Hi Randy,

I'm a first timer so keep that in mind with regard to the following comments.

WILD HORSES COULD NOT GET ME TO USE B&C STRIPS AGAIN!

This is probably due to my inexperience but my next boat will certainly be built using a rolling bevel.

I purchased milled strips from a well known supplier in 8' lengths. I am not set-up to route B&C and I'm not sure I'd be able to get good results even if I were so equipped. Again, no experience in that area.

My strips are .25" northern white and western red cedar. When unpacking my strips, I noticed what seemed to be a rather high rate of imperfections in both the coves and the beads. Many of the strips had fractured coves even though they were packaged quite well. I think its simply due to the extensive handling process.

I have a lot of strips where the beads are irregular. Perhaps this is as good as it gets with B&C, I don't know. I do know I have over 100' linear feet of cedar that cannot be used as the B&C is damaged too much. Some of these strips were implemented on the keel, etc., where I needed to plane off one side anyway.

All in all, I was rather disappointed in my strips considering the cost of them. But again, this may be as good as it gets given the nature of B&C strips.

With the B&C strips you have to remove one side or the other to lay keel strips, shear strips, and final strips. I find the cove extremely fragile when I'm planing the strips. I use a length of .25" dowel to help protect them, but I've still damaged several strips just even effecting end trim angles.

My technique for doing rolling bevels may be causing me to manipulate the wood more than necessary but I really don't know how many different ways a feller can bevel a strip, ya know? B&C just seems pretty fragile to me.

My next build will be with 3/16" strips and a rolling bevel. I can rip my own wood that way and save substantially.

Of course, my next build may convince me of the benefits of B&C! :-)

It's hell bein' a rookie!

Take care.

Holmes