait 'til winter to start building then you're gonna want to go flying in the spring when it's all muddy and slushy in MI. It's really windy in the spring, too.
Hurry! do it now while the weather is right!!!