: Hi everyone,

: I'm cutting strips for a Guillemot. I've got 75bft of beautiful wrc and awc
: that I've planed down to 3/4" and ripped into strips. I ripped the
: strips to slightly over 1/4" thick so that I can run 'em through the
: planer and get 'em all perfect(consistent). So, I started thinking (always
: dangerous) that maybe I should just plane them down to 3/16". Other
: than using a bit more wood than I should have, I'll have thin, flexible,
: light and consistent strips.

: I experimented with a couple strips and tried to put a bead on them on the
: router table. But with a 1/4" radius bead and cove bit, I obviously
: couldn't get a nice round bead on them. I assume the cove will be more of
: a nightmare. My question is, is the less than perfect cove/bead onthe
: strips going to be alright? Or do I need to find a 3/16" radius flute
: and bead bit? What do you 3/16" strip people do? Or should I just
: forget the whole thing and use 1/4" strips as originally planned?
: Thanks for any advice

: Rob, who might be paddling by November!

Hi Rob -

I have used the 1/4" bead and cove cutters on 3/16" mahogany strips to build a Wee Lassie II. In actual fact, the larger cutters with respect to the thinner stock produces a better joint, and is recommended by Phil Green at Wood Song Canoes (Wood Magazine, Feb., 2000). Phil is the guy who builds $20k boats. My only problem (except for the mahogany) was getting the bead and coves milled perfectly centered. If they are off a frog's hair, you will get stair stepping, requiring removal of precious stock when fairing. The only reason I used the thinner strips was because of the heavier mahogany. With WRC, the weight savings will be minimal, considering that the fiberglass and epoxy contribute the most weight.

As for 3/16" cutters, I researched it and found they were generally not available as "canoe bits". I have heard they were a special order, which would likely cost more than to build the boat.

See my web site for a description of the construction of the WL-II.

Good luck building. - John