> Pete, we're a dying breed. I too build with flat edge strips which I plane
> the bevels. I learned from Guilpatricks book as well as the pre-Newfound
> Shade instructions (when he didn't know what a router was) as well as
> others. I found cutting cove and beads an enormous amount of work and a
> neusance to work on the tapered joints where you have to re-carve the cove
> and bead. My first attempts at it were frustrating. Once I have some
> strips cut, I want to start stripping.

> I seems like you really have to commit to your wood choice and purchases
> with cove and bead since once your set up you might as well do it all at
> once. I'm fast with the blcck plane and get good tight joints. Besides I
> don't want to buy a second router and to do each side seperately as I once
> did is horrible as far as time and set-up.

> Nice job on your boat!

Jay, Here in Minnesota, at least among canoe builders, the flat strip home-builder isn't dying, but thriving. From what I read on this and on the Newfound Woodworks BB, canoe builders in many parts of the country have extremely scarce local resources, driving hundreds of miles to find basic construction materials. Here we have a very well developed and large network of home-builders, and excellent local resources for help, instruction, know-how, and materials. Some people do use bead/cove strips, but from what I've seen, the vast majority of those who end up building canoes non-commercially use square edge strips, and only do hand beveling in the most extreme areas. No, it is not as tight as bead/cove, but the outcome is surprisingly good, and I don't think strength is an issue in the finished hull.

I read on one of the messages here how someone tested (unscientifically) the difference in strengh between an edge glued strip and bead/cove, and not surprisingly, bead cove was stronger, i.e., the joint seemed stronger. Short pieces of unglassed strips are hardly representative of a completed hull.

Come to Minnesota to see humdreds of beautiful square edged stripped hulls, both old and new, and still going strong. Check out the Minnesota Canoe Association web site: www.canoe-kayak.org. They are a great resource for home-builders, and sell plans and their own building book, based on years of experience from some very prolific builders and designers.

Paul Jacobson